City Inn Westminster
What’s Here
General Info
It’s worth noting that beds are smaller in the UK. A standard “double” is cosy! I can’t remember the sizes off the top of my head, but a “king” is 5 ft wide and a “superking” is 6ft wide. A standard double is 4 feet 6 inches wide. Book a twin (i.e., 2 beds); a double is a bed for two!
Buy a travelcard/oystercard – gives you travel on ALL forms of public transport for its duration within a given area. Excellent value, and very helpful to think you can hop on any bus, tube, tram or train you happen to come across!
Eat fish and chips from a proper chippy (not a pub).
Don’t forget to WALK… it’s the best way to see London
Plenty of ATMs all over the place (and all over Europe). Anything with a Visa/MC sign will be accepted
In general, Euros are not accepted currency in the UK!
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Getting to the Hotel
Many Icy Jewels are arranging group transport from the airport(s) to their hotels in London. Bob is tracking the list on the Icy Jewels website, so you can make connections with other Icy Jewels.
There is also a page on this website that is specfically and much more detailed about getting to London from the airports.
Icy Jewels shuttle to Harwich
- Expanded information with picture and maps is available on this site.
- Bob's Icy Jewels site (Sorry, the buses are all full.)
- Cruise Critic Rollcall
Woodford bus
City Inn Westminster
rooms and information
30 John Islip Street,
Westminster, SW1P 4DD
Telephone: 020 7630 1000
May Husmillo-Sevilla, Reservations Sales Agent
Tele: +44 (0)20 7630 1000
FAX: +44 (0)20 7233 7575
Email: westminster.res@cityinn.com
- Checkout Time 1200
- Checkin Time 1500
- Free wifi broadband
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The New York Times recommends the City Inn Westminster, which by taxi is just 6–7 minutes to the station but is on the North side of the Thames right next to the Tate Gallery. The service at this hotel is first rate, very friendly and very efficient and it has these great discounted prices if you are checking in for a weekend because it’s mainly occupied by business people and politicos during the week given its location near government offices. It is in the top 10 at tripadvisor.com and by far the least expensive of the 10.
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Nearby Locations
24 kms to the airport (Heathrow)
35 kms to the airport (Gatwick)
10 minute walk to the nearest metro station (Westminster)
Pimlico Tube – 9 mins / SW
1 km to the nearest station (Victoria)
2 minute walk to the nearest bus stop (88 bus)
Vauxhall Station – 12 mins / S
Vauxhall Tube – 12 mins / SE
St James’s Park Tube – 13 mins / NW
Westminster Tube – 13 mins / N
Heathrow Airport – 16 miles
Lambeth Bridge – 0.2 km / 0.2 mi
Tate Britain – 0.3 km / 0.2 mi
Victoria Tower – 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Lambeth Palace – 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Palace of Westminster – 0.6 km / 0.4 mi
Westminster Abbey – 0.7 km / 0.4 mi
Parliament Square – 0.7 km / 0.5 mi
Big Ben – 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
London Eye – 1.2 km / 0.7 mi
St. James Park – 1.2 km / 0.7 mi
Buckingham Palace – 1.3 km / 0.8 mi
Imperial War Museum – 1.4 km / 0.9 mi
Trafalgar Square – 1.6 km / 1 mi
St. Paul’s Cathedral – 2.9 km / 1.8 mi
Tower of London – 4 km / 2.5 mi
Also if you are worried about hackers or later guests accessing any of your information (or those late-night pub crawl pics), the hotel chains says the iMacs will undergo a “Faronics Deep Freeze” every 24 hours, which restores the computer to the factory settings. Hotel Chatter
City Club rooms: Guaranteed early arrival from 10am and extended departure until 4pm. A personal contact in Guest Services provides extra assistance. A complimentary drink served in the Millbank Lounge daily. In-room complimentary mineral water refreshed daily. Fruit platter provided on arrival. Upgraded toiletries. Complimentary daily newspaper.
The City Inn Westminster London is within what would be classed as central London and sits almost opposite the River Thames. The Thames makes for some great walks along its bank with dedicated walkways along much of its length. Nearby major shopping restaurants and pubs can be found on Victoria Street less than half a mile to the north while more local type amenities are in the surrounding vicinity notably along Vauxhall bridge Road and away. Some of the best known area such as London’s theatreland are best accessed by public transport being just over a mile from the hotel. A very short walk from the hotel is the Tate Britain art gallery (0.21 miles) and just a little further in the other direction is Parliament Square (0.41 miles) home to the Houses of Parliament, House of Lords and Westminster Abbey. Other nearby attractions include the London Aquarium (0.64 miles), London Eye (Millennium Wheel) (0.77 miles), Buckingham Palace (0.81 miles), Trafalgar Square (0.91 miles), Cabinet War Rooms (0.58 miles) and Queens Gallery (0.79 miles).
The hotel is under the “C” in City Inn, not the arrow.
Our standard rooms are designed to accomodate up to 2 guests with single, double or twin beds (twin beds upon request) to choose from. Room amenities include air conditioning, heating, alarm clock, internet access, room service, iron/ironing board, safe in room, bathrobe, bathroom amenities, kettle, cable or satellite tv, cd player, tea and coffee making facilities, laundry service, telephone, color tv, mini bar, modem or data port connection, disabled facilities, non smoking rooms, voice mail, dvd player, ensuite/private bathroom, hairdryer and radio.
Reviews
City Inn is well situated 300 m from the Tate in a quiet back street, yet close to Westminster Abbey and Lambeth Bridge. Reception and concierge were welcoming and very speedy. 9th floor room was quiet, immaculate and very comfortable. Breakfast was good with plenty of choice, and staff here were friendly and efficient.
Having read the reports we caught the tube to pimlico and walked to the hotel which was not far at all. After exploring the next day we did actually find the westminster tube a better walk. We arrived before the official check in time but having registered a room was ready.
We stayed at the City Inn Westminster over a long weekend in the summer. It is in excellent condition, I had no complaints about the rooms, cleanliness or noise. We were given a complimentary upgrade to a river view room too which was nice. All rooms have an IMac computer which is good for checking out things to do, places to eat and the weather etc. I thought it was trendier to have one of these in the room, much better than just a TV. The only thing that lets this hotel down is the location. There are a few restaurants within walking distance but not a great selection really and there were no bars nearby. The hotel does have a very nice restaurant and separate bar upstairs which is very chic! The hotel is about 5–10mins walk away from Pimlico tube station. I might stay at this hotel again if we were to get the same great rate, but I might also look around for a hotel in a more lively location.
One of our favorite hotels in London. The feel of the hotel is relaxing from the moment we entered. We have booked a standard room in advance at a great rate. Arrived to check in at 5pm and were warmly greeted. We noticed when we open the door to the room that they had given us a club room. The room was large and very nice appointed. Nice Mac computer easy instructions in welcome book on how to use. Great selection of TV channels including sky sports. Also the minbar prices were not overly expensive. Bed was comfortable and they also allowed us to have a late check out until 2pm which was appreciated.
On arriving at Euston a taxi cost £12 to the hotel. The lady on reception was friendly and check in was very quick. We did have to wait for an extra bed to be put into the room for our son but seeing as we arrived at dinnertime and the bed wasn’t needed straight away this was no problem. The room was very clean and spacious. The hotel was a 5 min walk from Houses of Parliment, which was a lovely walk along the river. Check out was just as fast. We didn’t eat at the hotel instead we found a little cafe in Regency street (Regency Cafe) which set us up for the day with a £5 English Breakfast.
Good location next to Tate Gallery and Millbank. Ten minutes walking distance to Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, London Eye; a bit longer to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden. You don’t get much in London for £150. Good hotel, nice lobby, restaurant etc. Lifts and public places all modern and well kept. Rooms were reasonably well appointed ; no frills just basically good. Bathroom a bit small but smart, clean, and well set out. On the whole comfortable.
Light and airy contemporary hotel in a great central London locationa. Attentive friendly staff. Great rooms which are well designed and very very quiet. The IMacs are groundbreaking with Internet and TV etc all free. I hate it when hotels charge extra for the use of the Internet. And City Inn don’t. Breakfasts are very good although they seem to be a victim of their own success with a short queue in the morning. But the staff really look as if they enjoy working for the company. Always a good sign. Highly recommmended.
