If you’re looking to stay in the capital and want to soak up the culture close to the Southbank, Hilton London Bankside is a perfect choice.
But not just offering up a stylish, contemporary stay, being one of the brand’s design led hotels means that Hilton London Bankside oozes individual quirk and character that you won’t get anywhere else.
An immediate sense of calm washes over you as you enter – the reception area is beautiful, with huge pots of flowers, a neat row of check in desks and a circular seating area – with access from here to The Distillery Bar, the OXBO Bankside restaurant and (most importantly!), the Executive Lounge.
Staying on the Executive floor, our suite was absolutely huge so if you’re toying with the idea of an upgrade, you should most definitely go for it. With a calming colour palate, an absolutely enormous ‘serenity’ bed, ergonomic desk area and huge luxurious marble bathroom, you could literally spend all day in here. However, lunch beckoned…
The Distillery downstairs is more of a destination bar than a hotel bar. Built on the site of an old essence factory, the bar stays true to its roots, offering up all kinds of weird and wonderful cocktails that either smell amazing, look amazing (with billowing smoke served in quirky vessels), or both! The food menu is relaxed and reasonably priced.
We enjoyed a range of delicious small plates to start including buttermilk fried chicken with a spicy red pepper mayo and wild mushroom croquettes followed by towering chunky Aberdeen Angus beef burgers stuffed with streaky bacon and Red Leicester Cheese. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, this is definitely a cool place to stop off at if you’re exploring the nearby Tate Modern, The Shard, or taking a walk along the Southbank.
Unbeknownst to us, there’s also a fabulous bottomless brunch which takes place on Saturday afternoons in the OXBO Bankside restaurant – testament to its popularity, this was booked up when we visited, so if you’re staying here, make sure you reserve your spot early!
Aside from all the usual luxury facilities you’d expect from Hilton – the state-of-the-art gym, the relaxing spa and pool area, the helpful concierge and some great places to eat all under the same roof; what we really loved about the hotel was its history and inspiration. In addition to The Distillery building on its essence factory history, the rest of the hotel reflects London’s industrial past and when you look more closely, you’ll notice this everywhere, from the lighting to the bronze, leather and oak furnishings. Look even closer and you’ll also notice that dotted all over the hotel are tributes to the Bankside Fox who made quite a name for himself during construction – visiting the builders regularly and leaving his pawprints in the cement. As a result, you’ll find him popping up in the most unexpected of places whether it be a photo in your room, or a statue in the restaurant.
An Executive Room at Hilton London Bankside, also means access to the Executive Lounge and what a lounge it is. If you’re staying here a couple of days, be prepared to visit a few times! This superior experience is executed perfectly – a beautiful lounge, delicious canapes and an excellent range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks on offer during 5-7pm – it’s a massive added bonus to an already exceptional hotel.
Few hotels in London tick all the boxes, but Hilton London Bankside was faultless during our stay. To book, click here, or click here to read our review of other places to stay in London, click here.
