I have stayed at this hotel a few times now and as London is a popular destination for weekend breaks thought some of you might find my experiences helpful.
Firstly Location - I'd have to say the location of this hotel is superb if you're visitng Canary Wharf on business. It's situated on the Thames, with most rooms having views of the dark and sludgey waters! It is on the opposite side of the river to Canary Wharf, but a River Ferry operates from the hotel itself across to the other side.This used to be free for guests of the hotel, but the last time I stayed there I did have to pay (was about £2). If you're travelling there by train, then a courtesy bus operates from the nearby Canada
Water Tube station. This has always been my method of transport so I can't help on driving directions I'm afraid, but what I can say s the car park looks very small, so parking could be limited. During the week this bus service runs between 7am and 11.30pm, so if you're planning a late night out you may need to factor a taxi fair into your journey at the end of the night. Saturday it runs 8am - 11.30pm and Sundays 8am to 11pm. Unfortunately you do need this shuttle service as well, because it's just a littl too far to walk from the tube - especially when you've had a few shandy's and you're not 100% which direction to head in!! Around the hotel it's mainly residential so it's either eat in the hotel at Hilton prices (Yorkshireman in me coming out again!) or onto the tube etc.
I've always had a standard double room and these have varied greatly. Whilst the view of the Thames is a constant, the rooms have varied from 'compact and beju' to vast, which surprised me a little - my first stay was the smallest, so if you stay here and find the room a little on the small side it may be worth having a word with reception - you never know your luck. They are clean, well laid out and come with the usual tea and coffee facilities (although I've noticed some hotels have stopped providing these now), trouser press (how many people actually use them?) courtesy book to tell you all about the hotel etc and of course the usual on-suite - again I've always found these to be clean. The rooms are soundproofed to some extent - by this I mean you don't hear the boats going up and down the Thames, or traffic from the road outside, but the corridors are like a rabbit warren and carry sound a little too well and you can hear people walking up and down, with every word of their conversation. There are other room typoes on offer and you can upgrade to deluxe rooms if required, and whilst I've never stayed in one I'm not sure I personally would pay the extra to upgrade because the standard rooms are more than adequate.
The hotel has some good facilities including a gym, Jacuzzi, sauna and a smallish indoor pool. In addtion a well laid out and not too pricey Terrace Bar (for a London Hotel anyway), £2.60 for a pint and £3ish for a glass of wine). In terms of food I've always eaten in the Terrace Restaraunt, which has a nice cosy feel to it, serves good food in a buffett style and has friendly and attentive staff. There is a good mix of starters, mains and deserts available, with probably a choice of about 6 different meals. I'm not a vegetarian, but it did look as though there was only the one obligatory vegetarian meal to choose from (unless you wanted plenty of salad) - 3 course meal comes out around £24, which for the standard of food isn't bad (in my humble opinion anyway). Breakfast is served in here also, again buffett style with a choice of the good old Traditional English - everything imaginable (yes including both Black and White Pudding) - fruits, cereals, continental, fruit juices plus tea and coffee. There is also an old barge outside in a dry dock that has been turned into a restaurant, although I've never used it so can't comment on the standard. You can of course have room service for meals, but as I'be never used I can't comment on it - the menu looks fairly standard really.
Price wise I've always stayed here on a Corporate Rate (which company policy dictates I'm not allowed to divulge) but the rack rate for the rooms is as follows (prices taken from my last stay in Jan 2007 and are for Bed and Breakfast); Twin - £165 Double - £188 (never quite sure why they charge more - still has the same number of people!) Deluxe - £212
Now these are silly prices and just the prices they display on the wall - my advice if you want to stay here is book through the Hilton website and I'm sure you'd get it for much less - particularly as Hilton are always putting special offers on.
All in all it's a nice hotel, clean and well aid out with friendly attentive staff and superb if you're on business, but in my opinion not great for leisure travel.
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Good review chuck!!! Didn't realise you could get a pint for £2.60 other than the North. My mate and I decided to do a Heathrow hotel pub crawl once - we went to 2 as it was too expensive. You can't go wrong with Hilton hotels though!!
Simone :O) xx
laramax 06.01.2007 10:25
Thankfully London is only just over an hours journey from where I live but I will remember this should anyone ask about a place to stay in that area
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Advantages: Beautifully resourced and well-staffed hotel in a superb location Disadvantages: Complacent management seem to allow endless minor irritations spoil what should be a good stay
Advantages: Beautifully resourced and well-staffed hotel in a superb location Disadvantages: Complacent management seem to allow endless minor irritations spoil what should be a good stay
Jan 6th, 2007
exceptional by (4%):
very helpful by (96%):