The hotel lived up to our expectations: it was clean, quiet, with good service. The room was a little smaller than I expected, but it was ok, and the closet was pretty small. There was a shower but no tub. A very good point was that there was an Apple iMac which served as TV, movie player, radio, and internet connection, all for free. It functioned very well and we were able to check in online and print our boarding passes, which we picked up downstairs at the concierge desk. We reserved a room with two twin beds because I thought we would have more space, but I think a room with one queen bed probably would actually have had more room because a queen takes less space than two twins. Nonetheless, there was space for an upholstered chair, coffee table, a bar, and a desk. We found two good restaurants nearby – the White Swan Pub (serves English food at reasonable prices) and Millbank Spice (Indian food-a little more expensive). We got the bed and continental breakfast package, and breakfast was very plentiful, although only cold dishes: cereals, fruits, pastries, rolls, lunch meats, toast, croissant sandwiches, bagels with salmon and cream cheese, etc.
Lovely hotel with clean spacious room. Internet access was helpful in planning what to do. Small bathroom but probably because the shower tray is a good size. Nice continental breakfast with cereals, smoked salmon bagels, crossiants with ham etc. Check in and out efficient. You can leave cases there all day when you check out which was great as it meant we could go out and make the most of our last day instead of spending it going home early. Only minor negative point is its about 10mins to pimlico tube and 15 mins to westminster. Not really a problem apart from when its pouring and you need to go back to change before going out. All in all really enjoyed stay there.
Overall a great stay, and definitely recommend. The Underground Circle Line wasn’t operating during our stay in London, so I’m not really sure how convenient the hotel is to transportation. It was about a 10 minute walk to Big Ben and even shorter than that to nearby cafes (Pret a Manger and Starbucks – although they don’t open until 9am on Saturdays!). I also highly recommend the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station. It was so convenient, then just a 15 minute cab ride from Paddington to City Inn.
Location – The location of this hotel is EXCELLENT. It’s in walking distance to the London Eye, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and many restaurants. There’s also a little convenience type store about 2 blocks up which was awesome for late night snacks. It’s about a 5 mins walk to the tube station, and it’s in a very nice neighborhood. I never once felt unsafe walking back at night.
We chose the hotel because it wasn’t in the hubbub of the city but was close enough that we could take the tube or get a taxi. (£6 to Leicester square and roughly £12 to Euston station) The tube is within walking distance (and I have walking difficulties!) You could probably have walked to Parliament from there too if you were feeling energetic.
I booked this hotel over the telephone and was not quoted the tax of around £26.00. When checking out this was added to my fee.
Based on Trip Advisor reviews we booked 4 nights. Arrived at 7am after 24 hours travel from Australia and was offered a room to shower and change in till ours was ready!! And it just got better from there. Moved into our real room about 4pm, well appointed, luxurious and the Imac a bonus – skyped home on several occasions, able to do banking etc. A 10 minute walk to Pimlico station, 15 minute walk to Westminster Abbey or the 110 bus out the front goes to Trafalgar Square. And a stones throw from the Tate. Brilliant. Can’t recommend this hotel enough … and go for the Breakfast add on … excellent value
We had an excellent dinner at The Cinnamon Club on the Saturday, again a short walk from the hotel.
The room was small and simple but very clean and quiet. We loved the imac computer in the room, it was great for planning our activities and keeping touch with the folks at home. The full English breakfasts included in our stay were wonderful, especially the sausages and French toast.
We booked a few weeks before our trip through the LondonTown.com website so that for the price of the room we also had breakfast and dinner included. Breakfast was fantastic – there was quite a large variety of cold and hot items from the buffet along with the chance to order from the menu as well. At 100 pounds a night, taking into consideration that the meals and the Internet was included, the cost of the room was a true bargain.
– Rooms small and cramped especially because of the small table right in the middle of everything.
– Double beds too small for two people (but comfortable otherwise)
– Very small bathroom that made you feel constricted and clauastrophobic.
– No bidet in the bathroom
– Water pressure in the shower not low but not high enough to make it trully satisfying.
Included with your accomodations is a fabulous breakfast! This was important because it was difficult to find a family restaurant within 30 minutes walking distance of this hotel.
Buffet breakfast is one of the best we’ve ever had – with hot breakfasts cooked to order which is always a nice touch compared to everything being on hot plates. Overall would definitely not bother looking anywhere else every time we go to London now, this hotel is the perfect package for the price.
All is not lost as the No. 88 Bus which runs day and night is about one hundred yards from the hotel and you can use your travelcard and get a ride on the bus to Victoria station and continue on the tube from there. With that option though, you lose some time.
Although the hotel does not have a conveniently located tube station, the 88 and C10 buses stop just a block from the front entrance. They run frequently and efficiently and are much more pleasant to ride than the tube.
We’re lucky to get early check in. The room we stayed was nice and clean with some view of the river Thames & London. Furniture was modern but basic. Bathroom was small but nice and it came with The White Company toileteries.
Our rate didn’t include breakfast and at £17.50 wasn’t good value if you don’t want a full English but there are plenty of good cafes around.
We got a package that included full english breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed both the buffet and cooked entrees – lots of options and variety and excellent quality.
Quiet location in a decent part of London, the 88 bus from just a few yards away will take you to the heart of the West End and Pimlico tube is only about 1k away (5 mins) on the Victoria Line or 2k (10 mins) to Houses of Parliament for Westminster tube.
We paid £170 for a Club Room, which isn’t as cheap as it could be. Still it seems pretty good value for a quality room, and did come with Club benefits ( 1pm checkin, 4pm checkout, free bottle of wine, free chocolates, free bottles of water, etc)
The room was well appointed with comfortable bed, nice fitted units and, best of all, an Apple iMac computer with television and DVD system. This worked a treat, although the volume from the JBL surround system was loud even on its lowest setting.
Location-wise the hotel is perfect being just a ten minute walk to the nearest tube station – a walk through nice tree-lined streets near the houses of parliament.
One last point – when placing my order online I asked for a room towards the top of the 13-storey building … and got one at the very top. It had a fantastic view of the houses of parliament and London Eye, and this really showed that the hotel listens to requests from guests.
The hotel is in a fab location – just 5mins from the Tate (well worth a visit) and a 12min walk to Houses of Parliament. Pimlico is the nearest Tube, but there are also very frequent buses. We had continental breakfast and the choice was excellent. As a final treat we took a taxi to KingsCross station – it took less than 25mins and cost £15.
Beds are really comfy, and the breakfast included in our deal really was a winner. To pay for that alone was £24 i think so well worth it if you get a deal with the breakfast included. The location really was good for us, as you can walk to the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliment. Its only about a twenty minute walk and we stumbled across a Battle of Britain monument on theriver bank. As i mentioned next to the hotel is the Tate gallery, and near by is a boat service that travels Tate to Tate.It’s only a couple of pound, and really convenient to visit over the other side of the river. Tube station is about a ten minute walk away, but a very pleasant walk at that.
Stayed 5 nights on a rate of 115 pounds inc breakfast and dinner. Dinner could be upgraded by about 8 pounds to get the full a la carte menu which you needed if staying more than a couple of nights. Requested room with view but did not get it.
I do have a few things we noted when we were there, neither positive nor negative, just things we noticed (it’s always nice to know, I think):
– There was no clock in the room. The only way to have an alarm was through a wake up call, which was not a phone call, it was the staff quietly knocking on the door, as if they didn’t want to disturb us.
– There are no vending machines in the hotel (nor are there any convenience stores closeby for a midnight snack), only the minibar. The prices seemed a bit high to me (£2.40 for water, £2.50 for juice, £1.30 for a small pack of Pringles, etc).
– There was free tea (Chamomile and English Breakfast which were both quite good) as well as a free cookie (which wasn’t so good)
– We could see the edge of the London Eye out our window, if we opened it as far as it would go and leaned out, but my wife was excited about the ’view’
– The towels and robes were very scratchy, not soft at all, but at least this way you know they’ve been bleached
– They let us leave our luggage after check out, which was nice since we still had some sight-seeing to do
If you’re from out of country, they like for you to show your passport on check-in. We had left ours with family just outside of London, so they took our Driver’s Licenses instead. Oh, and one last little point, this was one of the cheapest hotels we were able to find in London, £99 for the night. In my opinion, very worth it.
