Holiday Inn London - Heathrow Ariel

I stayed at Heathrow Ariel HI on a 4 days conference.

Having experienced a wide variety of Airport Hotels in the past I was expecting a somewhat clinical dehumanized kind of environment and was instead immediately greeted with a smile.

Throughout my stay the Staff were always well presented, courteous, smiling and very efficient.

The first impression while entering the bedroom is that of a smaller space than the more recent Holiday Inns but everything is immaculately clean including a well appointed bathroom and one can tell that there is a great attention to details and excellent Houskeeping standards.

The same standards could be found throughout the Hotel from table service, to corridor carpets and conference facilities.

Over 4 days I experienced the same consistency in service and standards.

In one word, I felt very much at home and the fact that nothing is too much trouble for the Staff certainly did help that feeling.

Breakfast offers a variety of very healthy dishes - the red berries compote is to die for -, conference lunch was well balanced and tasty and a la carte dinner was excellent.

I would like to thank Lucy, the Reception Manager for making sure that our stay was hasslefree all the way through and we all commented on the fact that we felt very much welcomed.

This hotel has definitely changed my view on Airport Hotels and I will definitely come back .

It‘s at least 15 years since I stayed at the Ariel and it has changed ownership in that time. I decided to trade down from my usual Heathrow stop-over hotels when I saw the prices being asked for midweek stays. When I check into a hotel after 7.00pm and out again around 9.00am, then prices in excess of GBP 150 don‘t seem to me to make much sense.

Express check-in with my Priority Club car was politely and efficiently completed within two minutes. I had booked an Executive Room which was on the third floor, a short walk from the elevators, and looking outward towards the airport. The circular structure of the Ariel means that almost half of the rooms look inwards.

As with all the older Heathrow hotels, the room is relatively small but the outwardly angled walls – the result of the circular design of the building – means that the room is wider nearer the window. Furnishings are of a reasonable quality and are sensibly sized, ensuring that the room is not overly cluttered. The room is well equipped with a decent size work desk with light, ample power sockets, and good desk chair, an easy chair and table, minibar, iron and table, trouser press. The television had a number of channels and films, but the cabled Internet did not work – I did not complain as I was staying only a short time, and instead connected through my mobile phone. The bed was firm and comfortable, with a choice of pillows. The bathroom is well equipped and clean, with a selection of toiletries.

The bar is open-plan to the restaurant; service was quick but they were out of stock of my requested cider. I had dinner in the restaurant – sevice was reasonable although I felt that the waitresses might benefit from additional training, particularly in how to open and pour wine. My first choice main course was not available. Food was of acceptable quality and reasonable value for money.

I took room service breakfast which arrived promptly and as ordered.

Check-out was courteous and efficient.

Would I stay again? Most certainly – and just under GBP 120 inclusive of taxes for an executive room this is better value than the more up-market hotels at Heathrow.