Hilton London Bankside hotel review 2023

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In a nutshell: A snug and trendy hotel that’s well-located for exploring the town – and particularly good in case you’re travelling with youngsters

The location

Set in buzzing Bankside, the hotel is only a five-minute stroll from the Tate Modern, whereas different vacationer favourites reminiscent of Borough Market and the Tower of London are in shut proximity, too. It’s a helpful spot for getting straight into central London from Southwark tube station, and you may stroll throughout London Bridge for Blackfriars practice station or stroll over close by Millennium Bridge to gawp at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The vibe

The hotel has a laidback and unstuffy environment, because of its pleasant workers and enjoyable touches, reminiscent of a candy cart that children can assist themselves to upon arrival. All adults are provided a glass of fizz whereas checking in, with visitors comprising a mix of {couples}, households and people travelling for enterprise. There’s a contented buzz of hotel visitors and people visiting for dinner or drinks on the OXBO restaurant or Distillery bar. Interiors all through mix up to date particulars and splashes of vibrant color offset in opposition to muted tones.

Bed and bathtub

There are 292 rooms on the hotel, together with interconnecting choices for households. Kids will discover cuddly fox toys and blankets unfold throughout their beds, with freshly made milkshakes and cookies being delivered to the room for his or her delection. After a busy day pounding metropolis streets, visitors can chill out in consolation in fluffy robes and slippers. Decor is straightforward but fashionable, with muted gray and orange tones, bedside lamps suspended from the ceiling, and wooden and leather-effect headboards and panelling. There’s a pull-out minibar with free fizzy drinks, that are topped up day by day if you’re staying for multiple night time. Additional amenities embody a flatscreen TV on the wall, a secure giant sufficient to retailer a laptop computer, and Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries.

Food and drink

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on the busy OXBO restaurant which has a country, city type full with vibrant rugs and glassware, offset in opposition to contrasting black and white tiles and picket partitions. The adjoining Distillery bar serves a collection of drinks, together with 50 sorts of gin, whereas alcohol-free beer and spirits are additionally obtainable. The OXBO design particulars are enjoyable and quirky, with up to date furnishings, trendy mild fittings and room dividers separating the area, and chilled beats enjoying within the background.

Hearty parts and commonplace British pub grub are the secret at OXBO, with standout dishes together with cream of butternut squash soup with chestnuts, parmesan and sage, Aberdeen Angus beef burger with streaky bacon, and potato gnocchi with roasted root greens. There’s a separate “fox cub” youngsters’s menu which incorporates fishcakes, a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with French fries, and pasta with parmesan cheese and tomato sauce. Gluten-free choices and a very good vegan menu are additionally obtainable.

Breakfast choices cowl the usual pastries, recent fruit and cooked breakfasts related to a hotel feed, whereas for youngsters, pancakes might be ready in entrance of them (after which smothered with Nutella, after all).

Facilities

There’s a pool and small fitness center with cardio gear reminiscent of treadmills and train bikes and weights downstairs, with the latter being open 24 hours a day.

A spacious lounge space has up to date wall artwork, mild fittings and desk lamps, in addition to brightly-coloured sofas and basic brown leather-based chairs. This is an open-plan area with a reception desk and lifts to all flooring, and there’s sufficient room for it to be be busy with out feeling too crowded. An enclosed privateness sales space for working or making calls is situated on one facet of the lounge. The lounge is giant sufficient to spend a while in consolation, whether or not that’s forward of check-in or whereas ready for a taxi. You also can rent an umbrella for £2 for 48 hours if the climate’s not in your facet.

Valet parking is out there from £40 per night time.

Nuts and bolts

Room depend: 292 rooms, together with 25 suites.

Freebies: Soft drinks within the minibar, toilet toiletries.

Wifi: Free.

Extra fees: Room service.

Disability entry: Step-free entrance into the hotel, foyer, restaurant and bar all on identical stage. Lift entry to all flooring. King and King Deluxe accessible visitor rooms obtainable.

Pet coverage: No pets allowed, however service assist animals are welcome.

Check-in/check-out time: Check-in from 3pm and check-out by noon.

Family-friendly? There are 58 pairs of interconnecting rooms which are perfect for households and there’s a youngsters’s menu within the OXBO restaurant.

Bottom line

Best factor: The family-friendly touches such because the candy cart at reception, fox blankets and comfortable toys on the kids’s beds and milkshakes delivered to them earlier than dinner.

Worst factor: There wasn’t a lot pure mild in our bed room.

Perfect for: A family-friendly metropolis break.

Not proper for: A quiet, cosy keep.

Instagram from: The Distillery bar whereas sipping a drink.

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