Wow. Just wow. From the time my nephew and I stepped out of the taxi in front of the hotel and when we checked out, it was top notch service all the way! Of all the hotels I’ve stayed in, this takes top billing. My nephew and I were lucky to get a room on the 11th floor with a view out to the Thames. And what a room! All modern amenities, well stocked minibar and the iMac computer/entertainment center was a godsend. I’d booked this hotel earlier this year and got a rate of $100 per night (roughly). We were there for 4 nights and DEFINITELY got our money’s worth. Also included in our rate was breakfast – and a nice buffet breakfast at that. The food from room service was excellent as well. On one night my nephew had the spaghetti bologanse (I probably spelled that wrong) and a couple of other nights we got the hamburger. Just simply an amazing hotel. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone going to London. Probably the only downside people might find about the hotel is the location to the nearest tube stop (Westminster) – but if you can get over that, then you’re all set. Top marks go to everyone who works at that hotel for making our stay an extremely pleasant one!
The size of the room was fine and, as everyone else has commented, the imac was really well thought out and something other hotels should consider! We arrived at about 10.30am and we were able to check into our room straight away which gave us plenty of time for mooching around the shops and sightseeing. We didn’t book a table in the restuarant for our dinner as we weren’t sure what time we would be back. However on our return we just went down to the restaurant and were able to get a table straight away. The food and service were absolutely excellent and even when my son wanted a pudding which was only on the room service menu and not on the restaurant menu they were happy to oblige. Service was polite and not overbearing. We both opted for the steak offer and we weren’t disappointed (especially with the bearnaise sauce!)
Travel advice … if getting the train into Waterloo, get off at Vauxhall and get the 88 straight to the hotel. Takes 5 minues and saves having to get the tube to Pimlico and walk from there.
We booked the hotel via www.citycentrehotels.com and obtained a very good rate, particularly as the hotel’s own website wasn’t showing availability on twin rooms. The hotel itself was fantastic – rooms were quite large for London and very modern. The IMAC provided was great as was the option to send things to print to guest services meaning web check-in for flights wasn’t a problem. The beds were very comfortable and the rooms were very quiet even though we were on the (albeit fairly quite) road side just above the entrance.
The location was fantastic with a bus stop with buses towards Victoria or Oxford St a couple of steps away from the main entrance. The walk to Westminster tube station took about 7–10 mins (Pimlico was closed when we were there). I would however anyway suggest the buses as you see more and it is quite a nice, yet quick ride. If I remember correctly the buses go every 7–10 mins. I prefered the fact that it wasn’t directly in the centre of all the tourist sites as it also meant that you didn’t have the noise associated with these sites.
The English breakfast did leave quite a lot to be desired. Thankfully the breakfast was included in the room price and we weren’t paying £17 extra for it, as I would have otherwise requested a refund. 4 orders were taken by the waiter and when they arrived all 4 were wrong. We quickly sorted this out amongst ourselves but when it came to taste the food also was mediocre. The poached eggs were rubbery and had a metallic taste to them (possibly the London water?), the black pudding was terribly dry and over-peppered even for myself who very much enjoys spiced food. The bacon had also obviously been cooked and stored which left it rubbery (whilst I expect this from a breakfast buffet I shouldn’t have to expect it from a “cooked to order” breakfast).
So my conclusion would be that I would DEFINATELY stay here again – it is one of the best hotels I have stayed in in London for value for money. I would however NOT take the English breakfast again but – if included in the room rate – take the continental breakfast or eat elsewhere if the breakfast wasn’t included in the room rate.
Beautiful and scenic location for hotel. “Stones throw” from the Thames River. Short/medium walking distance to virtually 90% of what you would want to see in London … a little bit off the beaten path also adds to its appeal. Concierge and restaurant staff were extremely helpful and courteous. Hotel attributes are “modern.” Rooms are very well appointed and the daily housekeeping was excellent. Multi-function Mac computer/TV/DVD is a great idea. Free hot breakfasts included with room are fantastic; a tremendous value for the family (everything from Eggs Benedict to Full English breakfast).
From first arrival the service was excellent – professional and helpful. We even managed to check in earlier than the stated time. Room was clean, modern and had access to internet on MAC. The hotel had a gorgeous restaurant the food was first class. Breakfast which was hot and also provided continental was superb. From the freshly grounded coffee, to selection of food from traditional english to loch fyne kippers and smoked haddock was first class. Once again the service was prompt, pleasant and professional. Ideal if you are looking for a quiet night sleep but want easy access to main attractions with the Houses of Parliament literally round the corner. First class in every way.
We have just enjoyed a three day midweek break in two very pleasant standard double rooms which were an amazing £104 per room per night including a very good full breakfast (normally £17.50) which was booked through hotelconnect.com.
There was also a free safety deposit box that our 15inch laptop could fit into for safe storage whilst we were out.
The room was not huge (most urban rooms are not) but it was very efficiently designed. We each had a twin bed (pushed together in the space of a queen or king) but I never knew my son was beside me – it was very comfortable. The beds each had a fluffy duvet with no top sheet (that’s how the males in our house prefer it anyway); however the duvet cover was thin and was changed with the sheets for each new guest. The A/C was easy to control; I have no idea if the adjacent rooms were noisy because I turned on the fan during the night and never heard a peep from outside our room. The bathroom was small but nice – a shower gel dispenser was in the shower and the bath towels were large and fluffy. The shower head height was adjustible and the water pressure was great.
Our stay included either a continental breakfast or a full English breakfast. I tried the full English breakfast one morning just to say I had but the other days I had the continental. It was wonderful – they had cheese and tomato croissants, a cheese tray, a meat tray, pastries, toast, fresh fruit and juices (and I’m probably leaving something out because that’s just what I had)! There is a pub called The Westminster about two blocks away if you want pub food.
The title says it all really, the hotel is clean, modern and in an excellent location. Unless you walk VERY VERY slowly it is only a 5 minute walk to Pimlico station and 10 minutes to Westminster Station.
We arrived at the hotel about 9:30AM and we were able to check in immediately! No fuss, no waiting. we had been up to our room got change and was walking past Big Ben by 10AM!
The rooms are well equipped and as previous posts have stated the bed is so comfortable! The bathroom was a little small but it was spotlessly tidy and the shower was warm and powerful! The rooms also have an ironing board and an iron, tea and coffee making facilities along with a wide range of teas and coffees.
Wonderful accommodations, staff and very convenient location. There is an excellent Italian restaurant just around the corner from the hotel. Eat there or at the Tate Britain just out the front door. NOT at the hotel. Bus stops are just out the front door and it’s a short hop to Victoria Station by bus.
Avoid the restaurant and bar at all cost. I was served fish so rotten that the smell of ammonia was almost overwhelming. A subsequent order took over an hour to arrive and I had to remind wait staff. The food is beautifully presented but the ingredients are not the best. The hotel and restaurant may not be under the same management. Service in the bar is also slow even on uncrowded evenings.
We ate in the restaurant on the Friday night and this was very nice indeed, staff very friendly and prompt service. Breakfast on the Saturday morning was wonderful, every conceivable item you could possibly want for breakfast! I would recommend that you don’t leave it too late for breakfast especially if you are staying at the weekend, as it does get very busy.
Breakfast was very well cooked. A lovely choice from the menu and just enough on the plate to satisfy but not over-facing. A good range of fruit and cereals, plus bakery items was on offer. If you can head down early (pre-9am) you will beat the rush. As we were leaving there was a very long queue. Waiting staff at breakfast were very good, especially considering how busy it was.
We had never been to London before and we’re having a hard time deciding where to stay. We got a really good deal on Expedia for $127 per night. It was so worth it. The location is so close to everything. You are a couple blocks from Westminister Abby and the Parliment. Everything else stems from there. You can walk a couple blocks to Lambeth bridge and get a nice view of the London eye and Parliment. Super easy to get to all the sights- But not in the hussel and bussel of busy London. This hotel is sort of tucked back just a little so you feel almost part of the neighborhood. The hotel restaurants are a bit spendy but there are a few great restaurants in close proxemity, as in walk around the corner. There was a great spot called (can’t remember the name, but started with an “S” like Saporros?) that I walked to one morning and picked up a take out full English breakfast for under 4 GBP’s and they were very nice- threw in some fruit too.
There is Cost Cutters grocery 2 blocks up, also a great place to stock up to avoid mini bar charges. Next to the Cost Cutters is Pret A Manger that has wonderful takeaway food as well.
