Novotel London Canary Wharf

The Novotel London Canary Wharf is a stylish, fairly new hotel in a tall tower in Canary Wharf. If you are lucky, you get a room on a high floor with a view over the London skyline, and that view is phenomenal. I stayed here twice.

Quick verdict: A very good hotel with a stunning view, great beds, a five-star shower and a rooftop bar for the welcome drink. The weak spots are the cramped lobby and the slow lifts. And it is expensive, but that is London. JCI Score 4.1 out of 5.

Location

There are not many Accor hotels in London, and London is very expensive when you want a decent hotel. I chose this one because it is comparatively close to the city centre, but not squeezed into it.

The hotel stands in Canary Wharf, the financial district. Many banks and young start-ups are based here, and there is always some new promotion or event going on. There are a few restaurants nearby, which is nice. But if you want to go to the city centre, you have to take the train once more. That is fine for me.

Getting There & First Impression

The hotel is a tall, new building and very stylish, with one exception: the entrance area. The lobby is not generous and not easy to oversee. It is rather tight, especially when many people check in and out at the same time, because there are only two or three small desks. If you want to leave your luggage again, it is put into a corner somewhere. That is a bit clumsy and not really pleasant.

The lifts are the other weak spot. For such a tall building there are only three or four, and at busy times you wait a long time, and it takes a while until you are upstairs.

Check-In & Loyalty Experience

Check-in was friendly, both times.

At my first stay I was Platinum and got a generous upgrade to a real suite, with an excellent view over the skyline. That was really great. At my second stay I was only Gold. I got an upgrade again, but a smaller one: a bit more space or a higher floor, I don't remember exactly.

I took my welcome drinks in the bar at the top. The bar and restaurant are on the top floors, together with a roof terrace. That is already fancy.

The Room

The rooms are great. The beds are very comfortable, the towels are fluffy, and everything is very clean.

• There is a desk in the room and enough sockets. They are British plugs, so you always need an adapter.
• The bathroom is great. The shower is excellent, and I can only give it five stars.
• If you are on a high floor, you get that fantastic view over the city. From my room I looked across the Thames to the Shard and the skyline of the City of London. That makes the room really special.

I slept very well. The air-conditioning is okay, so I take half a star off for Sleep, but otherwise the bed and the silence were perfect. I heard nothing from outside, and there is no street that could be loud.

Beyond the room, the hotel offers a fitness centre in the basement and a heated indoor pool. I didn't see the pool and didn't use any of it, which is a pity. With the room and the view, that is why I give Comfort four stars.

For work, the room is fine: a desk and enough power outlets. That is good enough for me, but nothing special, so I give Work three stars.

Food & Drink

I didn't have breakfast in the restaurant, because it was very expensive, as far as I remember. Downstairs on the ground floor there is a small coffee shop next to the lobby, where you can buy a coffee with pastries or a sandwich. That was more appropriate for me.

Digital Customer Experience

Nothing digital to report.

The Bill & Value

At my first stay I paid about €184 per night, at my second stay about €250 per night. That is very expensive, but it is London, and hotel prices are exorbitant here. For what you get, I think it is fair. If you can choose a high floor, the view alone is worth a lot.