DISCUSSION for Hilton Honors Hotels in or near London, United Kingdom {GBR}
#601
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: US
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 87
Doing a 10 night stay (using points) for a first trip to London around September. Looking for a central location in London so leaning towards the Conrad or Bankside. Any others I should consider? Which of these do people prefer? From my brief research it seems like the rooms are better at Bankside but the food and location are better at the Conrad?
I would say my priorities are room, then location (access to public transit, local places to eat), then extras like breakfast/lounge.
I would say my priorities are room, then location (access to public transit, local places to eat), then extras like breakfast/lounge.
#602
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,832
Doing a 10 night stay (using points) for a first trip to London around September. Looking for a central location in London so leaning towards the Conrad or Bankside. Any others I should consider? Which of these do people prefer? From my brief research it seems like the rooms are better at Bankside but the food and location are better at the Conrad?
I would say my priorities are room, then location (access to public transit, local places to eat), then extras like breakfast/lounge.
I would say my priorities are room, then location (access to public transit, local places to eat), then extras like breakfast/lounge.
I would also consider
Park Lane Hilton
Metropole
Tower Bridge
Bankside is good, good rooms, good breakfast, good lounge ( evening snacks have been reduced since a few years ago). Main disadvantage is the relatively poorer transport links. It is close to the southbank of the thames and the southwark tube station ( jubilee line ) or london bridge station.
Conrad is in a good location for Westminster/St James's park although some rooms may have some street traffic noise
Regards
TBS
#603
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NY Metro Area
Programs: AA 2MM Yay!, UA MM, Costco General Member
Posts: 48,923
Doing a 10 night stay (using points) for a first trip to London around September. Looking for a central location in London so leaning towards the Conrad or Bankside. Any others I should consider? Which of these do people prefer? From my brief research it seems like the rooms are better at Bankside but the food and location are better at the Conrad?
I would say my priorities are room, then location (access to public transit, local places to eat), then extras like breakfast/lounge.
I would say my priorities are room, then location (access to public transit, local places to eat), then extras like breakfast/lounge.
Hi,
I would also consider
Park Lane Hilton
Metropole
Tower Bridge
Bankside is good, good rooms, good breakfast, good lounge ( evening snacks have been reduced since a few years ago). Main disadvantage is the relatively poorer transport links. It is close to the southbank of the thames and the southwark tube station ( jubilee line ) or london bridge station.
Conrad is in a good location for Westminster/St James's park although some rooms may have some street traffic noise
Regards
TBS
I would also consider
Park Lane Hilton
Metropole
Tower Bridge
Bankside is good, good rooms, good breakfast, good lounge ( evening snacks have been reduced since a few years ago). Main disadvantage is the relatively poorer transport links. It is close to the southbank of the thames and the southwark tube station ( jubilee line ) or london bridge station.
Conrad is in a good location for Westminster/St James's park although some rooms may have some street traffic noise
Regards
TBS
#604
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Brentwood
Programs: BAEC silver, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 110
Whilst I haven't stayed in all of those hotels, my answer to these is always Tower Bridge. Rooms nice. Bankside newer but rooms seem darker to me. Right across from London Bridge Station/tube. Better range of food options nearby than Bankside or Conrad. You have Borough Market, vinegar yard (small outdoor stalls/street food), lots of places between the hotel and Tower Bridge. Not yoo much further to Bermondsey for the craft beer mile and Malty St Market. Depending on when you go the lounge has a nice terrace too and I would rate food over Bankside.
#605
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,368
Whilst I haven't stayed in all of those hotels, my answer to these is always Tower Bridge. Rooms nice. Bankside newer but rooms seem darker to me. Right across from London Bridge Station/tube. Better range of food options nearby than Bankside or Conrad. You have Borough Market, vinegar yard (small outdoor stalls/street food), lots of places between the hotel and Tower Bridge. Not yoo much further to Bermondsey for the craft beer mile and Malty St Market. Depending on when you go the lounge has a nice terrace too and I would rate food over Bankside.
Whilst Bankside has a nice pool and valet parking , that aside I prefer TB .
#606
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,511
Whilst I haven't stayed in all of those hotels, my answer to these is always Tower Bridge. Rooms nice. Bankside newer but rooms seem darker to me. Right across from London Bridge Station/tube. Better range of food options nearby than Bankside or Conrad. You have Borough Market, vinegar yard (small outdoor stalls/street food), lots of places between the hotel and Tower Bridge. Not yoo much further to Bermondsey for the craft beer mile and Malty St Market. Depending on when you go the lounge has a nice terrace too and I would rate food over Bankside.