Right next to the hotel was also a great pizza-place which I ate at, and that was also very good.
We got a great deal with www.hotelsclick.com and I would highly recommend this hotel to friends.
Arrived at the hotel on Monday after booking through bookinhotels.com (DO NOT USE EVER!) turns out they cancelled the reservation without telling me and never refunded me. The hotel went out of their way to assist us with this. The manager Adam even matched the rate they had given us and gave us a room even though the hotel was fully booked.
The staff were extremely helpful and friendly.the room was lovely. small but clean and a great view of the river. breakfast was excellent.Location great. Pimlico is sligthly nearer then westminster tube but would recommend westmister as nicer walk and its on more tube lines.
The hotel offers an iMac with free internet access in the room which is great when you think that other hotels charge quite a lot of money for their wireless. Wifi is also free of charge in the hotel so you can bring your own laptop too.
We had a twin room and I must say that these beds are too small for adults … Our rate included full English breakfast so we ate in the restaurant. The hotel is keen on using technologies so the waitress had a small iPaq to take the order. The only negative point is that you have to order your English breakfast, the buffet offers only continental breakfast. That’s a bit annoying if you want to have more eggs or more beans or whatever, you need to order again. 1 thing to underline, this hotel is one of the few that I know which offers real fresh orange juice, really good and what a difference! Concerning the location, it’s max. 10 minutes away from Pimlico (direct line to King’s Cross St Pancras) and you have the C10 in the street (going to Victoria) and the 88 (going to Vauxhall). Try to find a good rate (we paid 99GBP all in/night) because this hotel can be quite expensive …
The hotel has Wi-Fi connection, however, all my attempts to connect my Windows laptop were unsucessful.
Although the nearst underground station (Pilmico) is only on one line you are only five minutes away from Victoria which is a good hub and the walk is only a few minutes from the hotel. Alternatively you are a 15 minute walk from Westminster and Big Ben.
Not ideally situated for the West End but, being keen walkers, we enjoyed the walk. Very convenient for Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and also within 10 – 15 mins walking distance of St James’ Park.
A good 10 min walk from Westminster tube station, but location very central and buses nearby anyhow. Lovely quiet street and so no noise from traffic.
I would recommend adding the breakfast buffet to your hotel room rate as you get it at a discount in advance and they serve breakfast until 11am, so if you are like me and don’t get up really early while you are on holiday, you can still take advantage of the buffet. There didn’t seem to be a lot right near the hotel as far as restaurants/bars , but the tube stop (Pimlico) is only a 5 minute walk and there is a convience store and a news store just a couple blocks away (on way to the tube).
The beds & linens were comfortable. Only thing missing from the room was a clock. I use my iPhone anyway for an alarm, but just be aware. iMac in the room for TV & general computer use was great. Free wired & wireless access is available in the room. Speed wasn’t great … but was fine for general web browsing/email and even VOIP.
I used room service quite a bit. Food is high quality and very nicely prepared. I would highly recommend the tomato and onion salad (balsamic on the side) and the burger. I tried many things, and other than a lackluster spaghetti, everything was beyond what I usually see for room service.
Some may consider the location a con, but if you don’t mind walking for 10 minutes, the location is great. No places to eat/drink that are very close however. There is a small grocery 10 minute walk away (Tesco express).
As people have said its about a 10 min walk from either Pimlico or Westminster tube – personally I prefered the walk to Westminster along the river and by the Houses of Parliment. Tate Britian is just a miniute or so from the hotel (towards Pimlico) and well worth spending an hour or so looking around (nice sandwiches too!)
We arrived early and expected just to drop off bags while we went sightseeing but without any fuss the hotel allowed us to book in early.
Checked on late rooms first but have always tried hotel first to see if they can match price and you usually get better deal.We booked 2 Club rooms for the price of £119 per couple.These are on the 12th floor and the price consisted of breakfast, free wine, water, and chocolates and you also get early check in 10 oclock and late out 4oclock which is brilliant.
A word of advice: We booked with Hotels.com and they advertised two seperate rates with one including “free internet.” ; When I learned all rooms at City Inn offer iMacs with free internet Hotels.com would not refund the difference in price. You’re best booking the standard room as you’ll still get free internet. Although we didn’t eat at the hotel restaurant, City Cafe, we learned it’s very highly rated by the locals in and around central London.
My recommendation is to take as many buses as possible – it is an amazing way to see the beautiful city!
The location is about half a mile to either Pimlico or Westminster station (the better choice). We often hopped on a bus along Millbank to cover part of this distance. (Do buy an Oyster card. It’s the best investment you can make.)
Very modern hotel, wonderfully situated (quiet street within minutes walk of Parliament Buildings, bus stop for 88 bus – from Clapham to Camden – a hundred yards or so from the door). It was only minutes away from the Westminster tube and the 87 bus behind the hotel took me straight to Trafalgar Square.
You can always ask for a view of the River or Parliament and if available, they will comply.
The hotel is only ten miutes from either Pimlico or Westminster station and is situated on a very quiet street street which is within pleasant walking distance from the Houses of Parliament and at a push the Imperial War Museum which is about 15-20 minutes away.
We found a great cafe 3 minutes walk away, called the Regency Cafe, which I’ve got to say does the best breakfast in London (at a very reasonable price)
We decided to walk from Victoria station with our cases,big mistake, its a good 20/30mins. Westminister Abbey,Big Ben etc. just a 10min walk up along the Thames, took us a while to figure this out so to save time,just go out the back of the hotel through the outside area and turn to your right.
We booked the City Club rooms that allowed early check in and late check out. The room was nicely sized and very comfortable, with good facilities and extras like bathrobes. Whilst the bathroom was small, it was well appointed and the shower was very good, with nice toiletries and large towels – my pet hate is towels that don’t even wrap round your body properly! We got a great rate booking direct with the hotel and my enquiries were dealt with promptly.
The location of the hotel is excellent; it is 10 minutes walk from Westminster tube, and the docks that take you to Greenwich.
However, there is a Cost-Cutter market around the corner that you can buy groceries.
We asked for a room with a view of the Parliament building and they upgraded us to a suite without charging us.
Which meant arriving in London around 7am long before any of the check-in times for most hotels usually 12 or as late as 3pm (wtf?) and found this hotel had the early check in option from 8am, price was either the same or far less than other hotels in the same category so gave it a try. Our room was ready and waiting when we arrived at 7.30am with a high floor as requested,
Found check in really friendly and they allowed us to check in to our room at 10–30am.
Five minutes from Westminster tube and across the water from the MI6 building.
But beware: listed prices don’t include tax. Can there be any reason for that, other than to mislead? So, having paid VAT, breakfast, and one or two cabs to get you to where you actually want to be, this may no longer be the bargain hotel of your dreams.
The location is great, we walked everywhere and didn’t set foot on the tube (hate them) its 30min walk to west end/Covent garden, 10min to the eye, and around 45min to Harrods/science museum (if you do want the tube, the nearest station is around 7min,Westminster). We booked via the hotel website and paid £79 a night, ive not seen it cheaper than That. Its good value and a good base for seeing the sights,
One thing I realized this time is how much I enjoy the quiet neighborhood. In the past, I’ve agreed with other reviewers about the lack of facilities. This time, after the hustle and bustle of the city centre, it was wonderful to get off the tube at Pimlico and have a relaxing walk back to the hotel. I finally tested the tube at Westminster, which was a much busier walk back to the hotel. Distances for a short person? Pimlico tube: 10 minutes (doesn’t feel like it). Westminster tube: 12 minutes (felt longer).
Just a few minutes walk to Lambeth Bridge. We arrived by tube and the hotel is just a short 5 –10 minute walk from Pimlico Tube Station. Follow the signs for the Tate Gallery and it a stones throw from there. Really easy to find.
So we went out, across Lambeth Bridge and found a decent little caff cum river cruise office that did a full English for £5.95. Bargain!
The staff are extremely friendly but check your bill when you check out. They tried to over charge us for the amount of £40. The Lady that checked us out also short changed us for £10 which we only realised once we were home.
It’s like a ten minute walk to the tube, but the bus 88 goes to all the sights in central london, so I would recomend that one before the subway. it goes after the hotel, to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, Picadilly Circus, Oxford Circus.
