Fly Virgin Atlantic, stay Hilton luxe, and explore the city with ease—without breaking the bank

Planning a trip to London doesn’t have to mean draining your savings or navigating a stressful maze of logistics. With the right points strategy and a few smart travel hacks, our trip to London felt seamless, elevated, and (best of all) mostly free.

Here’s exactly how we did it—from booking flights and hotels on points to racing each other through the Tube (spoiler: I won).

✈️ 1. Booking Flights: Virgin Atlantic with Amex or Chase Points

We flew nonstop from Tampa (TPA) to London Heathrow (LHR) on Virgin Atlantic—and covered the entire flight with points.

Here's how we booked:

Transferred points from Amex Membership Rewards (Amex Platinum) and Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Preferred).
Took advantage of a transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic for even better value.
Used Virgin Atlantic’s partner sweet spots to book in economy (or upgrade to Premium or Upper Class for fewer points than you’d expect).

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for a 30% transfer bonus to Virgin—your points go much further, and you can treat yourself to Upper Class for a fraction of the cost.

🚄 2. Arrival Made Simple: Heathrow Express to Paddington Station

After landing, we skipped the long taxi lines and crowded Tube cars. Instead, we hopped on the Heathrow Express—a direct train that takes you from Heathrow to Paddington Station in just 15 minutes.

No dragging luggage through the Underground.
No stress, just swipe and ride.

🏨 3. Stay Steps Away: Hilton London Paddington (on Points!)

We booked the Hilton London Paddington with Hilton Honors points—and it was a total game-changer.

Why we loved it:

It’s connected to Paddington Station—literally. We rolled off the train and right into our hotel.
We scored an upgrade to a Tower Room thanks to Hilton Diamond status.
The Executive Lounge was a dream: free breakfast, evening charcuterie and cocktails, and views of the trains below.

It was luxe, central, and wildly convenient.

🚇 4. Navigating London: Just Tap & Go

London’s public transit is world-class—and with Apple Pay and Apple Maps, it felt effortless.

Here’s what we used:

Apple Pay to tap in and out of the Tube and trains—no Oyster card needed.
Apple Maps to see exact train lines, platform numbers, and ETAs.

We felt so confident getting around that my husband and I even raced each other back to the hotel using different Tube routes. (Yes, I won.)

💺 5. Heading Home in Style: Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

For our return, we leveled up with Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (booked with points).

Highlights included:

Fast track security at Heathrow.
Access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse: cocktails, à la carte dining, showers, and spa vibes.
A fully lie-flat seat that made the long-haul flight feel like a spa day in the sky.

It was the perfect ending to our stress-free London adventure.

🌍 Rooted Takeaway: London on Points = Surprisingly Easy

London doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. With smart points redemptions, a hotel directly connected to transit, and a little planning, you can explore this iconic city in comfort and style.

Use your points wisely. Stay where convenience meets comfort. And maybe challenge your travel partner to a Tube race—just for fun.

📌 Follow along on Instagram @rooted.roaming for:

Points transfer cheat sheets
Packing tips
International travel hacks (that actually work)

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting London on Points & Miles (Without Stress!)