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From its prime vantage on the banks of the River Thames, The Westin London City Hotel by Marriott offers amazing views and a great location from which to explore the South Bank and the city of London. On a recent visit to the luxury, contemporary hotel, we were blown away by the impeccable service and especially loved the wellness facilities.
Location
The Westin London City is located just steps from St Pauls Cathedral in the heart of the city of London. Mansion House Tube Station is also steps away, even nearer than St Pauls Cathedral! London Bridge and the Tower of London can both be easily reached on foot, as can the popular Sky Garden, which offers spectacular city views.
The Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe both lie directly opposite the hotel on the South Bank of the River Thames. London Waterloo is the nearest large mainline railway station, and the nearest airport is London City Airport, which is 11 km from the hotel.
Style & Character
The hotel opened in 2021, so it is a reasonably new addition to the luxury hotel scene in London. I always think the entrance to a hotel is of critical importance. At the Westin London City, conveniently, there are actually two entrances on opposite sides of the hotel, the South Entrance from near the river and the North Entrance very close to Mansion House underground station.
Both entrances are fully manned, and you are warmly greeted at both. However, my favorite thing about either welcome was the enticing scent of White Tea that floods the whole hotel and envelops you as soon as you enter. Step inside, breathe in deeply, and feel yourself relax; you might not have found the spa yet, but you’ll certainly feel as though you have! The scent is used in the complimentary bathroom products, too, and at the spa itself.
The decor of this 5-star hotel is a calming and luxurious mix of natural colors and fabrics; think polished stone, dark wood, greys, indigo, and a rich teal. There are contemporary art pieces throughout the hotel. We especially adored the huge paper sculpture that hangs from the ceiling in the lobby of the South Entrance.
Rooms
The Westin London City Hotel has 225 guest rooms, suites, and residences. All the rooms have their Westin Heavenly Beds, ultra-sleek bathrooms, and all the usual amenities you would expect: robes, slippers, tea and coffee-making facilities, and USD ports by the beds.
The size of even the Classic rooms is really impressive for central London. This is a great hotel if you like your space. We loved how the Signature Room (next level up) also comes in a Two Double (Signature Family) option. This is surprisingly hard to find in luxury central London hotels, and our room had plenty of space for a desk, armchair, and lots of room for cases and for us all to spread out.
Opt for their luxury rooms to make the most of the views of London and the Thames. Or if views are really your thing, it’s got to be the St Paul’s Duplex Suite, a stunning suite with a lounge area downstairs boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and an open plan feel bedroom upstairs, all perfectly positioned to take full advantage of the view to the famous Cathedral.
The hotel also has a range of very-wow 3-bedroom Residences for longer stays or larger families. We were lucky enough to tour several, and they definitely had that ‘wow’ factor! With impeccable finishes and a vast amount of space, we could have very happily moved in!
If you book a club room, you can access the Westin London City club lounge, which we have reviewed in detail and which is well worth a visit. This is one of the best executive club lounges in London.
Service & Facilities
As soon as I think about the facilities at the Westin London City, my mind drifts to the spa! Follow that White Tea scent, and you can’t miss it. Another lovely warm welcome greeted us here as they explained the facilities and showed us where to go.
The 12-metre basement swimming pool is a complete delight: large, gently lit, and serene, with a hot tub at one end and day beds and loungers along one side. Alternating between a relaxing dip and reading poolside was a lovely way to ease my city-tired muscles. There’s also a steam room and sauna, a sensory shower, a vitality pool, and an ice fountain, as well as five treatment rooms and a relaxation area.
Along with the spa, the hotel has a fitness studio with cardio equipment, free weights, and Peloton Bikes. The hotel is also home to the Westin Club lounge, a calm, spacious lounge area away from the other communal areas serving breakfast, snacks, and soft drinks throughout the day, as well as canapes and evening nibbles with a range of alcoholic drinks.
We were absolutely charmed by the service throughout our time at the Westin London City. From the initial greeting at the entrance, through the lovely warmth at reception as they granted us an early check-in, to all the interactions at the restaurant and spa.
We were handed complimentary beverages upon check-in, iced juices for the children, and sparkling Prosecco for the adults. This nicely sets the tone for a lovely relaxed pace and a feeling that they are on hand to help and nothing is too much trouble.
I also really liked how every time you walked past Mosaic, the main restaurant, the staff were there ready to greet you, and even if you weren’t dining, they would say a friendly hello, have a chat, and assist you with anything. There’s a concierge desk, too, and they were more than happy to store our bags and furnish us with London tips.
My children were also given passports at check-in so that they could collect a stamp at each department throughout the hotel. This was not only very fun, but at the end, they exchanged their completed stamp book for a gorgeous London teddy! Happy children often lead to happy parents, and that was certainly the case for us!
Food & Drink
The Westin London City is home to a contemporary bar and an all-day dining restaurant. Head to chic wine bar Hithe and Seek to combine panoramic views of the River Thames with your beverage. They serve a range of complimentary small plates, too so you can nibble away as you sit back, enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail, and take in life on the water.
For a bigger appetite, Mosaic is the place for you. This is the main restaurant of the hotel, where breakfast, dinner, and afternoon tea are served. The restaurant is long, with different spaces, so you could quite happily host a business lunch or do some work while you eat, and then there’s space for a social breakfast and a charming evening meal too. I loved the Champagne Bar space as part of their partnership with Taittinger.
The cuisine at Mosaic has an emphasis on wellness, with fresh, seasonal ingredients used in a wide-ranging menu that includes salads, pizza, steaks, and burgers. The Line-caught Mediterranean Seabass and Rack of Lamb are exceptional.
Conclusion
For a central London hotel with huge rooms, a focus on wellness and relaxation, and exceptional service, the Westin London City should definitely be on your must-visit list. The club lounge is a huge plus for us, as was the basement swimming pool, but the flexible restaurant and the warm welcome will keep us coming back.
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