Don’t bother with the Club rooms – really not worth the extra money for what you get (newspaper, drink in the bar, bottle of mineral water and that’s about it for £30 per night). Only really worthwhile add-on is the 4pm check out IF you need it. The City Club rooms are large and well appointed, although they do not have baths, and the bathroom is pretty poky. A City Club room should also come with a fruit platter and bottle of mineral water, although ours didn’t, but these were promptly delivered when we contacted reception.
The hotel also offers a very good menu in the dining room where a three course meal can be had for £17.50 not bad for central london. The breakfast is also very good but be warned I would challenge anyone with a normal appetite to finish the Full English Breakfast!
Free internet (ask for a cable when you check in if you do not use wifi), and a Mac in the room!
Booked the stay through the hotels own website and got a rate of £92 per night including breakfast (breakfast normally costs a staggering £17.50 per person per day!). So was delighted with this deal.
Requested early check in but room not ready, the reception staff said she didn’t want to change the room as it was a nice room. It was a nice room with a view of the river. Luggage looked after for us to go out.
We found a terrific Italian Deli close by as well as a reasonably priced store to purchase soft drinks etc. We had an English Breakfast as part of our package and the meal was always excellent with plenty of fresh choices.
The walk home from the Westminster station each evening gives you a close-up night-time view of the Clock Tour, where Big Ben resides, the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey. This is a lovely way to end a day of London sightseeing. The hotel is in a residential neighbourhood so it is fairly quiet and you have to walk a bit to find bustling restaurants and pubs or do as we did and dine in busy, noisy Soho then return to your quiet hotel (20 to 30 minutes by tube or GBP 8 by taxi) for a quiet night’s sleep! Ravello Espresso, nearby on Horseferry Street, is great for morning coffee but seems to only be open weekdays.
The room itself although fairly small by some international standards but was clean, tidy, and well equipped. The imac system, plus the wifi for laptops, meant that both my wife and I could use computers or watch TV simultaneously / independantly as we wished. This is the best feature of it’s kind I have seen in any hotel especially as it is all included in the room rate.
There is a local pub nearby, The Morpeth Arms where staff were very friendly and the beer was good too.
The location is quiet and peaceful and the windows can be opened! It is a pleasant 10 minute walk to Westminster Square and there are frequent buses along the river to Trafalgar Square and onwards. Tate Britain is 2 blocks away and you can catch the wonderful Tate to Tate boat which stops at the London Eye for the South Bank before going on to Bankside for Tate Modern, Southwark etc.
(2008) We had a club room (slightly more expensive than standard room) which meant we could have early check in and late check out, and a free drink in the bar. We also had 2 complimentary newspapers of our choice. Free mineral water and fruit bowl and mini bar with basket of items such as London guide book, snacks etc. Bathroom goodies from The White Company. Bathroom bit short of storage space, but didn’t bother us as we were only there for one night. We were on the 12th floor with excellent views from the floor to ceiling window, sideways on to the Thames. Window also opened slightly, but safely, which was a plus. Room and all hotel areas spotlessly clean.
The 88 bus drops you directly outside the hotel or you can walk from Westminster tube station.
The quiet location is a plus but it takes 7 minutes walk to the nearest pub, 10 minutes walk to the nearest tube station Pimlico of Victoria Line. However there is a bus stop nearby where every 10–12 minutes there is a double-decker bus “88” (daily travel cards for all transport accepted) by which you can get to Oxford Circus through Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Circus.
Our package didn’t include breakfast which didn’t bother us as large hotels are usually a bit of a faff in the mornings, so we had a really good breakfast for £9.00 total at Victoria Station’s Weatherspoon’s Pub (bacon, sausage, egg, beans, hash brown, tomato, toast, coffee).
Hotel is really central for all the sites; the only fault could be that there are not many restaurants close by. However, the concierge sorted us out with a really nice Chinese restaurant – Kim’s, about 5 minutes away by taxi, and we walked back afterwards and it only took us around 15 minutes.
What did I like? 10 minute walk to Parliament buildings (turn right out of the hotel and don’t follow those who go to Pimlico tube ) a further ten minutes to Trafalgar Square. 15 to 20 minute walk to Buckingham Palace (turn right out of hotel then left down Horseferry Road). Good breakfast can be found a ten minute walk along Horseferry Road just after the Channel 4 building one the corner, a local place called Pronto Cafe, don’t be put off by the crowd, locals! they know where to eat.
To the people that say that it is too far away from anywhere, or complaining about taxi prices – use the bus! There is a bus stop almost outside the hotel and you can get to Victoria on the C10 or into the West End on the 88. I think the fare is 95p (bargain!). The walk to the Tube in Pimlico is around a 10 minute stroll, or again take the C10 bus direct to the station.
A clean and quiet hotel located a few blocks south of Westminster Abbey.
Top tip – they do an a la carte breakfast menu so if you just want a coffee and a croissant, that’s all you’ll pay for.
The hotel is in a fab location wherever you wish to go. We used the Original Tour Company bus which stopped at the end of the street. We hopped on and off and visited most of the sites along the route. The City Inn is neighbours to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament which was a fantastic site to see each time you walked out the hotel.
If you’re walking back from the Pimlico station to the hotel, you’ll pass an Indian restaurant, called Millbank Spice on Vauxhall. It was good and reasonably priced.
The area is Westminster and short walks bring you to the Lambeth Bridge and Big Ben and Houses of Parliament – its lovely at night and felt quite safe as there were lots of policemen in this area because of security. Two tube stations but nearest is probably Pimlico about a good 5 minutes walk to the hotel but goes direct from Euston Station.
Avoid Restaurant chain Grand India 1 & 2 near Trafalar Square – food is awful, staff is even worse. We got ripped off big time and the waiters were like salesmen trying to bump up what you order but were not interested after that.
The location is a little off the beaten track. If not travelling by taxi, you can get there via Pimlico tube on the Victoria line. When you exit the tube station, you follow the signs for the Tate Britain gallery. You turn right onto Vauxhall Bridge Road and follow it for a couple of hundred metres until you reach John Islip Street. You follow this long winding street for about 600 metres until you reach the City Inn (which is literally a hundred metres “up the road” from Tate Britain). As you walk towards the hotel, you will see Labour Party HQ at Millbank as a landmark on your right hand side.
There’s a bus stop out the back of the hotel, which will get you to Trafalgar Square in the time it takes to walk to Pimilico underground.
The information desk at the hotel was great – gave us a map and how to get everywhere and you could also buy tickets for the tourist bus which I would highly recommend. Tickets were £20 each but allowed you to see all the main tourist attractions and you could hop on and off wherever you liked.
ADVICE Buy an oyster card online before going to London if you are planning to use the subway. It’s like a top up card you can put money on. If you have one of these subway is £1.50. If you don’t the same journey (one stop or 8) is £4 a go. Definately would get one before going again.
Buses 507, 88 and C10 stop within a couple of minutes’ walk but the closest tube stations are Westminster and Pimlico, each probably ten minutes away (but get an Oyster card and hop and off buses at any time, much more pleasant than using the tube and they arrive every five or ten minutes)
I like CityInns but their pricing has gone crazy. Their rates change daily and the staff are totally inflexible so my tip would be to book a flexible rate (i.e., one that is cancellable without charge) and wait and see if they offer others nearer the date of your stay as we ended up getting a double ’Club’ room with taxes and breakfast (normally GBP 19.50 per person) for GBP 119 per night with 4 drinks vouchers worth GBP 9.75 each thrown in and a late check out till 4 pm (worth at least 25 quid). This was the Summer in the City special.
There is a Pizza Express around the corner and a couple of restaurants near Pimlico tube, but it is not a thriving restaurant area. However, it’s a short walk to the tube or up to the busier areas around Trafalgar Square. The Tate is just down the road and the hotel is in a nice residential area. The square in John Islip Street is a pleasant place to sit with your Starbucks and the paper. It is a very safe area, being so close to Parliament and other government buildings.
Tate to Tate riverboat 3 mins away. Great views of the city and gets you to Tate Modern area in 12 minutes
We stayed in room 1137 right at the end in a non-smoking room and we has the most beautiful view of the River Thames and siturated opposite the atrractive Millbank Tower.
