Park Plaza County Hall London

First Impressions

Walking up to the Park Plaza County Hall London, you can’t miss that distinctive curved building right on the Thames — it’s actually the old County Hall that once housed London’s government. The entrance feels grand without being intimidating, and honestly, the staff seem genuinely pleased to see you rather than just going through the motions. This four-star property has that polished feel you’d expect, but there’s something refreshingly unpretentious about the whole place.

Location That Actually Matters

Here’s what I love about this spot — you’re literally across the river from Big Ben and Parliament, but you’re not stuck in the tourist chaos of Westminster. The London Eye is a two-minute walk (perfect for those Instagram shots), and you can stroll along the South Bank to Shakespeare’s Globe or Borough Market without fighting crowds on the Tube. Waterloo Station is right there too, which means easy connections to anywhere you need to go.

The Room Experience

My room faced the Thames, and I mean, waking up to that view of Westminster never gets old. The rooms are spacious by London standards — you can actually open your suitcase without rearranging all the furniture. The beds are properly comfortable (not those rock-hard things some hotels seem to think are “firm support”), and the bathrooms have decent water pressure, which honestly can be hit-or-miss in this city.

Dining and Amenities

The restaurant downstairs serves solid modern British food, though I’d skip breakfast there and head to one of the cafés near Waterloo instead — better coffee, half the price. There’s a decent gym if you need to work off all those pub meals, and the business facilities actually work properly if you’re traveling for work. The riverside terrace is a real bonus during warmer months — grab a drink and watch the river traffic go by.

Why Guests Keep Coming Back

What sets this place apart is how it balances tourist accessibility with local authenticity. You’re staying in a building with real history, but you’re not paying those eye-watering rates you’d find in Mayfair or Covent Garden. The service feels personal rather than corporate, and the location gives you options — whether you want to do the full tourist circuit or explore the grittier, more interesting bits of South London. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you’re experiencing London rather than just visiting it.

Locals suggest to book apartments in London around South Bank for riverside dining, market stops, and easy city crossings.