We really do like a good lounge experience, and it sounds like Tower may be a notch above as well as having more varied environs. From folks familiar with both, does this seem accurate?
Also, one of the nights is booked with an Amex FNC that was extended a couple of days. Is it safe to assume that , if dates of use are unchanged, they would be able to move the reservation? Just in case we decide to change.
Cheers.
#607
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,368
We have a seat booked in London for two nights next August at the conclusion of a trip to Croatia. We have booked Bankside based on prior reviews. We want to try this side of the Thames as we have been in the more central areas a number of times.
We really do like a good lounge experience, and it sounds like Tower may be a notch above as well as having more varied environs. From folks familiar with both, does this seem accurate?
Also, one of the nights is booked with an Amex FNC that was extended a couple of days. Is it safe to assume that , if dates of use are unchanged, they would be able to move the reservation? Just in case we decide to change.
Cheers.
We really do like a good lounge experience, and it sounds like Tower may be a notch above as well as having more varied environs. From folks familiar with both, does this seem accurate?
Also, one of the nights is booked with an Amex FNC that was extended a couple of days. Is it safe to assume that , if dates of use are unchanged, they would be able to move the reservation? Just in case we decide to change.
Cheers.
That said the TB lounge is quite small where the Bankside lounge is large, thats the only advantage of Bankside executive lounge.
#608
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Brentwood
Programs: BAEC silver, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 110
Unsure about Amex but I feel the lounge offings are far superior at TB over Bankside plus in August it will be warm so the lounge outside terrace at TB with the views over London will be very nice as opposed to the windowless lounge at Bankside.
That said the TB lounge is quite small where the Bankside lounge is large, thats the only advantage of Bankside executive lounge.
That said the TB lounge is quite small where the Bankside lounge is large, thats the only advantage of Bankside executive lounge.
#609
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,511
Unsure about Amex but I feel the lounge offings are far superior at TB over Bankside plus in August it will be warm so the lounge outside terrace at TB with the views over London will be very nice as opposed to the windowless lounge at Bankside.
That said the TB lounge is quite small where the Bankside lounge is large, thats the only advantage of Bankside executive lounge.
That said the TB lounge is quite small where the Bankside lounge is large, thats the only advantage of Bankside executive lounge.
Cheers.
#610
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 224
I stayed at Bankside just a couple of weeks ago, and while the property itself was lovely and the staff great, I cannot say the same for the transport links. It took us a long time to get there in a cab cos of traffic, and we didn't fancy the walks to the tube either (we also had a toddler, which made treks twice as long!)
#612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,511
Thanks for all the input, and really glad I called to change.
It seems that the prior agent had not actually applied the FNC to the reservation. She had extended it a couple of days - the the date needed for the stay, but then not applied and took 70K x 2 for the two nights.
This agent cancelled that and booked the two nights using 70K points and FNC at TB. Also, she was able to book a combined reservation (FNC and points) in one reservation rather than two as I'd previously done. I always linked them for no issue, but a single reservation is better.
I really appreciate all of the insights about London hotels on this board. It has served us well on past stays and seems to have improved this upcoming stay.
Cheers.
It seems that the prior agent had not actually applied the FNC to the reservation. She had extended it a couple of days - the the date needed for the stay, but then not applied and took 70K x 2 for the two nights.
This agent cancelled that and booked the two nights using 70K points and FNC at TB. Also, she was able to book a combined reservation (FNC and points) in one reservation rather than two as I'd previously done. I always linked them for no issue, but a single reservation is better.
I really appreciate all of the insights about London hotels on this board. It has served us well on past stays and seems to have improved this upcoming stay.
Cheers.
#613
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: UK, Scotland
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond; UA/*A
Posts: 266
Last time my wife and I were in London, which was probably September or so of 2019, we stayed in the Park Lane and loved it. The location is great, across the street from Hyde Park and a bit farther from St. James Park. Lots of restaurants and tourist spots are a short walk. Great staff, like we asked the concierge for transportation help to get to Devon and they gave us some options then set it up.
#614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,511
Yes the Hilton Park Lane is one of the very best for tourists and there are some unbelievable views from higher up the property. I have stayed a few times over the years with friends who are visiting London for the first time - it definitely has something of a "wow" factor.
Definitely a great location, but not high on our list for a re-visit.
Cheers.
#615
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: UK, Scotland
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond; UA/*A
Posts: 266
Haha I agree - the lounge has always been totally mediocre when I've stayed there too. Several properties across London have MUCH better lounges and food overall for sure.