Location wise, you can’t beat it in London. It’s away from all the hustle and bustle of the West End, and in the cosmopolitan and central location of Westminster, a 5 minute walk away from the Houses of Parliment and 7 minutes from the the London Eye. Plus its on the river! Walk 5 minutes along the Thames and you cant catch a boat from Westminster pier for a Thames cruise. We thought the location was superb … .just beside the Tate Britain and within easy walking distance of Chelsea and the Kings Road. Just a five minute walk to Pimlico tube station
Incredibly quiet location considering proximity to Milbank / Horseferry Road. Close to tube (Pimlico 5–10min walk). Number 88 bus stops close by. 2 minutes from the Tate (possibly less at a trot) and 5–10minutes from Parliament Square (really lovely early morning walking through Smith Square, Lord North Street, etc seeing the palace of Westminster poking up above the houses).
(2007) The 10th floor room was spacious and had a partial view of the Thames, including the MI5 building. We had booked a City Club room and this included fruit and chocolates in the room which was a nice touch. The bathroom (no bath, just a shower) was small but more than adequate for a one night stay. It was clean and had nice toiletries, towels and fluffy bathrobes. We managed to sneak a peak at the top floor private meeting room and this had stunning views of Westminster abbey, London eye etc. Worth a look if you can get up there. We walked to Pimlico tube which is only a about 10 minutes away. Westminster station is slighty further away but perfectly managable. We didn’t have dinner at the hotel (we ate at The Cinnamon club nearby which was fabulous) but the menu looked good.
Next door to Tate Britain. 5-7 min walk to Pimlico Station. In the other direction a 10 mins walk to Westminster Abbey. Close by are some cafes which were not open at night but convenient for a quick breakfast.
The location of the hotel is excellent, only about a 5 minute cab ride away from Piccadilly and Leicester Square, with Waterloo Station within walking distance over the other side of the river (however, I suggest you don’t do what my fiancée did and walk it in shoes that give you blisters!).
(2007) the Tate Modern and Tate Britain, and the City Inn just happened to be next door to the Britain. Both these galleries are free and are well worth a visit. You can catch the Tate boat from Millbank outside and down to the other gallery. Comfy shoes a must there is a lot of walking to do. It is a bit of a walk to the tube, which its only downside on a chilly/wet day but on a warmer day would not be a problem. We tended to get a taxi to Soho to eat and drink at night that the hotel get immediately for you, that cost us £10 each way and was so easy. Highly recommend Busaba Thai restaurant on Wardour Street in Soho, fantastic food. Been there twice now and its just fantastic.
The location of the hotel is excellent. Literally within a two minute walk of the Houses of Parliament. From there you have a lovely walk right passed Downing Street, Horseguards Parade and then into Trafalgar Square. For our first “tourist” trip to London we couldn’t have stayed at a better located hotel.
it may be far out as far as london hotels are concerned but thats the beauty of it, right next to tate britian, 5 mins from house of commons and if you want to go into central london its a 15 min walk or go out the hotel, turn left, cross the road and catch the 88 bus, within 5 mins your in trafalger squre and its a great site seeing tour as well!
We walked to theatres in the Victoria Station area in 25 minutes, in Convent Garden in 30 and to shopping in Bond Street in 40. Walked to the Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station in 20 minutes. For sightseeing, Westminster Abbey is a 15 minute stroll, Trafalgar Square in 25 minutes.
The location is excellent – I chose it mainly so we were in walking distance of Westminster for the Remembrance Day memorial at the Cenotaph. It’s a very short walk up to Millbank / Westminster Abbey / Whitehall / Big Ben etc. We also walked all the way back from the Victoria Palace Theatre on the Saturday night after seeing Billy Elliot and it only took about 15 minutes – we felt quite safe. John Islip St is a VERY quiet area as well. We did get a bit lost walking up Horseferry Road to try and find our way onto Victoria St and ended up jumping in a taxi … . but that was due to my map reading rather than the location.
Some reviewers complained about the walk to the nearest tube station – all I can say is don’t visit London if you have an aversion to walking anywhere. It was maybe a 5-10 min, but very pleasant walk. Anyway, if you don’t mind walking, you are maybe 20 minutes walk from the London Eye area. Just go out of the back of the hotel and you are alongside the river. The hotel had a nice restaurant and there’s a pizza express (very good) right next door along the river. One night we wandered out on the street where the tube stop was and found a nice restaurant (there are plenty.)
We stayed at the City Inn Westmister at the end of October for 4 nights and thought it was excellent value. We arrived quite early at 1pm hoping to be able to drop off our bags but our room was already available so we were able to check in straight away. The location is very hand for westminster which was ideal as we had booked a tour of the Clock Tower at Westminster which was a mere 10-15 minute walk away. (by the way the tour of the clock tower was excellent and free! – all you have to do is organise it with your MP and you get to stand up beside big ben (the bell) when it chimes the hour). The location was ideal for us – it was 5 to 10 minutes walk to Pimloco tube station and 10 to 15 minutes walk to Westminster or Victoria tube stations.
(2006) Also discovered a pub/restaurant called “The Riverside,” which is within walking distance and also serves excellent value meals. Walk across the Vauxhall Bridge and just on your right hand side there is stairs that you take and walk along the front of the apartment buildings and you will come up “The Riverside.”
The hotel is a little off the beaten track, but its just a 5 minute walk to the Pimlico tube station. Several buses (double decker) stop nearby to take you on a 10 minute trip into the west end or Soho.The parliament buildings and Westminster Abbey are just a 10 minute walk along the Thames. There’s a restaurant out back that makes wicked pizza. There are several great pubs just minutes away.
The subway system in London is easy to use. We highly recommend buying a subway and bus pass before you go to London. Our hotel Concierge provided us with a city and subway map. The map made traveling around London much easier.
We loved the City Inn Westminster and its location. You can walk to all the tourist sites, i.e., Buckingham Palace, London Eye, River cruises, West Minster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament Buildings, etc. All of the other major attractions were just a quick subway ride away. The City Inn Westminster is one of the most amazing hotels we have visited. The hustle and bustle is right around the corner, but when you walk along John Islip Street (the street which the hotel is located on) it is very quiet. The hotel was built in 2003. The rooms are sound proof (we never heard one voice or footstep when we were in our room). We had a nice view of the London Eye, Big Ben, Parliament buildings, West Minster Abbey, etc.
We also wanted to mention the little Pub around the corner from the hotel. It is called The Morpeth Arms. It is located on the corner of Millbank and Ponsonry. We went there most nights for a nightcap after all the walking and site seeing. Both the drinks and the food were reasonably priced. We have to say that St. Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Bath, British Museum, National Gallery and Harrods were the highlights of the sites we visited.
Shepards Restaurant two blocks away, excellent.
We found the hotel to be perfectly located for walking to Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Pier (for a cruise to Greenwich) and a slightly longer walk to Trafalgar Square.
Traveler’s tip: Great pub, White Swan, within 5 minute walking distance. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are also 5 minutes (walking distance). 20 minute walking distance to Charing Cross (Central London).
(2006) The 4 pm checkout was also good although do make sure they write it down when you check-in as on the last day we got interupted many times by reception asking when we were going to vacate the room!! (we paid extra for a club package to get late checkout, discounts on all food and drink in hotel and also fruit and chocs in room – well worth it).
(2006) I booked an executive package room which included a meal and breakfast and rose petals etc. Room fine but when checking out their computer system did not recognise the package I had booked. I had to stand with people watching while I argued my case. the bill started out from £106.80 and after arguing for a long time it eventually got down to £56.20. It was embarrasing. I also had to book a room in Bristol branch and it too happened again. I advise people not todo an express checkout but actually do it there and then.
As for it being a walk to the tube, I wouldn’t know, as we walked almost everywhere without using the tube! It was a pleasant 10–15 minute walk to Westminster Abbey/Parliament/Big Ben area. We even walked to/from Covent Garden several times because the weather was so lovely (about a 35–40 minute walk). Walked to the Waterloo station to catch a train to Windsor Castle – about 20 minute walk. Only place we didn’t walk was Tower of London, took a cab (love the London black cabs!)
We arrived in London at around noon on Saturday, July 22nd. After taking the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station (VERY well worth the money in my opinion), we took the tube the rest of the way to the nearest tube station to the hotel – Pimlico. It is about a 7-minute walk to the hotel from this station.
There is a Starbucks close by, as well as a small grocery store and an Oddbinns!
We enjoyed walking along the Thames and using the footbridges to cross the river.
