FINDING a London hotel room that isn’t the size of a shoe box and is actually affordable can be a real challenge.
Luckily, I’ve done my research and have found an underrated hotel that hides a secret bargain.
This stay offers suite-sized rooms for a very reasonable £65 – which is less than what you’d pay for those broom cupboard-sized rooms in the city centre.
Not only that, but the hotel has great connections into Central London, plus has attractions like the Minecraft Experience and The Legend of the Titanic exhibition less than 10 minutes away.
Throw in unlimited free ferry rides across the river to Canary Wharf, and it might just be the best-kept budget hotel hack in the capital.
Here’s everything you need to know about a&o London Docklands Riverside.
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Where is a&o London Docklands Riverside?
a&o London Docklands Riverside is in Rotherhithe, which sits directly opposite swanky London finance district Canary Wharf.
A stay here even comes with free ferry tickets to cross over the river and reach Canary Wharf in a matter of minutes.
You can take the ferry as many times as you’d like during your stay. Ferries come every 15-20 minutes, and run daily until around 11pm.
The easiest way to get to the hotel via public transport is by taking the underground to Canada Water, and then walking around 10 minutes to reach the hotel.
What is the hotel like?
This is a no faff, no-frills spot which makes for the perfect budget-friendly base on a trip to London.
The building is a restored 17th century wharf warehouse, bringing a touch of the area’s maritime history to your stay – but all of the amenities here are super modern.
Everything here is designed for efficiency – the check-in process is quick and easy, there are vending machines throughout with snacks, drinks and toiletries, and reception are on-hand 24 hours a day to help.
There’s an indoor bar and lounge area, plus an outdoor ‘Urban Beach’ bar with plenty of parasol-topped tables for soaking up the sun in the warmer weather.
What are the rooms like?
This London stay offers the ultimate room hack – entire suite-sized rooms from just £65 per night.
a&o London Docklands Riverside used to be a Hilton Doubletree hotel, however since a&o took over ownership, you can snag a large room for a shockingly low price.
This is because some rooms here which were once sold as King Junior Suites are now being sold for the price of a regular double room.
This means that you could bag an entire suite with a big double bed, lounge area with a sofa, desk to work from and even a balcony overlooking the Thames for just £65 per night.
That works out to only £32.50pp per night (almost unheard of for a Central London hotel).
Prices vary depending on the time of year you visit, so if you want to bag this price, make sure to look for off-peak season stays such as weekdays in the winter.
As this accommodation is owned by a&o hostels, there are actually dorm rooms on offer here, too.
If you’re a seasoned traveller that doesn’t mind sharing a room, you could bag a stay here from as little as £19 per night – perfect if you just want a place to crash after a concert or event.
What is there to eat and drink?
Breakfast here is served buffet-style with all the usual suspects – eggs, sausage, bacon, cereals – plus a pancake machine with Nutella and maple syrup.
It’s definitely worth heading out into the city to grab lunch and dinner, as London is full of amazing restaurants inspired by all sorts of cuisines.
Cross the river into Canary Wharf and you’ll soon spot Big Easy – a huge, American-style BBQ restaurant that sits on top of the underground station, with huge neon signage that reflects onto the water below.
Here you can feast on steak, ribs, fries, corn on the cob and more, all lathered in thick barbecue sauce. Messy, but so delicious.
What else is there to do there?
When you’re out in Canary Wharf, make sure to book in a session at Fairgame.
Head towards the giant yellow rubber duck on the waterfront and behind it you’ll find a playground for grown-ups.
Inside there’s street food-style stalls, a bar serving crazy cocktails and, most importantly, loads of fairground-style games like whack-a-mole and basketball hoop-shooting.
If you’ve got kids with you, or just fancy a wholesome day out, hop on the DLR to Mudchute Farm.
Here you’ll find a farm with a surreal feel, where you can see alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens and more grazing grasses backed by London skyscrapers.
There’s even a community garden on-site where you can get stuck in and lend a hand planting flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Is it family friendly?
a&o London Docklands Riverside is family-friendly, with private, family-sized rooms and even pram hire from reception.
The hotel also has dog-friendly rooms, with a fee of £13 per pet per day.
Is the hotel accessible?
The hotel is accessible with step-free access onto the property and elevators to reach the rooms.
Make sure to mention any specific needs you may have upon booking.