Early flights avoid the worst of London's traffic, land you at your destination by midday, and are often the cheapest. Getting to Heathrow at 4 or 5am without frayed nerves takes a little planning.
How early should you arrive?
For most short-haul flights, aim for 90 minutes before departure. For long-haul, allow 3 hours. That covers check-in, security and the walk to your gate.
Driving to Heathrow at 4–5am
This is one of the easiest times to make the trip. The M25 and M4 are almost empty, and journeys from central London take roughly 25–40 minutes. From the Home Counties it is even quicker.
Parking at that hour
This is where Meet & Greet parking really helps. Rather than finding a car park in the dark and waiting for a shuttle with tired children, you drive to your terminal and hand your keys to a driver who is already there. It is the smoothest parking option for an early flight.
Should you stay near Heathrow the night before?
For flights before 6am, a hotel near the airport can make sense if you live more than an hour away. Many hotels sell park-stay-fly packages, though independent operators like us are typically 40–60% cheaper for the parking part.
Public transport at 4–5am
The Heathrow Express starts from around 5:10am from Paddington, and the Elizabeth line from around 5:30am. The Night Tube (Piccadilly line) serves Heathrow through the night at weekends. Taxis and ride-hailing apps run around the clock.