Park Plaza London Riverbank
by the TopOfHotel team
Park Plaza Riverbank is the same Westminster Bridge package, minus the postcard view and minus the premium — a Thames pool hotel for the price-conscious.
Park Plaza Riverbank is the same Westminster Bridge package, minus the postcard view and minus the premium — a Thames pool hotel for the price-conscious.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Park Plaza London Riverbank is the younger sibling of Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, sitting on the Thames a little farther south toward Vauxhall. Its 645 rooms fill a modern high-rise, and the upper floors are the reason to book: river-view rooms look across to Westminster Abbey, the green-and-sand MI6 building and the London Eye. Standard rooms are a comfortable size, done in grey-and-charcoal tones with soft king beds, electric blackout blinds and soundproof glass that reviewers keep praising. A Thames view adds roughly 20% to the rate, but guests say the river and the bridges lit up at night make it worth it. Studio and Apartment grades come with a small kitchenette, handy for families staying several nights.
Food and amenities
This is where the hotel earns its keep against cheaper rivals. There's a 15-metre indoor pool, a spa and a full gym — a rare combination at this price in central London. Three restaurants sit under one roof: an Italian, the Japanese Ichi, and the Riverbank Brasserie with a terrace right on the Thames. Wi-Fi is fast and the housekeeping is consistently good, by the reviews. One catch worth knowing: the buffet breakfast is charged separately at standard London 4-star prices, so either fold it into the budget or walk out for a cheaper morning.
Location and getting there
Vauxhall Station is an 8-minute walk, and the Victoria line gets you to Oxford Circus in 6 minutes and Victoria in 4; National Rail at Vauxhall also runs southwest to Clapham. The London Eye is a 15-minute riverside stroll along the Albert Embankment, and Westminster is about 20 minutes on foot over Lambeth Bridge, past Lambeth Palace. The honest trade-off versus the Westminster Bridge sibling is distance — you're one stop or one walk removed from the headline landmarks rather than staring at them from the lobby.
Things to know before booking
Vauxhall is farther from the West End than the Westminster Bridge hotel, so budget an extra Tube ride or a 20-minute walk to reach Big Ben, the theatres and Covent Garden. The surrounding streets are residential and office-heavy rather than buzzing, which suits a quiet base but disappoints anyone wanting bars and restaurants outside the door. And remember that breakfast is not in the standard rate — request a high north-facing room when you book if the river view matters, since not every floor delivers it.
Our take
Park Plaza Riverbank is the value move among London's big riverside hotels. You get the same pool, spa and three restaurants as the pricier Westminster Bridge flagship, plus genuine Thames views, for around 25% less — rooms from about $157 a night. The price of that saving is the location: you trade a landmark doorstep for one Victoria-line stop into the centre. If you'd rather put the difference toward a river-view room than pay a premium to wake up facing Big Ben, this is the smarter book.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Thames-side location for roughly 25% less than Park Plaza Westminster Bridge a kilometre upriver, while keeping the same facility set — the clearest value play among London's big riverside hotels.
- Indoor 15-metre pool, a spa and a full gym onsite, which is rare even at this price and a genuine draw for families travelling with kids.
- Spacious, modern rooms in grey-and-charcoal tones with comfortable king beds; guests repeatedly single out the quiet and the soundproof glass, unusual for a 645-room tower.
- Upper-floor river-view rooms look across to Westminster Abbey, the MI6 building and the London Eye — and reviewers say the bridges lit up at night justify the roughly 20% view surcharge.
- Three restaurants under one roof, including an Italian, the Japanese Ichi, and the Riverbank Brasserie with a Thames-side terrace, so you can eat without leaving on a tired evening.
- Vauxhall sits farther from the West End than the Westminster Bridge sibling; you'll add a short Tube ride or a 20-minute riverside walk to reach Big Ben, the theatres and Covent Garden.
- The immediate neighbourhood is residential and office-heavy rather than lively — fine for a quiet base, less so if you want restaurants and bars spilling onto the street outside.
- Breakfast is not included in the standard rate and runs at typical London 4-star buffet prices, so factor it in or walk out for a cheaper morning.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Book a river-view room on a high floor facing north — the surcharge is about 20% and you get Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and the lit bridges at night.
- For Westminster, skip the Tube and walk 20 minutes along the Albert Embankment over Lambeth Bridge — the riverside path passes Lambeth Palace and the MI6 building.
- Reserve a Studio or Apartment grade if you're staying several nights with family; the small kitchenette saves a fortune on London breakfasts and snacks.