Definitely do Not disturb
Emma Newlands visits a London hotel that’s so enticing it’s tough to find a reason to step outside
Iam expecting a good view from my outdoor terrace at this property, which is located on the South Bank of the Thames and overlooks the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. But I actually gasp when I step outside into the fresh air and take in the view – including a super-close, postcardstyle view of the London Eye set against a sunset backdrop.
It feels like a peaceful haven in contrast to the busy traffic below, giving a bird’s eye view of this prestigious part of the city.
The hotel – the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, to give it its full moniker – is housed in a massive oval-shaped structure, and proves even more huge than I first realise, spanning no fewer than 20 floors (16 above ground, the rest below), and a staggering 1,000-plus guestrooms, suites and penthouses, and 482 family suites.
It also has a rather interesting history, having opened in 2010 on the former site of the County Hall Island Block, an annex of London County Hall, that was demolished in 2006 and had lain derelict for two decades.
I make my way there from Waterloo station – a short walk, although on reflection taking the Tube to Westminster would have instead given me a majestic view of the hotel coming into full view as I approached it via the bridge over the Thames.
From the get-go the hotel has a very slick, American feel, and while I head the wrong way when I enter the building, I’m soon pointed in the right direction by a security guard, and I head up the escalator to Reception, which is dark, in contrast to the bright sun outside. It features large chairs that resemble theatre masks and artwork featuring bright blue morpho butterflies whose glittering wings sparkle in the light.
I’d also recommend checking in online for speed – one of many digital services offered by the hotel, although in addition to the card giving access to my room I am given a separate physical key for my terrace – and you can check out online too.
I head up in one of the 16 lifts to my suite, which is spacious and scores brownie points for some key touches that reveal a great deal of logic and userfriendliness. These include all signs that usually need to be hung on the door handle, such as Do Not Disturb, instead being on a digital panel on display outside the room but controlled from inside; lighting that is easy to use, clearly labelled with which bit each switch is for (confusing lighting controls are often the biggest irritant of hotel rooms); and the remote control
being cleaned between stays.
I have a living area with sofa and TV, which leads to the bedroom area, from which you access the terrace. The decent-sized bathroom comes with Elemis amenities, encompassing toiletries and a “shaving essentials” and shoecare mitt, with the brand also featuring in the hotel’s spa.
I sleep like a log, and the following morning I discover that breakfast is a true embarrassment of riches. Delights on offer include panettone (why is this not a more common breakfast staple?) and chefs staffing stations where they fry waffles, pancakes and bespoke omelettes if you don’t mind. Breakfast also gives me a chance to check out the kind of clientele the hotel attracts, and there are plenty of families and couples staying, but it also has obvious attractions for business visitors and groups, with plenty of event spaces, offering group check-in and coach drop-off and pick-up.
It’s evidently a hotel aimed more at the touristy/corporate end of the market rather than boutique cool, but I am certainly not complaining, especially as it has an Illy cafe on the ground level where I pick up an excellent latte. The hotel is also home to the likes of the
Primo Bar, which serves cocktails and light bites.
Full of panettone and pancakes, I head out for a wander around the city – and there is much to choose from. The hotel, for obvious reasons, is ideally located to join a London bus tour, and you can hop on a boat at Westminster Pier across the bridge from the hotel.
Also within easy reach is the Sea Life London Aquarium and the Imperial War Museum, while you could walk in a different direction to, say, St James’s Park and past Buckingham Palace or along the South Bank.
And before or after all of that you could chill out in the Mandara Spa, which “brings a bit of Bali to Britain”. I haven’t been quick enough to secure a booking for the 15-metre pool, but pop down for a look, and it is as bright blue as the butterflies in Reception, and looks like a high-end sanctuary. I kick myself for not booking a slot online quickly enough, but that just means I’ll have to come back one day – a prospect that I don’t exactly find a hardship.
I actually gasp when I step outside into the fresh air and take in the view
Prices for May for two people staying in a Studio Room with Big Ben View start at £349 per night, and £379 including breakfast. Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, tel: 0333 400 6112, www. parkplazawestminsterbridge.com