London
Hotels in the City of London and Canary Wharf: work in the week, London at the weekend
At five on Friday the offices of the City empty and the streets around St Paul's fall quiet. The meetings are done, but the flight home can wait until Sunday. These are the hotels where a work trip and a weekend fit together.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
The City of London is the oldest part of town and its financial district, and Canary Wharf is a few stops east on the Elizabeth line. On weekdays the hotels fill with business travellers. At weekends the streets are quieter and the city is yours.
We have picked seven hotels that work for both. They are close to the offices and the Tube, and worth coming back to when the meetings end. They are grouped by area.
In short: hotels in the City of London and Canary Wharf
For a work trip that turns into a weekend, the best hotel in the City of London is Andaz London Liverpool Street. It sits beside the Elizabeth line, with direct trains to Heathrow. Pan Pacific London and The Ned are also in the City, while Canary Wharf suits meetings out east. Always compare weekday and weekend prices.
Our first choice: Andaz London Liverpool Street, for its position on the Elizabeth line and the history inside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Andaz London Liverpool Street
Top picks
Closest to the Heathrow train: Andaz London Liverpool Street
For long days: Pan Pacific London
For the weekend after: The Ned
By the Thames: The Westin London City
In Canary Wharf: Vertus Edit Canary Wharf
Liverpool Street and Bishopsgate
Andaz London Liverpool Street
The hotel opened as the Great Eastern Hotel in 1884, right against Liverpool Street station. In 1997 a marble Masonic temple was found behind a wall, and today it can be hired for meetings and events.
The hotel has five restaurants and three bars. The Elizabeth line runs from the station straight to Heathrow, and Spitalfields Market is a ten-minute walk. Good for going from your last meeting straight to the train, or staying on to eat in Shoreditch.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Andaz London Liverpool Street
Pan Pacific London
Pan Pacific is the Singapore group's first hotel in Europe, in a tower on Bishopsgate a few minutes from Liverpool Street. It opened in 2021, with a restaurant, bar and gym under one roof.
There is an indoor pool, which counts for a lot after a day of meetings. Good if you are in the City for several days and want calm in the evening.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pan Pacific London
Bank and Tower Hill
The Ned
The old banking hall of the Midland Bank serves breakfast before the meetings, and in the evening the same hall fills with diners. The Ned is by Bank station, right among the offices.
The rooftop pool looks straight at St Paul's, and there is a bar down in the vault. Best for anyone who wants life around them when the working day is over, and who is happy to stay for the weekend.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Ned
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
Ten Trinity Square was the headquarters of the Port of London Authority, and its great domed hall from the 1920s still stands. The hotel faces the Tower of London, by Tower Hill station.
From here you can walk to the offices in the eastern City, and at the weekend Tower Bridge and St Katharine Docks are next door. Good for a business trip where you want to stay in style.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
The Westin London City
The Westin is on Upper Thames Street, between St Paul's and the river, four minutes from Mansion House station. The Millennium Bridge takes you across to Tate Modern and the South Bank in minutes.
There is an indoor pool and spa. Good if you want the river outside after a day at the office, and a Saturday of art and Borough Market.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Westin London City
On the river below St Paul's
The Westin London City stands on the river below St Paul's. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Canary Wharf: when the meetings are out east
If your meetings are in Canary Wharf, staying there saves time. The Elizabeth line takes you to Liverpool Street in minutes and on west to Heathrow without changing.
Vertus Edit Canary Wharf
Vertus Edit has apartments with their own kitchens, six minutes' walk from Canary Wharf Tube station. That makes it easy to stay a week without eating out every night.
Good for several days in Canary Wharf when you want to walk to meetings. At the weekend Greenwich is one DLR stop across the river.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Vertus Edit Canary Wharf
TRIBE London Canary Wharf
TRIBE is Accor's design brand, with a restaurant and bar in the building, five minutes' walk from Canary Wharf station. It suits shorter work trips where you would rather spend the evening out than in your room.
Good for staying in Canary Wharf without paying for a large luxury hotel.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at TRIBE London Canary Wharf
Before you book
Compare weekday and weekend: Hotels in the City and Canary Wharf fill with business travellers during the week. Look at prices for both before deciding when to fly home.
Stay near the Elizabeth line: Liverpool Street, Farringdon and Canary Wharf have direct trains to Heathrow, which saves time on your last day.
Ask about late checkout: If your flight is late on Sunday, ask the hotel about late checkout or luggage storage.
Loyalty: Hotels.com and Expedia share a loyalty programme, One Key. Check the terms there when you book.
Staying on: what is open in the City at the weekend
The City is quiet at the weekend, but not closed. St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London are open, and the Barbican has concerts and films. Leadenhall Market is lovely even when the shops are shut.
For more life, head to Spitalfields and Brick Lane in Shoreditch, or cross the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern and Borough Market. Staying longer? Our London itinerary has three days planned out.
Editor's pick
Andaz London Liverpool Street
Andaz London Liverpool Street is the hotel for a work trip that becomes a weekend. You sleep right beside Liverpool Street, where the Elizabeth line runs straight to Heathrow, and Shoreditch is minutes away. The 1884 building has a marble Masonic temple that lay hidden behind a wall until 1997. After your last meeting you can take the train home, or stay until Sunday.
Check availability and prices at Andaz London Liverpool Street
Frequently asked questions about hotels in the City of London and Canary Wharf
Where should I stay in London for a business trip?
Stay where your meetings are. For the financial district, the City of London around Liverpool Street, Bank and Tower Hill is best, and Canary Wharf suits the offices further east. Choose a hotel near the Elizabeth line, which runs directly to Heathrow. That saves time both for meetings and on the day you fly home.
What is the difference between the City of London and Canary Wharf?
The City of London is the old district of St Paul's, the Bank of England and medieval lanes, and it is London's traditional financial centre. Canary Wharf is a newer business district in the former docks east of the centre, with tall office towers by the water. The Elizabeth line links the two in minutes.
Are City of London hotels cheaper at the weekend?
Often, but not always. City hotels fill with business travellers during the week, and demand drops when the offices close on Friday. Prices vary with dates and events in town, so compare weekday and weekend rates for the hotel you are considering before fixing your travel days. Choose free cancellation while plans are uncertain.
How do you get from Heathrow to the City of London?
The Elizabeth line runs directly from Heathrow to Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf, with no change. For most people it is the simplest way into the City and Canary Wharf. The Heathrow Express is faster to Paddington, but you then need to change to continue east. Pay with a contactless card on both.
What can you do in the City of London at the weekend?
In the City you can visit St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, catch a concert or film at the Barbican and see Leadenhall Market in peace. Across the Millennium Bridge are Tate Modern and Borough Market, and Shoreditch has markets and life all weekend. Check opening hours first, as many places keep shorter weekend hours.