Options for sleeping at Heathrow during a long layover [duplicate]

Options for sleeping at Heathrow during a long layover [duplicate] - Woman in Maroon Long Sleeve Shirt Lying on White Flower Field

My mom has a flight to Seattle from New Delhi tomorrow via Virgin Atlantic and has a long layover at Heathrow airport terminal 3 (19 hours). Will it be possible for her to sleep at one of the attached hotels or sleeping pods? I'm getting conflicting information with some sources saying she'll need a visa even to get to the hotels attached to the terminal and others saying that if she has a valid onward visa to the US and flight the next day, she will be able to use the hotels.



Best Answer

On the presumption she'll need to remain airside, although if not, this is helpful too, the SleepinginAirports page on Heathrow will be the best guide for this.

The key paragraph:

As a whole, Heathrow is reasonably accommodating of airport sleepers. While the airport is very busy during the day, it does quiet down ever so slightly in the evening. If you are going to overnight at Heathrow, know that different terminals do have different comfort levels and sleeping protocols. In T2, there is plenty of sleep-friendly seating. However, there aren’t very many places that are private or dimly lit, making an eye mask an asset here. In T3, there are designated rest zones with sofas and lounges. However, overnight, it seems like security tries to round people up into one central area. In T4, the best sleep options are landside, and it sounds like the airside section may close overnight. If you’re trying to sleep landside and you are not an EU resident, you might be sent to T3. If you do end up at a terminal that you are not departing from, be sure to check the inter-terminal bus departure start times so that you get to the right terminal in time for check-in. Explore our guide to sleeping in London Heathrow Airport or read some traveller reviews for more tips. For uninterrupted sleep, there are sleep cabins in Terminal 4, hotels connected to Terminals 4 and 5 and many other hotels nearby, connected by shuttles. See Airport Hotels in the airport guide below.

But depending on her ability to get a visa, there is a lot more on that page too.




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Can you sleep overnight in Heathrow Airport?

You cannot stay airside at Heathrow Airport overnight. You can however remain in the public areas and try and sleep (I wouldn't, as I would worry about my belongings getting stolen). There are no "sleeping couches", just ordinary seating.

Can you leave London Heathrow Airport during a layover?

Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover, provided your passport allows you visa-free entry to the country you're in and you have enough time between flights.

How can I sleep in Heathrow?

London Heathrow Airport offers designated rest zones, equipped with lounge chairs perfect for tired travellers needing to relax. Located throughout the terminals. A rest zone in Terminal 3, Gates 24-25 also has couches, snack machines, and more.

Does Heathrow have a hotel in the airport?

Day rooms at Heathrow AirportThere are only two hotels at Heathrow attached to Terminals 4 and 5 that you can walk to from a passenger terminal that offer day rooms. Most mainstream Heathrow hotels have frequent Heathrow Hoppa buses to connect them with the various passenger terminals at Heathrow.



Review: My GUIDE TO HEATHROW - Things you didn't know!




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