Heathrow has two purpose-built options for sleeping during a layover, and which one you can use depends on whether you're airside or landside. If you're connecting through Terminal 3 without leaving security, No1 Bedrooms inside the No1 Lounge is the only airside hotel at Heathrow, with rooms available from 06:00 to 22:30. If you're landside, whether between flights at Terminal 2 or 3, after an early arrival, or before an early departure, Aerotel in Terminal 3 Arrivals lets you book a room by the hour rather than a full night, priced from around £176 for a 12-hour stay as reported in early 2025, so confirm the live rate before you book since prices move with demand.
Quick answer: your options by terminal
| Option | Where | Access | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No1 Bedrooms | No1 Lounge, Terminal 3 | Airside, after security, for connecting passengers | A layover where you don't want to re-clear security |
| Aerotel | Terminal 3 Arrivals (walking distance from T2) | Landside, before security | A nap before an early flight, after a late landing, or a long landside wait |
| Hilton | Terminal 4, covered walkway | Landside | A full overnight stay near T4 |
| Sofitel | Terminal 5, covered walkway | Landside | A full overnight stay near T5 |
All four are listed directly on Heathrow's own hotels page; book ahead where you can, since same-day availability isn't guaranteed at a busy airport.
No1 Bedrooms: the only airside hotel at Heathrow
If you're connecting through Terminal 3 and don't want to leave the security zone and clear it again, No1 Bedrooms is Heathrow's one airside hotel, built inside the No1 Lounge. It offers single and twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms specifically for passengers connecting through T3, with rooms available between 06:00 and 22:30. Because it sits inside a pay-per-visit lounge, you'll typically pay for lounge entry plus the bedroom itself; confirm the current combined rate directly with No1 Lounges when you book, since the exact bedroom charge isn't fixed and published the way a standard hotel room rate is. It won't help with an overnight stay outside those hours, so if your layover runs later than 22:30, you'll need a landside option instead.
Aerotel: book a room by the hour, landside
Aerotel is the only hotel built inside a Heathrow terminal building itself, tucked into the Terminal 3 Arrivals hall, a few steps from the Terminal 3 check-in desks and within walking distance of Terminal 2 and the Heathrow Express platform. What makes it different from a standard airport hotel is the booking shape: you set your own check-in and check-out time and pay for the hours you actually need, rather than booking a full night you won't use. Room types include Solo Plus, Double Plus and Family rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, Wi-Fi and a TV. It's landside, so you'll need to go back through security afterwards if you're departing, but it's the closest in-terminal option to a true layover nap room at Heathrow.
Hilton (Terminal 4) and Sofitel (Terminal 5): full overnight stays
If you want a complete night's sleep rather than a short block of hours, the Hilton at Terminal 4 and the Sofitel at Terminal 5 are both linked to their terminal by a covered walkway, so there's no need for a taxi or shuttle. These suit an overnight stay before an early departure or after a late arrival better than a mid-layover nap, since they're set up as standard full-service hotels rather than by-the-hour rooms. Hotel reservation desks in the arrivals area of every terminal can help you find and book a nearby room on the spot if you haven't planned ahead.
What about the terminal seating areas themselves?
Outside a paid room, Heathrow's terminals have ordinary seating throughout, and some travellers do rest in quieter corners of the departure lounge during a long wait, though none of the standard seating is designed or marketed for sleeping. If comfort matters more than privacy, a pay-per-visit airport lounge is a middle option between free seating and a hotel room; see our guide to Heathrow lounges by terminal for which ones work out best value for a long layover.
Getting between terminals if your hotel isn't at your own
If your flight connects through a different terminal from the one your chosen hotel sits at, for example Aerotel at T3 when you're departing from T5, build in transfer time rather than assuming you're already there. See our terminal transfers guide for how long each connection takes.
FAQs
Does Heathrow have sleep pods?
Not pods in the capsule-hotel sense. Its two purpose-built rest options are No1 Bedrooms, an airside hotel inside the Terminal 3 lounge for connecting passengers, and Aerotel, a landside hotel in Terminal 3 Arrivals where you book a room by the hour.
Can I book a room for just a few hours at Heathrow?
Yes, at Aerotel in Terminal 3 Arrivals, which lets you set your own check-in and check-out time rather than paying for a full night. No1 Bedrooms, the airside option, is available between 06:00 and 22:30.
Is there anywhere to sleep without leaving security at Heathrow?
Yes, No1 Bedrooms inside the No1 Lounge at Terminal 3 is Heathrow's only airside hotel, built for passengers connecting through T3 who don't want to clear security again.
How much does Aerotel cost at Heathrow?
Rates are by the hour rather than a flat nightly price; a 12-hour stay was reported at around £176 in early 2025. Prices move with demand and room type, so check Aerotel's own booking page for the current rate.
Can I get a full hotel room at Heathrow rather than a day-use room?
Yes. The Hilton at Terminal 4 and the Sofitel at Terminal 5 are both linked to their terminal by covered walkway and operate as standard overnight hotels, better suited to a full night's sleep than a short layover nap.
What if my layover runs past 22:30?
No1 Bedrooms isn't available after 22:30, so for a late-night or overnight layover, use a landside option like Aerotel, the Hilton or the Sofitel instead, keeping in mind you'll need to clear security again if you leave the airside zone.