HOTEL REVIEW: The Moxy London Heathrow Airport – An Enjoyable Stay Near Terminals 2 & 3

I’ve been meaning to try Moxy Heathrow for a while. After several positive experiences with the brand this year, I was keen to try the Heathrow property, especially given its convenient location near Terminals 2 and 3. Most Moxy hotels don’t offer rooms for more than two people, so I was pleased to see availability for four people.

Opened in 2018, this is one of the larger Moxy hotels, with 437 rooms. With more than 187 Moxy properties now open worldwide, including 107 in Europe, the brand has gone from something I rarely came across to one that now appears regularly when I’m researching stays. The focus is on smart rooms and stylish communal spaces.

Sometimes, all you need the night before the flight is friendly service, a comfortable bed and proximity to the airport. My stay delivered this and more.

Here’s my full review of the Moxy London Heathrow Airport:

Location and Getting There

Like many of the Heathrow Airport hotels, the Moxy is located on Bath Road. It’s a little further out than most options, but only a few extra minutes’ drive, located just before the Ibis Budget and after the Premier Inn T3.

The Heathrow Hoppa bus does stop at the Moxy, but it’s pointless, as the local buses from Heathrow Central Bus Station also stop across the road, and you can return to Heathrow from right outside. If you’re coming in by Tube, Hounslow West is the nearest station, followed by a short bus ride. The hotel also has a screen in the lobby to book an Uber. 

Booking

I booked our stay six months in advance via the Marriott app. We paid £132 for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant in an Extra Sleeper room. Looking at the rate calendar, a room for 1-2 adults is priced at a reasonable £71-£89 per night, while family rooms are priced at £113-£132.

If you’re planning to book with Points, nights vary from 19,000 to 25,000 for a standard room.

The Lobby and Check-In

I was surprised by how much bigger it was than I expected and how quiet it was. No queues at reception and just a scattering of people in the lobby relaxing, though this varies by time of day. This was a completely different vibe from many times I’ve arrived at a Heathrow hotel to find long queues and strict check-in times. 

The staff were very friendly and took time to explain things. We asked to add breakfast to the booking at £12.50 per person. Moxy hotels are ‘check-in at the bar’ with a free cocktail. We had to ask about this to be given one – an alcoholic iced tea which was much needed after a journey. 

The Room

Moxy describes its rooms as compact yet spacious, with simple yet practical furniture. The hotel offers Queen, Twin and Extra Sleeper Rooms.

Our room was very modern and just what you need from an airport stay. It was larger than expected and accessible, with an automatic door, a toilet bar, a shower chair, and a roll-in shower.

If you have stayed at a Moxy before, you will know what to expect. The design is very much the usual style, with simple, modern furniture, lots of plugs, and practical touches, though there were fewer slogans around the room than in most Moxy hotels. The cot we had requested was ready for us on arrival.

We had a fantastic view of the runway, and every few minutes throughout the evening, we could spot planes landing up close. Rooms are soundproof to an extent, but you could still hear each aircraft landing. In the morning, planes were landing a little further away. This is the kind of room that’s often charged at a premium rate at some of the more expensive Heathrow hotels. Despite this, I still slept well, and the bed was comfortable.

There was plenty of tea along with a coffee machine, but no coffee pods or instructions.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was a good size. I’m not sure whether other Extra Sleeper rooms have such a large bathroom, as this was an accessible room. There was the usual Five Wits-branded Moxy shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

There was also a large sink area with plenty of storage. Everything was very clean.

The Lobby and Bar

Drinks prices were fairly standard for Heathrow, and there was a reasonable range of beers, wines and cocktails.

Rather than a formal reception desk and separate bar area, everything is combined into one large open-plan space. There’s plenty of comfortable seating, a pool table, table tennis, and a variety of games.

Moxy hotels usually add little touches related to the destination. In this case, there was a Union Jack car with a large teddy bear inside, a raised area with mirrors that mimicked aircraft windows. There were also Union Jack umbrellas everywhere and memorabilia on the shelves.

Food Options

The Moxy is much more casual and limited in dining options, but for a one-night airport stay, I didn’t find that a problem. There’s also plenty of shops and takeaways just a few steps from the hotel, including a Tesco Express and Domino’s. 

There’s also a 24-hour Grab-and-Go area, which is much larger than at other Moxy hotels I’ve visited. It also has a self-checkout screen, so you don’t need to go to the bar to pay. Everything you may need is here, from toiletries to ice cream, cup noodles and even bottles of wine.

Breakfast

Breakfast seating is in the same place as lunch and dinner. This area gets full very quickly, and people were sitting elsewhere in the lobby, too.

For £12.50, the breakfast was very substantial with many more options than most other budget brands. 

Moxy does not offer free breakfast to Platinum Elite and above status holders. Instead, you’ll have the choice of 500 points or £8 food and beverage credit for you plus one guest. If used for breakfast, that would bring it down to £5. 

Other Facilities

For an airport hotel in this price bracket, the facilities are pretty good. 

• Gym: Small but well-equipped gym with large windows
• Lockers: Maybe useful if you arrive early or if you’re going into London before a flight
• Meeting Rooms: very similar to those at all Moxy hotels I’ve visited. A great touch.

There’s also this small co-working space. If you’re not a hotel guest, there was a sign offering co-working for a minimum of £10 per hour, with food and drink included.

The hotel also has parking at £15 per day. There are 122 spaces, but you can’t guarantee yours before your stay.

If you’re unsure about Moxy’s age bracket, this particular hotel had a varied mix of ages. Plenty of families and solo travellers. There were also lots of airline crew from a mix of airlines staying. It’s also a dog-friendly hotel if you need somewhere to stay before flying with your dog.

Status Benefits

In the UK and Europe, Gold Elite and above members receive 500 points per stay or a US$10 food and beverage credit (£7.50) per night for the member plus one guest.

You’ll also receive a late check-out, depending on availability and your status, and bonus points based on your tier.

There’s also the opportunity for a room upgrade, though the room I stayed in is the top option, and there aren’t many of them, judging by the hotel being sold out for four people on most nights.

Though status is recognised, the benefits are fairly limited. if you have a higher Marriott status, you’ll get far more status benefits when staying at some of the other Marriott hotels near Heathrow. Depending on your status tier, you can enjoy free breakfast, lounge access, and the chance of better room upgrades.

Final Words

For an airport hotel, the Moxy has everything you’ll need for a night’s stay. It’s comfortable, modern, relaxed and usually very reasonably priced for Heathrow.

However, it’s important to be clear on what you are not getting. If you plan to use facilities such as a pool, spa, premium dining, or direct terminal access, the Moxy isn’t the right choice for you. There are also better status benefits at some of the full-service Marriott properties nearby, such as the Renaissance, Sheraton and Heathrow Marriott.

As most Moxy hotels are very similar, you’ll know exactly what to expect, from the layout of the room to what’s served for breakfast. Our room was clean, the staff were friendly, and our stay went smoothly. The Moxy is a great addition to the hotel offering near Heathrow, and I’ll certainly be returning!