It was a great experience staying at this hotel while we were in London. It is just next to River Thames and many places of interests are within waling distance. This hotel is situated in a high class residential area and is very safe. There are a couple of small stores nearby for some grocery shopping.
We didn’t pack an umbrella since the hotel has loaners for free if you happen to catch a rainy day, which is likely any time in London. Tips: There’s a Tesco Metro (convenience market) just opposite to the Churchill statue in Parliament square. A great place to get a quick pastry and milk/juice for breakfast and not get ripped off. In the opposite direction, go past the Pimlico Underground station and take your first right. This will lead you up past some row houses for about 3 or 4 blocks and take you to some restaurants, pubs, cafes, supermarkets (Tesco and Sainsbury’s) and a coin-op laundry. There is a little supermarket on Horseferry where we were able to get bottled water.
The location worked out well for us. We mainly used the tube from Westminster for getting around, as it has 2 lines that will take you to most attractions by just one stop, if not direct. The hotel is not far from Westminster itself, and walking home from the subway later on at night, we felt completely safe, and it was nice to come back to a quiet location away from the buzz.
(2006) The location is a bit on the perimeter of the sights, but I was very happy with it in general. I believe it is in a government building district but I am not sure. Anyway, there is a tube connection (Pimlico Station) within 10 min walk. It took me a bit less than 25 mins to walk to Trafalgar Square and maybe 15 mins to Westminster Abbey (I do walk fast though). A taxi to Covent Garden cost 7.00 pounds.
The location was one block from the River Thames, 10 mins to Westminster Abbey and the nearest tube. The 88 bus route was less than 50 metres away and went from Camden Lock to Oxford Circus and all the great shopping / sightseeing places. No need to take an expensive taxi. Ths bus was 24 hours and I never waited more than 10 mins for it. I even hopped onto ths bus after a late night out at the theatre.
There is a pretty good Tesco Supermarket opposite of the Big Ben and a Starbucks on Horseferry Road – in case you don´t want to book breakfast
We arrived at 10 in the morning when check in was at 2 to have our bags stored; to our delight the room was ready and we were allowed to check in. On our nights out it cost us around £6 from Soho on a taxi (to come home) and £13 from King’s Cross which isn’t that bad! Also walk from hotel to being in the Tube took 10 minutes – and I’m not the quickest walker around. All in all I could rave about this hotel forever – walking distance to Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace …. Just perfect!
The only thing to find anything to whine about would possibly be the location, being not so close to the center and a metro station. A small hint though – use the bus no 88 that stops right next to the hotel to get to the center. That is especially useful when travelling late in the evening as the traffic is low and it only takes you 6–8 minutes to get to Piccadilly or Oxford Circus. That’s the same time as getting to the Pimlico tube station. 88 bus has a 24-hour service.
let’s face it, you’re staying in the business & political district of London. There ain’t much open really. There are many shops nearby – they’re about a 10 minute walk away towards Victoria. So it can seem quite peaceful at weekend. Westminster Tube is about a 15 minute walks – Pimlico is just around the corner – about a 5 minute stroll … but as for the hotel, you won’t be disappointed.
The City Inn has a great location – it is a 10 minute walk to Westminster Cathedral/Houses of Parliament/Big Ben (there is also a tube station there). Another 10 minute walk gets to you to Trafalgar Square/The National Gallery and another 10 minute walk gets you to either the London Eye/South Bank or Buckingham Palace. So in 30 minutes you can walk to all of the main tourist attractions in central London – can’t beat it.
Quiet street near Westminster Abbey. Bus stop (lines 88 and C10) located at 20 meters from the hotel.
The hotel is situated just beyond the back of the Tate Gallery and Millbank Tower, with the number 88 (24hrs) and C10 buses stopping approx 250mtrs from the reception. I would say that both Westminster (Jubilee, Circle and District Lines) and Pimlico (Victoria) Tube/Metro Stations are equidistant – though it is a far nicer walk to Westminster. If you have bags to carry I would suggest you get the bus or a taxi from either tube stations.
My main complaint about this hotel is its location. The area is rather dead in the evenings, and you won’t find many restaurants or pubs in the immediate vicinity. It’s a long walk – say, 10 minutes – to the tube station (Pimlico), which isn’t a great option if it’s cold, raining, windy or any combination of those. There is, however, a bus stop (serviced 24/7) about a block and a half from the hotel. For those of you who haven’t tried them, busses are an excellent option in London, especially at night.
The location is a bit quirky, but excellent. This is a developing area of Westminster with lots of new building around, but unfortunately here are no drug stores, food shops or newspaper stands in the immediate vicinity. (And indeed, the streets are very quiet and empty at night, so if you are traveling by yourself and concerned about safety please consider that.) A five minute walk in either direction brings you into contact with some good commercial establishments, coffee shops and restaurants (there is an excellent coffee and pastry shop in the direction of Parliament).
Some really excellent things about the location are that you are about a three minute walk from the entry to the Tate Britain (City Inn is almost on the grounds of the museum). The Pimlico Undergound station is a 5–10 minute walk in one direction down John Islip St., Parliament is 5–10 minutes walk in the other direction down John Islip.
While the 5 minute walk to Pimlico station was a turn off to some it really wasn’t a bad walk. We also found the 88 bus stopped right near the front on the hotel and a different bus stopped one block behind the the hotel along the Thames. I liked the quiet atmosphere around the hotel away from all the noise and congestion near Picadilly Circus and some of the other ares of London we visited.
If you want to eat out somewhere nearby, ask the concierge for directions to the nearest Indian restaurant – excellent food at reasonable prices. Or try the pizza place just around the corner. Location is great – 10 minute walk to Houses of Parliament & you are in the thick of things yet the hotel is in a very quiet, peaceful area.
Bus stop was 3 minute walk and we were in Covent Garden in 10.(77A, bus stop near Tate Gallery) Night Bus back at 1 in the morning … we made good use of our travel card!
The City Inn chain is a fairly new and modern group and the Westminster City Inn is London’s biggest new build hotel in 30 years.
I was in London on my own and was delighted to find that the Westminster branch of CIty Inn Westminster is located about 5 minutes walk from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and is also within walking distance of the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and many places to eat. The nearest tube station is Pimlico which is about 5 minutes walk away. Also being in Wesminster it is also in a nice area and I felt safe walking back on my own at night.
The staff at the hotel were all super-nice as well as being really efficient – this makes such a big difference.
I found the room easily big enough for me with a large bed which is really warm thanks to a thick duvet – this seems to be so rare in many other hotels. Big pillows were also a nice addition.
As well as that you also have a MAJOR plus point which is a standard City Inn feature – an iMac computer system in every room!! – this means you have a fully fledged internet system for free use. This is so brilliant and handy for checking local attractions, checking transport times, restaurants, maps etc etc as well as (if you want) keeping up with emails, ebay, facebook etc while away from home – and its all free with the room! Of course you can also hook your ipod up to the system as well.
PROS:
- Great location – about 5 minutes walk to the nearest tube station and Houses of Parliament (the tube access gives you all of London within easy reach)
- Very comfortable and warm rooms
- In room computer imac system – great for looking up information and doing email etc!
- Nice polite staff
- If you don’t want to venture far to eat there is the hotel restaurant and there is a Pizza Express restaurant next door.
- Quiet – I couldn’t hear any traffic outside at all.
CONS
- There is a choice of continental or a fuller breakfast – I went for the included continental but though the fuller breakfast did look nice – it was quite pricey (the continental was fine for me).
- I honestly cannot think of anything I didn’t like!
I wasn’t sure where to stay in London originally as I have paid really cheap rates before and regretted it. But as I have stayed in other City Inn hotels I decided to give the London venue a try and was really glad I did. It was a very comfortable and convieniant stay with very friendly staff – I will certainly have this place at the top of my list the next time I visit.
From Hotel Management Network
Opened in September 2003, City Inn Westminster is a modern, luxury hotel. It is located between the Houses of Parliament and Tate Britain. At the time of opening, the 460-room City Inn Westminster, which includes 16 suites, was the largest newly built hotel in central London for 30 years. As City Inn’s first hotel in the capital, it is the flagship premises for the company, and has created 400 new professional positions in the hospitality industry. City Inn is now considering a second site in London.
