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Airport hotels and the night before: stay near the terminal or book an early car?
Whether to stay at a Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Luton hotel before an early flight, which hotels you can walk to the terminal from, and what a fixed-fare car from home at 4am costs instead.
Hotels you can walk from
Heathrow: Sofitel (T5), Hilton Garden Inn and Aerotel inside T2/T4 areas; Gatwick: Bloc, YOTELAIR and Hilton at South Terminal, Premier Inn North; Stansted: Radisson Blu; Luton: Courtyard by Marriott is a short walk. Everything else needs a shuttle bus, which may not run early enough.
Night-before car or hotel?
A hotel plus a shuttle is worth it for flights before 6am from far away. From London, Kent or Surrey a fixed-fare car at 3-4am is often cheaper than a room and lets you sleep at home. We confirm the driver by text the evening before.
After a late landing
If you land after midnight, a hotel by the terminal and a car the next morning avoids a 2am journey; the guides below list the options at each airport.
What a fixed-fare car costs
| Destination | Heathrow saloon / 8-seater | Gatwick saloon / 8-seater | Stansted saloon / 8-seater | Luton saloon / 8-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton Cruise Terminal | £146 / £206 | £193 / £253 | £246 / £306 | £227 / £287 |
| Portsmouth International Port | £146 / £206 | £167 / £227 | £246 / £306 | £227 / £287 |
| Dover Cruise Terminal | £199 / £259 | £184 / £244 | £220 / £280 | £236 / £296 |
Fixed fares from our live rate card, per vehicle one way, tolls and airport charges included; exact fare confirmed before you pay. Christmas & New Year airport taxis · Book now
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Further reading
- Heathrow hotels guide (Rushxo)
- Gatwick hotels guide (Rushxo)
- London airport hotels you can walk to the terminal from (Get London Transfer)
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- Christmas & New Year airport taxis
Updated October 2026. Operated by Get London Transfer Ltd, TfL private hire operator licence 11588.