aviation - the past, present and future of flight

is in use, departures are low enough for

photographs. Airliners passing the hotel

can be captured at 150-250mm focal length.

Those landing and turning off at the end of 27

(and likewise taxying onto the end of Runway

09 for departure) require less than 250mm.

Although any traffic turning off early on

Taxiway C or D require at least 500mm.

Aircraft tend to park nose out from the

terminal almost directly facing the hotel, but

good images can be taken of them taxying.

The windows in the rooms do not open, but

despite this good results are possible. The

best time for photography is late afternoon

into the evening due to the position of the

sun relative to the hotel.

For dining there is the hotel’s ‘The Salt

Port – Restaurant & Delicatessen’ with

dockside views and the more casual ‘Bidder

& Co Lounge Bar’, which both offer food all

day. Guests can work off some calories in

the 24-hour  tness centre.

The hotel welcomes aircraft enthusiasts

and will try to accommodate any

requests for rooms overlooking the airport,

although cannot guarantee this. It is worth

noting that all the rooms facing directly over

the airport are doubles. Twin rooms are

available on the south side.

The DoubleTree by Hilton London Excel

provides an excellent option for watching

and photographing the action at London

City Airport from the comfort of your room.

It is also a short walk to the Emirates Air

Line cable car service to The O2 arena and

Emirates Aviation Experience.

HOTEL DETAILS

Floors: 9

Rooms: 287 rooms including 8 suites

Rooms with best views: 504, 506, 508 (all south

facing), 604, 606, 608 (east facing)

Rating: 4 star

Transport to/from airport: No link, but less than a

mile from the terminal

Car parking: Free for guests but limited spaces

(spaces cannot be booked in advance)

Internet access: Free Wi-

Website: doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-

kingdom/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-london-excel-

LONEXDI/index.html

Tel: +44 207 540 4820

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 63

Room 614, with the airport and a departing

Luxair Dash 8-Q400 visible through the

window. Richard Vandervord

British Airways CityFlyer Embraer 195 G-LCYS taxies to its stand (taken at 235mm).

Spencer Bennett

A Flybe Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 taxies off Runway 27 with a CityJet RJ85 preparing to depart

behind (500mm on a 1.5 crop sensor). Richard Vandervord

The hotel is to the right of the far end of the runway behind the bridge and in front of the ExCeL London exhibition centre. AirTeamImages.com/TT

HOTEL IS HERE

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