If you can’t decide between these four London hotels, Great Scotland Yard, Westin London City, Sea Containers, and The Ned, read our comparison below to find out which will help you work best for you. We have stayed in all four hotels and compared all aspects of the hotel to help you make an educated decision.
1. Best Location: Great Scotland Yard Vs. Westin Vs. Sea Containers Vs. The Ned
Great Scotland Yard can be found steps from Trafalgar Square, which connects to both Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue. The River Thames is also mere steps away.
The Westin London City is located on the banks of the River Thames, just steps from St Paul’s Cathedral. This makes it an excellent position from which to explore some London highlights, such as London Bridge, the Tower of London, the South Bank’s Tate Modern, and Shakespeare’s Globe.
Sea Containers has a brilliant waterside location. It lies right on the banks of the iconic River Thames in the heart of London’s fabulous South Bank area. You are minutes on foot from the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
The Ned is tucked in the vibrant City of London. The hotel enjoys a prime location within close proximity to some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. Both St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London are a pleasant stroll away.
These are all excellently located hotels. London has so many attractions and is so vast where you stay depends on exactly what you want to explore and where it’s located! Also, the transport network is so good that the location becomes less important to some extent as you can always travel to other places within the city! Personally, we found Great Scotland Yard to be right in the heart of where I wanted to be near the major tourist attractions.
2. Style & Character
Great Scotland Yard and The Ned are jam-packed with historic features. I particularly liked the wow factor when you enter The Ned; walking directly into the Banking Trading Hall of the former Midland Bank headquarters and are immediately greeted by the sheer vastness, history, and grandeur of the space; the stunning architecture and ambiance are breathtaking!
Great Scotland Yard is housed in the original home of the Metropolitan Police (also known as Scotland Yard), a fact celebrated gloriously by the hotel that now makes use of this grand Grade II listed Edwardian building.
Westin London City and Sea Containers are both more modern hotels and while I liked the more contemporary vibe and décor at both, they did not offer as many historic features within the hotel walls.
Review: Great Scotland Yard Hotel
On a recent jaunt to our nation's capital (London!), we were very pleasantly surprised by the delight of a hotel, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel, part of the Hyatt Hotels group. The very central Westminster location we knew to expect, 5* facilities a given; what we didn't expect was impeccable and warm service and a wonderfully presented hotel, both gloriously proud of its past and oozing modern British style at the same time. Add a charming selection of places to eat and drink, and recommending this hotel became very easy indeed.
3. Pools
Of these four hotels, only The Ned and Westin London City have swimming pools. Both are part of their spa.
The Ned’s 20-metre swimming pool is in the basement alongside the ultra-chic spa, sauna, steam room and gym. The 12-metre basement swimming pool at The Westin is also a delight; it’s beautifully lit and accompanied by similar spa facilities. Both are great spaces to relax and enjoy a dip but the sheer grandeur of the Ned meant it stood out.
Review: The Westin London City
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. 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!
4. Rooms
The rooms at The Ned were my favorite: opulent, glamorous, plush; very Instagrammable! The rooms at Sea Containers were a bit soulless, though perfectly functional.
In terms of size, the rooms at the Westin London City were some of the largest. The Ned’s rooms were more about style and glamour. Perhaps because it’s that bit more central, the Great Scotland Yard rooms felt slightly smaller than the others.
For families, Sea Containers and the Westin London City win hands down as they both offer rooms with 2 Double Beds.
Review: Sea Containers London
Tucked in the old docks of the Thames on London's South Bank lies Sea Containers Hotel. This unique hotel offers a mix of sensational bars, a basement gym and spa, and glamourous décor. The impeccable service was a treat, and the location was even better than expected. It's impossible to mention the location of the Sea Containers London Hotel without talking about its breathtaking riverfront aspect. The hotel lies on the banks of the iconic River Thames in the heart of London's fabulous South Bank area. You are minutes on foot from the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
5. Bathrooms & Toiletries
The best bathroom ware is definitely at The Ned and Great Scotland Yard; I felt they’d made sure to dress their bathrooms as well as the guest rooms. The stand-out toiletries can be found at the Ned. We had eight large bottles of Cowshed shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel to choose from; all were deliciously thick with scents almost good enough to eat.
6. The Club Floor
Of the four hotels, only The Westin London City has a club lounge. Housed opposite the main restaurant, the lounge is a relaxed, contemporary space boasting urban London views from its floor-to-ceiling windows that run the length of the space.
It’s an ideal location for business, a quiet breakfast, or a pre-dinner aperitif. Food is served throughout the day buffet style, and there are various drink options, including beers on tap, a recent addition that had just been added when I stayed!
Review: Westin London City Executive Club Lounge
The Westin London City has one of the best executive club lounges in London, and the hotel also offers chic, contemporary guest rooms and an excellent wellness center with spa and fitness center and a central London location near to St Paul’s Cathedral and London Bridge. Access to the club lounge is for Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite Members, as well as guests booking a St Paul’s Duplex, Executive, or Presidential Suite.
7. Food & Drink
Great Scotland Yard Hotel has a charming rustic restaurant, a stylish bar, and a very exotic lounge space, The Parlour, where a traditional afternoon tea with a twist is served. The Westin London City has a chic bar overlooking the River Thames and a spacious all-day dining restaurant.
The food and drink at Sea Containers was excellent, especially their riverside bar and fabulous rooftop bar, which were both memorable with impressive service, views, and cocktails.
However, little can compare to the Ned (pictured above) Its vast dining hall offers seamlessly endless bars and restaurants (ok, there are 10!), each tucked neatly into their own space, each unique and though we couldn’t get around them all, all equally delectable! Mention must be given to The Vault cocktail lounge housed in the bank’s original vault, which you enter through the 20-ton, 6.5-foot-wide door!
Review: The Ned London
We recently visited The Ned Hotel in London, and there's nothing quite like first walking into this particular building. You enter into the delightful surprise of the Banking Trading Hall of the former Midland Bank headquarters and are immediately greeted by the sheer vastness, history, and grandeur of the space. The stunning architecture and ambiance are breathtaking, and the ground floor is the beating hub of the hotel, with its amazing restaurants, bars, and reception check-in.
8. Price & Value
Sea Containers offers an excellent value stay in London, and both this hotel and the Westin London City are among the best options in central London, with two double beds in one room.
Great Scotland Yard is part of the Hyatt Group and Westin London City is part of the Marriott brand. Both are similarly priced; Great Scotland Yard offers a slightly more central location, but the Westin has both the pool and club lounge, making it a great value choice.
The Ned is set at a slightly higher price point than the other three hotels but is still a reasonable option as its city location puts it slightly outside of the tourist hub; the evening entertainment options that the vast Banking Hall offers and the large spa make it great value for money and a really unique offering.
9. Service
These are all top London hotels, and we received excellent service at all the hotels. A very family-friendly welcome was given at both the Westin London City and Great Scotland Yard. The Ned stood out slightly with a gracious welcome and super attentive concierge team.
10. Conclusion
You’d be lucky to stay at any of these central London hotels; they are all exceptional. For location, Great Scotland Yard wins out, for a value offering, it has to be Sea Containers. For a club lounge or family stay, the Westin London City is excellent, but The Ned does stand apart; the history, the choice of restaurants and bars, the spa space, and the service are definitely worth experiencing firsthand.
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