London
London hotels with a view: six places to watch the city from bed
On the 52nd floor of The Shard, a pool sits 182 metres above the ground. Below you, boats slide along the Thames past Tower Bridge. These are the London hotels where the view is the reason to book.
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London is a low city, which is exactly why the view hits so hard once you are high enough. From the right window you can trace the Thames as it bends through town and see how small the famous landmarks really are.
Many hotels promise a view and deliver a courtyard. The six below have rooms where the view is the point, but you often need the right room type. We tell you which one.
In short: London's hotels with a view
Shangri-La The Shard has the highest view in London, from floors 34 to 52 of the UK's tallest building. Park Plaza Westminster Bridge has rooms looking straight across to Parliament and Big Ben. For the river up close, Sea Containers London sits on the South Bank.
Our first choice: Shangri-La The Shard, for a view no other London hotel can match.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Shangri-La The Shard
Top picks
Highest above the city: Shangri-La The Shard
Facing Parliament: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
On the river: Sea Containers London
Over Hyde Park: Royal Lancaster London
From the dinner table: The Standard London
The Thames
Shangri-La The Shard
The hotel fills floors 34 to 52 of Renzo Piano's tower at London Bridge, and its 52nd-floor pool is billed as the highest in Western Europe. From the rooms you look out to Tower Bridge and St Paul's. At night the city lights up beneath you. It is expensive, and the view is what you pay for.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Shangri-La The Shard
Sea Containers London
The hotel stands on the South Bank in a brutalist riverside building, with interiors inspired by a 1920s transatlantic liner. Ask for a river-view room or a Thames Suite. The 12th Knot bar on the roof looks across the City. A spa and a Curzon cinema in the building make a rainy evening easy.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sea Containers London
Westminster
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
The hotel sits on the south side of Westminster Bridge, with the London Eye next door. Its Iconic View rooms look across the bridge to the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower. Other room types do not have this view, so choose carefully. There is an indoor pool too.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Royal Lancaster London by Hyde Park
Royal Lancaster has 18 storeys, and rooms on the south side look straight down into Kensington Gardens. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
The parks
Royal Lancaster London
Opened in 1967, the 18-storey hotel stands at Lancaster Gate on the north edge of Kensington Gardens. An £80 million restoration was completed in 2017. Rooms on the park side look straight down into the gardens and across the city. The Tube is right outside the door.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Royal Lancaster London
London Hilton on Park Lane
The hotel opened in 1963 and has 453 rooms. From Galvin at Windows on the 28th floor you can see down into the gardens of Buckingham Palace. It is a big hotel, more institution than boutique. Ask for a high room facing Hyde Park.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at London Hilton on Park Lane
King's Cross
The Standard London
The hotel occupies Camden Council's former brutalist headquarters, opposite St Pancras. A red, pill-shaped lift runs up the outside of the building to Decimo, the restaurant on the tenth floor. Some rooms have a private terrace, and a few have a bath outdoors. Handy if you are catching the Eurostar.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Standard London
Before you book
Choose the room type, not just the hotel: The view comes with the room. Look for ‘view’, ‘river’ or ‘park’ in the room name.
Ask for a high floor: Add a request to your booking. It is not guaranteed, but hotels often try.
Think about the season: In winter it is dark before five, and the city lights up early. Summer brings long evenings over the Thames.
Book tables with a view: Galvin at Windows and Decimo are popular, so reserve before you travel.
Editor's pick
Shangri-La The Shard
Shangri-La The Shard is the hotel for anyone who wants to see London from above. The rooms sit between the 34th and 52nd floors of the UK's tallest building, and from the windows you can follow the Thames right through the city. The pool at the top is 182 metres above the ground. It is a hotel for a celebration, an anniversary or a first trip to London you want to remember.
Frequently asked questions about London hotels with a view
Which London hotel has the best view?
Shangri-La The Shard has the highest view in London, on floors 34 to 52 of the UK's tallest building. From up there you can follow the river through the city. If you want to see Parliament and Big Ben, the Iconic View rooms at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge are the better choice.
Which London hotels overlook the Thames?
Shangri-La The Shard and Sea Containers London both look over the Thames. Sea Containers sits on the South Bank, so you see the water up close rather than from above. Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is also by the river, facing Parliament. Always ask for a river-facing room when you book.
Where can I stay with a view of Big Ben?
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge has rooms called Iconic View that look across Westminster Bridge to the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben. The hotel is on the south bank, next to the London Eye. Standard rooms do not have this view, so book the Iconic View room type.
Do London hotels have rooftop bars?
Yes, several do. Sea Containers London has the 12th Knot rooftop bar overlooking the City, and The Standard London has Decimo on the tenth floor. London Hilton on Park Lane has Galvin at Windows on the 28th floor. You do not need to stay at the hotel to eat or drink there, but book ahead.
Is it worth paying more for a view in London?
It depends on how much time you spend in your room. On a short weekend out all day, the evenings and mornings are what count, and a view turns those hours into part of the trip. For a celebration or a first visit, the view is usually worth the extra.