My friends at Expedia.ca sent me on a journey to London as part of their #BigWorldExplorer campaign so I could share some gems with you. This is the fourth of five posts featuring one of my favourite cities on the planet!
Deciding where to stay is one of the most difficult decisions I face when booking a trip. I’m often pulled in many directions — boutique hotel vs. global chain, budget-friendly vs. luxury, centrally-located vs. remote oasis. So. Many. Choices! True to form, when booking my recent trip to London, I found myself clicking through countless properties before selecting the one. Having stayed in the city centre numerous times, I opted for a new hotel in historic Royal Greenwich instead: InterContinental London – The O2…
Perched on the Greenwich Peninsula, the hotel is only a few hundred metres from North Greenwich Tube Station on the Jubilee Line (it was essential for me to be on the Tube line given all exploring I had planned). Although it’s well-connected, the hotel feels like it’s a million miles away from the bustling downtown — and that’s a good thing. The perfect place to relax and recharge, I found myself looking forward to returning to our room each night. Nothing like flinging the door open, taking a warm bath, putting on a robe and slippers (included in the turndown service) and sliding between the crisp sheets of our comfy bed…
Room highlights? Little details like: speakers in the washrooms, modern light dimmers everywhere, bedside chargers, lighting under the counters (the perfect nightlight), deep soaker tub, rain shower, quality coffee and tea (I love Birchall!), bedtime stories placed on the bed and – of course – the view…
Yup, we stared out at the River Thames and The O2 as we devoured breakfast in bed each morning (fyi – my favourite was the London Breakfast)…
Speaking of food… I was super impressed by the dining options at the InterContinental London – The O2! Taking inspiration from local Greenwich markets and the historic maritime heritage, each restaurant and bar is unique and serves up delicious fare. I particularly loved grabbing cocktails at Clipper Bar during sunset and winding down at the Sky Lounge in the evenings (the view is spectacular: moonlight reflects off the Thames and Canary Wharf sparkles in the distance).
Clipper Bar at the InterContinental London
The Meridian Lounge and Peninsula Restaurant are also stunning dining spaces at the hotel…
Peninsula Restaurant at InterContinental London.
Meridian Lounge at InterContinental London
And for once, I actually had time to use the spa facilities! Yeays. They have a gym, sauna, steam room, special treatments (I got a lovely facial) and a dreamy indoor pool…
Photo c/o InterContinental London – The O2
But what stood out most at the hotel was the impeccable service. Everyone from the concierge to the cleaning staff were professional, knowledgeable and attentive. Oh, and the hotel is immaculately clean — our room was spotless! In my opinion, this is the best bang for your buck (or should I say: pound) in London. If your priority is a central location, it isn’t the hotel for you. But if you’re looking for a relaxing stay at a great rate, I highly recommend checking these guys out!
A huge thanks to Expedia.ca‘s #BigWorldExplorer program. Would love to know where your favourite hotels in London are via comments below! And if you need to do more “research” you can always find amazing flight deals to London here and hotel deals here.
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