London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [140]
Ramada Hotel and Suites Docklands.
££ | Built in a dramatic waterfront location, this modern hotel is in the rejuvenated Docklands area of East London. Many rooms have water views, and others have views of the city. Rooms are sleek and modern, geared at business travelers, with Wi-Fi, large desks, data ports, and personal voice mail. The hotel’s restaurants and bars are handy, although there’s plenty to choose from these days in Docklands. Pros: waterfront views. Cons: hotel lacks character; area is quiet on weekends; about a 20-minute Tube ride to central London. TripAdvisor: “excellent value,” “incredibly quiet,” “very handy location.” | ExCel,2 Festoon Way, Royal Victoria Dock, East End | E16 1RH | 020/7540–4820 | www.ramadadocklands.co.uk | 224 rooms | In-room: a/c, safe, Internet. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym | AE, MC, V | Breakfast | Old St.
Town Hall Hotel.
£££–££££ | This building used to be one of London’s living ghosts—an Art Deco Town Hall that was abandoned by the city in the early 1980s and literally untouched until it was turned into a chic hotel in 2010. Fortunately the new owners have done a good job in keeping the building’s more elegant original features, while creating a stylish and modern new place to stay in a neglected corner of the East End. But therein lies the rub—although you’ll hear words like “cool” and “cutting edge” being thrown around to sell the neighborhood, this isn’t a nice part of town, and it’s certainly a long way from the major tourist sites. On the other hand, central London is a 15-minute Tube ride away. Bedrooms are reasonably sized, bright and airy, with masculine color schemes of cream, brown, and metallic gray. Bathrooms are visions of white and chrome, although some sacrifice too much practicality in the name of design (some only have a curtain to separate them from the bedroom, for example). There’s also a range of self-catering apartments from studios to three-bedrooms. Pros: beautifully designed; lovely staff; close to a tube station; big discounts for weekend stays. Cons: not a great part of town; far from tourist sights. TripAdvisor: “staff were helpful and friendly,” “relatively expensive,” “beautiful building.” | Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, East End | EC2 9NF | 020/7657–8080 | www.townhallhotel.com | In-room: a/c, DVD, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, pool, spa, gym | AE, DC, MC, V | Bethnal Green
THE SOUTH BANK
Fodor’s Choice | Church Street Hotel.
££ | Above a popular tapas restaurant, this immensely welcoming boutique hotel is like a ray of sunshine in gritty South London; each room is individually decorated in rich, bold tones and authentic Central American touches, from elaborately painted crucifixes to tiles that were handmade in Guadalajara. Beds aren’t huge, but have homemade iron frames, and bathrooms contain chic Korres products. The Church Street Hotel serves the only certified organic breakfast in London that we’re aware of—a tasty combination of breads, pastries, and smoothies, much of it sourced from nearby Borough Market. There’s an honesty bar with a great selection of Spanish and American bottled beers, and the hotel even makes its own hot sauce. However, transport links with the center aren’t great; the nearest tube and train stations are a mile away, although buses are easier. Camberwell is a trendy area, but it’s certainly not gentrified, so be savvy at night (and avoid neighboring Elephant and Castle, which is super-dodgy). Pros: unique and funky; great breakfasts; lovely staff; closer to central London than it might appear. Cons: not a great part of town; would suit adventurous young things more than families; far from a tube station; some rooms have shared bathroom. TripAdvisor: “staff was extraordinarily friendly,” “fresh and colorful,