If you’re planning a mini getaway to London, there’s no shortage of hotels to choose from. But I bet there are few that offer views as breathtaking as the ones I discovered on a recent stay in the UK’s capital city – and all for a surprisingly reasonable price. On my latest trip, I checked into the four-star Tower Hotel, nestled right on the river in St Katherine’s Docks and just a short stroll from Tower Hill and Tower Gateway stations. Despite having worked just down the road for years, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I never knew this hotel, with its whopping 801 rooms, was here – but that’s what makes it something of an undiscovered gem. As the name suggests, this hotel is located right next to the iconic Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, on the north side of the river. Popular hotspots like The Shard, Borough Market and Sky Garden are all within easy walking distance, adding an extra thrill to staying so close to such famous landmarks. READ MORE: ‘I flew to Mauritius expecting a ‘fly-and-flop’ winter sun holiday but I was wrong’ READ MORE: ‘I discovered the perfect cosy Christmas holiday destination under three hours away’
We were wowed by the views from this hotel
(Image: The Tower Hotel)
The rooms at The Tower Hotel The Tower has 801 rooms, each offering stunning views, whether it’s a close-up of Tower Bridge or overlooking the historic pubs of St Katharine’s Docks; it’s a real treat for history buffs. I was fortunate enough to stay in a suite on the 11th floor, and I was genuinely left breathless when I walked into the room, reports the Mirror. On one side was the bedroom, so close to Tower Bridge it felt like I could almost reach out and touch it, and behind that, The Shard lit up against the sky. A slight turn of the head and you’re greeted with all the iconic skyscrapers of The City: The Gherkin, The Walkie-Talkie and The Cheesegrater. Down a short corridor past the bathroom was a small kitchenette and lounge area, and from the windows on this side, you could see the river flowing downstream and the imposing Canary Wharf skyline. Visiting on a rare clear day, I managed to snap some impressive photos of both the sunset and sunrise; something I never thought I’d do in London. It truly had the wow factor.
Many of the rooms look right onto Tower Bridge
The food at The Tower Hotel The Tower’s Vicinity restaurant is situated on the ground floor, right on the riverside (meaning more great views), and serves crowd-pleaser classics such as charcuterie plates, ‘proper’ burgers, pizzas, and fish and chips. My guest and I braved the cold and chose an outdoor table by one of Vicinity’s fire pits on their covered terrace. It was the perfect spot for people-watching, sipping wine and munching on hot, crispy chips and cheesy nachos. We both also agreed it would be a fab place for a date. The Tower’s breakfast is a traditional buffet, great for fuelling up for the day ahead. With so many rooms in the hotel, breakfast can get busy at peak times (as can the lifts; I suggest leaving an extra five minutes before you need to), but there’s a handy traffic light system to indicate quieter times.
Relax with a drink by the outside fire pits
(Image: The Tower)
What else can you do at The Tower Hotel? If you’re planning to propose during a romantic getaway at a hotel with a stunning backdrop, it doesn’t get much better than this in London, and The Tower offers proposal packages for £1,500. Got money to burn and looking for a lavish way to ring in the New Year? The Tower also offers a jaw-dropping £24,000 New Year’s Eve package, where you can watch the fireworks from the best view in town; the hotel’s own rooftop.
Incredible views by day and night
(Image: The Tower Hotel)
How much does it cost to stay at The Tower Hotel? Rooms at The Tower Hotel start from £107 per night; pretty good value, I reckon, for its incredible location and amazing views, especially compared to some of the budget chain hotels in the city. For more London hotel choices, give Apex’s Temple Court Hotel or City of London Hotel a go. If you’re after a historic building in a prime location, The Clermont Charing Cross also gets our thumbs up. Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
