It’s very rare to find a reasonably priced hotel right on the Southbank of the River Thames. One that suits families, couples and both leisure and business.
This is precisely what you get at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, as we discovered on a recent trip to London. Owned and run by the Radisson Hotel Group, this hotel has unobstructed views over the River Thames from the bars, breakfast room, restaurant, the penthouse and indeed most of the rooms and suites.
Just a short walk from Vauxhall tube station and a bus stops immediately outside the front of the hotel, with has easy walking access to Lambeth Bridge, the London Eye, the London Dungeons and all the attractions on the South Bank. You can walk to the National Theatre in 5-10 minutes. Across the river from Westminster and Whitehall, beyond that, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. This hotel is really well situated, a 40-minute walk to Piccadilly Circus and everything the West End has to offer.
With facilities including an indoor swimming pool and a gym, this is a great hotel for families and business travellers alike. There is also an in-house spa.
We were fortunate enough to stay in a beautiful luxury family suite. Upon entering we had access to our own private kitchenette with dining space, a spacious lounge area which converted to a double sofa bed. Floor to ceiling picture windows looking straight down the Thames to the West, a separate, king-sized bedroom with a great en suite bathroom and a separate shower, robes, Elemis skincare and all mod cons. Electric curtains, digital light and temperature controls; there’s lots of attention to detail and we felt safe and cocooned in our suite, especially when the lights went down.
Upon closer inspection we discovered a Nespresso machine, microwave, dishwasher and cupboards fully stocked with crockery, cutlery and glassware. Tea and coffee are provided too. We could quite easily have enjoyed room service in our suite; however, we chose to explore the local area.
We did take advantage of and enjoyed breakfast on the 1st floor, once again overlooking the River Thames. A great way to start the day especially as we did a little 5km run along the Southbank, which was glorious and immediately outside the hotel and easy running.
The hotel has its own Pan Asian fusion restaurant called Chino Latino which has live entertainment, a terrific cocktail menu and more of those stunning views of the river.
The decor in the hotel is contemporary with some fantastic lighting installations and eclectic artwork. For those in the city on business, the hotel also has wonderful conference facilities, and in fact, if you look online you can see in the main ballroom, a car parked in the middle of a vast space which can accommodate 660 guests. This hotel caters to parties and conference gatherings of all sizes from small meeting/training rooms to big events.
The foyer comes alive from morning until dusk as conference delegates and tourists alike beetle around this bustling area.
At night people gravitate even higher to the Executive Lounge on the 12th floor with even bigger views. Available for private hire and with a boardroom for 10 adjacent this could be the perfect spot for your next business gathering.
Prices start from approximately £168 and with accommodation to suit everyone I would consider this as your home away from home, the place you lay your hat next time you head to London. You won’t be disappointed.
Review by Deana Morgan @deanamorgandance