Guest bedrooms feature broadband internet access, flat-screen TVs, CD and DVD players with a complimentary CD and DVD library. Residents and non-residents alike can relax in the stylish Millbank lounge bar, which serves cocktails, snacks and light meals.
The hotel restaurant, CITY CAFE, provides guests with contemporary British dining. City Inn Westminster also features a fitness room exclusive to residents, meeting facilities complete with broadband data points and LCD projectors, as well as facilities for private business dining.
Executive Suites
All rooms are fully air-conditioned, with a simple control that can be changed to suit individual requirements. Furthermore, the hotel is fully equipped with fire rated ventilation ductwork systems provided by the Galloway Group, which maintains fire compartmentalisation and assists in the safe dispersal of smoke and hazardous fumes.
Each bedroom is designed as a fresh, bright living space in which guests can unwind and relax. Natural light pours in through full-height and high level soundproofed double-glazed windows.
All guest bedrooms provide broadband internet access, feature Sharp Aquos LCD flat screen televisions and have a satellite TV package including Sky Sports and a DVD player with a complimentary library. Each room has a BOSE 321 digital entertainment system and surround sound (a full library of CDs is available from reception), a mini bar and a laptop safe. The furniture and fittings were provided by David Englender.
All guest rooms are fitted with two telephone lines (with voice mail), an executive desk, an armchair and an iron and ironing board. 24-hour room service is provided. The hotel’s bathrooms feature power showers, anti-mist mirrors and provide luxury cotton bathrobes and bespoke toiletries and cosmetics.
The hotel is equipped with a continuous water flow heater provided by the manufacturer Andrews Water Heaters. These direct gas-fired water heaters eliminate warm-up time and ensure the immediate availability of hot water, even at maximum peak demand.
City Cafe Restaurant and Art Street
City Cafe is the award winning restaurant brand from City Inn that provides innovative modern British cuisine incorporating organic, gluten free and healthy options. Dishes include scallop and mango spring rolls with tangy paw paw salad, backed monkfish and wild garlic and parsley served with a crayfish risotto as well as passion fruit creme brulee with coconut and lime sorbet. A full vegetarian menu is provided, as is a ’concept’ menu – a fixed-price showcase menu, changed daily.
The Westminster City Cafe is located in a new pedestrian ’Art Street’ that has been designed in conjunction with leading modern British artist Susannah Heron.
This glass-covered terrace provides a cosmopolitan atmosphere in which residents and non-residents can enjoy City Cafe cuisine alfresco.
The 80m-long street also opens up a route through central Westminster to the Tate Britain, linking John Islip Street to Thorney Street in Millbank. Susanna Heron provided the design for this unique covered walkway in Art Street featuring 5m high slate engravings from the Elements organic drawing series by Susanna Heron and a distressed textured mirror wall (part of the reason for this was really to fit in with the Tate Gallery in Thorney Street adjacent to the hotel).
Faber Maunsell designed specific lighting concepts to complement the public space. The slates of the engravings extend across the floor space to form an L-shape, which is interposed with bands of white concrete and four columns. The columns demarcate the café’s seating area from the public area of the street.
Millbank Lounge
Millbank Lounge is a stylish modern bar and relaxing lounge space that is open throughout the day. It can be accessed directly from Art Street, and is itself home to impressive artwork that lends itself to a modish atmosphere. Intimate booths, with the choice of internet access, can be reserved. The lounge offers light meals, bar snacks, bespoke canapés and dishes to share. Drinks available include cocktails, wines, beers and speciality whisky.
City Inn Westminster’s fitness room, exclusively available for residents, features state-of-the-art multi-gym equipment, including cardiovascular apparatus and free weights.
The Sky Lounge, located on the 14th floor, is a penthouse venue for business guests that offers a panoramic view over central London’s landmarks. The Sky Lounge accommodates receptions for up to 30 people and seated dining for up to 12, and is used for board meetings, company dinners, product launches, award ceremonies and business breakfasts.
Private dining is also accommodated for in CITY CAFé, providing bespoke menus from £30 per person, catering for up to 60 people.
Location and Transportation
Located in central Westminster, the hotel is within walking distance to many of London’s key tourist attractions, including Westminster Abbey, the River Thames, the London Eye, London Aquarium, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
City Inn Westminster is five minutes walk from Pimlico and Westminster underground stations for access to Victoria, Circle, District and Jubilee underground lines. Waterloo and Victoria British Rail stations are five minutes away by taxi. The Eurostar from Waterloo station provides transport to Paris, Brussels and Lille. Gatwick and Heathrow Airports are easily accessible by direct underground trains.
Something in the Air
We already knew that City Inn – the budget UK hotel chain that hates to be called a budget hotel chain – was the perfect choice for geeks with its in-room iMacs. But we didn’t realize quite how committed it is to creating your working environment.
According to the brand, they use an enhanced fresh air conditioning system, which pumps a high amount of oxygen into the room and freshening up your little grey cells. Yup, just like they do in the casinos in Vegas. Apparently, they say, this “keeps people more alert during meetings” and “ensures they wake up feeling refreshed”.
Could there be any basis in this? When we looked round the Westminster branch earlier this year, we felt pretty perky – but we assumed that was the excitement at trying out the iMac. Here’s hoping that if such a thing as magic air con really exists, the rest of London will be adopting it soon…
Photos
Outside
The view from the top
The lobby
Rooms (Standard and Suite)
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Bathroom
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88 Bus Route record
Note: This route is classed as high frequency, and as such controllers will endeavour to provide an even service rather than necessarily adhering exactly to the times shown.
Clapham Common – Vauxhall – Westminster – Oxford Circus – Camden Town Clapham Common Old Town – The Pavement – Clapham Common Station – Clapham High Street – Clapham High Street Station – Clapham North Station – Clapham Road – Stockwell Station – South Lambeth Road – Parry Street – Vauxhall Station Bus Station – Bridge Foot – Vauxhall Bridge – Bessborough Gardens – John Islip Street – Tate Gallery – John Islip Street – Bulinga Street – Herrick Street – Marsham Street – Great Smith Street – Broad Sanctuary – Parliament Square – Parliament Street – Whitehall – Charing Cross – Trafalgar Square (for Charing Cross Station) – Cockspur Street – Pall Mall – Waterloo Place – Regent Street – Piccadilly Circus Station – Regent Street – Oxford Circus Station – Regent Street – Langham Place – Portland Place – Devonshire Street – Great Portland Street – Great Portland Street Station – Marylebone Road – Euston Road – Warren Street Station – Hampstead Road – Mornington Crescent Station – Camden High Street – Camden Town Station – Kentish Town Road – Camden Town Camden Gardens
Camden Town – Oxford Circus – Westminster – Vauxhall – Clapham Common Camden Town Camden Gardens – Camden Street – Camden Road – Camden Town Station – Bayham Street – Crowndale Road – Mornington Crescent Station – Harrington Square – Hampstead Road – Warren Street Station – Euston Road – Great Portland Street Station – Great Portland Street – New Cavendish Street – Portland Place – Langham Place – Regent Street – Oxford Circus Station – Regent Street – Piccadilly Circus Station – Haymarket – Cockspur Street – Trafalgar Square (for Charing Cross Station) – Charing Cross – Whitehall – Parliament Street – Westminster Station – Parliament Square – Broad Sanctuary – Great Smith Street – Marsham Street – John Islip Street – Tate Gallery – John Islip Street – Bessborough Gardens – Vauxhall Bridge – Bridge Foot – Vauxhall Station Bus Station – South Lambeth Place – South Lambeth Road – Stockwell Terrace – Clapham Road – Stockwell Station – Clapham Road – Clapham North Station – Clapham High Street Station – Clapham High Street – Clapham Common Station – Clapham Common South Side – Long Road – Rookery Road – Clapham Common North Side – Clapham Common Old Town
Review
The journey time from Clapham Common to Central London is approximately 25 minutes (40 mins to Camden) and the bus snakes through Stockwell, Vauxhall and Westminster on the way into town. If you’re a tourist staying south of the river, this is a great way to get your bearings and see sights such as The Thames, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, The Houses of Parliment, The Cenotaph, Trafalgar Square and of course the hippes and punks of Camden market. The bus gets very full between Clapham Common and Stockwell during rush hour, but it’s relatively easy to find a seat on most legs of the journey.
More Maps
Red balloon in the following three pix marks the City Inn Westminster
The Tower of London is to the right of middle, just above the Thames.
