Heathrow survival guide: how to avoid airport hell Pre-booked rates at off-site parking can be significantly lower than at Heathrow's official on-site car parks - compare prices on gosimply.com. However, the airport's on-site long-stay car parks have family parking bays close to shuttle bus stops, and from now to September 4 "AirPorters" will be present on shuttle buses running between on-site long-stay car parks and terminals, assisting families with luggage (for free). The airport's official valet parking is markedly pricier than many of its competitors, so consider shopping around (again on gosimply.com). Best-value budget hotels for families near Heathrow are Premier Inns (premierinn.com). The Premier Inn London Heathrow Airport (Bath Road) has 590 soundproofed bedrooms surrounding a vast atrium filled with eating and drinking areas, while the Premier Inn London Heathrow Airport Terminal is newer, calmer (it's about a third smaller) and closer to T5. At both hotels: bedrooms sleeping three or four, with a rollout and/or sofa bed, cost from £39 room only; free breakfasts for children under 16, and kids eat free deal for dinner 5pm-7pm; and keenly priced park-and-fly rates. From both hotels, Hotel Hoppa buses to the terminals cost £4 one way (under 15s free), but there are also free local buses to the airport, with stops outside the hotels. If you want to splash out, two upmarket hotels are connected by covered walkways to terminals. At the Hilton (heathrow.hilton.com) six minutes" walk from T4, standard rooms sleep a maximum of three, so a family of four needs two interconnecting rooms (from £180 room only); there's a small but pleasant indoor pool. At the swish Sofitel (sofitel.com), connected by fragrant passageways to T5, again standard rooms sleep three maximum; a Junior Suite sleeping four costs from £289 room only.Check-in and security Heathrow operates at near capacity, so expect the terminals to be busy whatever time your flight is. There is a family lane through security in each terminal. For a sandwich, best options are Pret A Manger outlets - available in all terminals" departure lounges, with plentiful seating. A cheap alternative is Boots's £3.79 meal deal, for a sandwich, snack and drink - again, Boots outlets are in all terminals" departure lounges. A "Kids Eat Free" summer promotion, running until September 1, is available at Est Caffe in T1, Oriel and Rhubarb in T3, Dining Street in T4 and Huxleys in T5. Terminal 1 The most appealing family option is Giraffe, which is located after security, between the two main departure lounge areas: main courses on the kids" menu £4.25-£5.95. Terminal 2 The new terminal will re-open next year. Terminal 3 After security, best for a full meal is Strada: the Italian restaurant has a decent-looking kids" menu for £6.95, covering three courses and a drink. Terminal 4 Dining Street, after security, is a fun British-themed restaurant, offering dishes such as bangers and mash and fish and chips (£4.95 for children's main courses plus a drink). Café Apostrophe, at the end of the departure lounge towards gates 10-20, is a pleasant place for a snack, with views over the southern runway. Terminal 5 Before security, there's a Carluccio's deli and restaurant (children's menu £6.50 for two courses and drink). After security on the upper level, the most popular family option is the often very busy Giraffe, with expansive views over the departure lounge and out to the runways. Also on the upper level with great views, and less frenetic, is a Wagamama (children's main courses from £3.15). Killing time Through to September 1, Doctor Who-themed entertainment will be on offer after security in all terminals. It will include TARDIS photo booths and appearances from characters such as the Cybermen, and free Doctor Who "passport" booklets for children are being given out. Also look for roaming staff in departure lounges, offering arts and crafts activities such as making luggage tags and friendship bracelets. Terminal 1 After security, there's a play area by Caffè Nero (available until September 9), and a small Hamleys. For peace and quiet, you could retire to the rather drab Servisair Lounge: pre-booked £17.49, children two-11 £9.99. Terminal 3 Lounge A (open 6am-9pm), reached via a lift from the departure lounge, is a free-to-use, few-frills room with several soft play climbing areas. Access to the No1 Traveller Lounge (no1traveller.com) is pricey (pre-booked £30, £15 children two-11), but the lounge is excellent for families, with a mini cinema showing classic films, games rooms with a PlayStation and table football, a small soft play area, plus appetising food and drink is included in rates. Terminal 4 There's a decent-size soft play area (open 11am-8pm) off one end of the departure lounge (direction gates 1-6). Terminal 5 Off the departure lounge near Gate A7 is a soft play climbing area (open 8.30am-7pm). Upstairs, a Hamleys is opening airside on July 25. T5"s departure lounge gets very busy - for peace and quiet, you may want to escape on the transit shuttles to Terminal 5B and 5C buildings if your flight departs from there. More information: heathrowairport.com.