Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo
by the TopOfHotel team
Hampton Waterloo is the best-value 3-star in central London — breakfast included and a dependable Hilton standard a few minutes from Waterloo.
Hampton Waterloo is the best-value 3-star in central London — breakfast included and a dependable Hilton standard a few minutes from Waterloo.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 297 rooms are done in a bright modern palette with everything you need and nothing you do not — clean lines, full furnishings and the firm Hilton Serenity bed. Blackout curtains and the air-con both work properly, and the bathrooms get a contemporary walk-in shower. The honest caveat that reviewers repeat is size: rooms here run smaller than the Hampton brand standard elsewhere, a direct consequence of building on a tight central London plot. The space is used well, but pack light and manage expectations.
Food and amenities
The headline is breakfast: a buffet folded into the rate, with a cooked full English alongside breads, cereal, fruit, juice and coffee. Guests describe it as filling and varied for the money, and at a London hotel that alone shifts the value math. Beyond that, the 24-hour gym covers a quick workout and the front desk runs round the clock. What you do not get is a lunch or dinner restaurant — there is no other meal served onsite, so every dinner means heading out, which around Waterloo is no hardship at all.
Location and getting there
The hotel sits on Waterloo Road, a 4-minute walk from Waterloo Station and its 4 Tube lines — Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, and Waterloo & City — plus National Rail services reaching across England. On foot the South Bank opens up fast: the London Eye in about 10 minutes, Westminster roughly 12 minutes across the bridge, and Tate Modern about 20 minutes along the river. The immediate streets around Waterloo are packed with restaurants and pubs, and Lower Marsh market is a five-minute stroll for cheaper, better food than the station chains.
Things to know before booking
Three honest flags. Rooms run small for the Hampton brand, so do not expect generous floor space. There is no lunch or dinner restaurant in the building — fine given the options nearby, but plan to eat out. And as a budget chain hotel by a major terminus, it is functional rather than atmospheric; rooms facing Waterloo Road can catch traffic and station noise, so request a higher, quieter floor at booking.
Our take
This is the clearest value on the list. For a rate opening near $135, you get a dependable Hilton standard, a breakfast that is actually included, and a genuinely central address a few minutes from Waterloo and the London Eye. It is best for business travelers who want a reliable chain, families stretching a budget who will lean on that free breakfast, and mid-budget couples. Trade a bit of room size and onsite dining for location and the breakfast, and it is a hard combination to beat in central London.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The buffet breakfast is included in the rate, with a cooked full English alongside breads, cereal, fruit, juice and coffee — a real saving in a city where hotel breakfast usually runs $20 or more per head.
- It delivers the Hilton standard guests expect: consistent cleanliness, the firm Hilton Serenity bed, working air-con and blackout curtains, and front-desk service that reviewers call reliable.
- Waterloo Station is a 4-minute walk, putting 4 Tube lines (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, and Waterloo & City) plus National Rail services across England within easy reach.
- The London Eye is about 10 minutes on foot and Westminster is roughly 12 minutes across the bridge, so the major South Bank sights are walkable rather than another fare away.
- Rates start near $135 a night with breakfast included and a central location — a combination that is genuinely hard to find in London and the reason the score sits at 8.6/10.
- Rooms are noticeably small by Hampton standards elsewhere, a trade-off of building in a tight central London plot; the layout is well used but do not expect a spacious room.
- There is no lunch or dinner restaurant in the hotel, so you will head out for every meal except breakfast — not a problem given the choice around Waterloo, but worth knowing.
- As a budget chain hotel near a major terminus, it leans functional rather than characterful; travelers wanting atmosphere or a view should look at the riverside options on this list.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Eat the included breakfast before heading out, then walk the 10 minutes to the London Eye to beat the queues that build by mid-morning.
- For dinner, skip the station chains and walk to Lower Marsh, a 5-minute stroll, where the street market and independent restaurants and pubs are far better value.
- Request a higher floor away from Waterloo Road at booking — rooms facing the road can catch traffic and station noise.