Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London
by the TopOfHotel team
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is the best Big Ben view you can book in a 4-star London hotel.
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is the best Big Ben view you can book in a 4-star London hotel.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
This is the biggest hotel on the list — 1,019 rooms in a tall modern block. Standard rooms are a comfortable size, decorated in a light, modern palette, with firm beds and fast Wi-Fi. The ones people actually come for are the river-facing rooms on higher floors: they cost roughly 30-50% more than standard, but reviewers keep saying the same thing — being able to see Big Ben from bed is worth it. Studios and suites add a small kitchenette and a seating area, which makes them a sensible pick for families settling in for several nights.
Food and amenities
There are 5 restaurants in the building, so you rarely need to go out to eat. Brasserie Joel handles French cooking, Ichi Sushi & Sashimi covers Japanese, and Primo Bar is the spot for a cocktail. Downstairs sits a 15-metre indoor pool, the Mandara spa for massages and treatments, and a full gym — a genuinely useful set of facilities this close to Westminster, and a relief after a day on your feet.
Location and getting there
The location is the whole story. The hotel sits at the south end of Westminster Bridge, so the London Eye is right next door and Westminster Abbey is a 5-minute walk across the river. Waterloo Station is just 3 minutes on foot and runs 4 Tube lines — Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern, and Waterloo & City — plus National Rail, which connects you to the rest of London and out to the airports. Almost everything a first-timer wants to see is either walkable or one short ride away.
Things to know before booking
Two honest caveats. First, the river-view premium is real: the headline rate of about $215 buys a room facing away from the landmarks, so if you want the Big Ben view, budget closer to $300+ and ask for a high floor when you book. Second, with 1,019 rooms the lobby gets crowded at peak check-in and check-out, with queues at the desk and the lifts. And if you prefer a small, quiet, boutique feel, the scale here works against you — this is a large, busy hotel by design.
Our take
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is the easiest call on this list for a first London trip with a family or a partner. You wake up to Big Ben across the Thames, the London Eye is next door, and Waterloo puts the whole city within reach in minutes — with a pool and spa to recover in at the end of the day. Pay for the river view if your budget stretches, accept the busy lobby, and you get one of the best-positioned 4-star stays in central London. Rooms run from about $215 a night.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Upper-floor rooms look straight across the Thames at Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Reviewers call the river view worth the premium just to see the landmarks from bed.
- Waterloo Station is a 3-minute walk, putting 4 Tube lines (Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern, and Waterloo & City) plus National Rail at your door — you can reach almost anywhere in the city without changing twice.
- A 15-metre indoor pool, the Mandara spa and a gym sit inside the building, which is rare this close to Westminster and handy after a full day of walking.
- Five restaurants live on site, including Brasserie Joel for French cooking, Ichi Sushi & Sashimi for Japanese, and Primo Bar for cocktails — enough range that you never have to leave to eat.
- The London Eye is right next door and Westminster Abbey is a 5-minute walk across the bridge, so the biggest first-timer sights are on foot rather than another Tube ride.
- Thames-view rooms run 30-50% above the standard rate, so the headline price of about $215 only buys a room facing the other way — budget closer to $300+ for the view that sells this hotel.
- At 1,019 rooms this is the largest hotel on the list, and the lobby gets genuinely crowded at peak check-in and check-out times, with queues at the desk and the lifts.
- Standard rooms are comfortable but plain next to the river-facing ones, and some travellers feel the scale makes the place feel more like a conference hotel than a boutique stay.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- When you book, ask specifically for a high floor facing the river — the Big Ben view is what you are paying for, and a low or rear-facing room looks at nothing special.
- Walk out the front, cross Westminster Bridge on foot for 5 minutes and you reach Westminster Abbey and Parliament without touching the Tube — best done early before the crowds.
- For families staying several nights, book a studio or suite with the small kitchenette so you can do breakfast in-room and skip the separate breakfast charge.