As anyone who is a parent themselves will know, you don’t get much of a chance to switch off.  Inevitably if we travel we usually take our children with us- we want them to experience new places, make memories and have adventures just as much as we do ourselves.  But sometimes it’s nice to get away without little ones for some adult only time.  My husband and I recently went away for the evening to London for a well deserved break for our wedding anniversary, staying at the Hampton by Hilton Waterloo.

The Hampton by Hilton Waterloo is obviously part of the worldwide Hilton umbrella, but most of them are independently owned and franchised. Having stayed in Hilton hotels many a time, this was my first stay in a Hampton so I was interested to see what it would be like.   The hotel marks itself as ‘affordable and contemporary’  so perfect for a affordable but nice break in the city.  Indeed Hilton markets the Hampton brand as a mid level, limited service option, and the first of it’s type in London.

First Impressions

The hotel is in a great location, just five minutes away from Waterloo station where you can get overground or underground train links into central London in around 15 minutes.  The location is nice, south of the river, and with easy access to many of London’s famous attractions.  The hotel doesn’t look anything special from the outside, but then you aren’t paying high end prices.  We arrived and were greeted by a friendly and efficient member of the team who checked us into our room.  The hotel is indeed modern, stylish and contemporary, with clean, bright and colourful public areas.

Rooms

We booked a queen room and on entry into the room we were greeted with floor to ceiling windows and a fantastic view of the London skyline, including a fantastic view of the London eye.  This was most definitely the selling point of the room and we loved keeping the curtains open after dark and seeing the sunset and sunrise.  The room was spotlessly clean, with a small modern bathroom with a walk in shower.  The bed was comfy, although not particularly large.  The room wasn’t particularly fancy, but yet again you don’t expect that for the prices that you pay.  It was modern, clean and had just enough space, and that’s exactly what we wanted.

Facilities

There’s apparently a fitness suite although we didn’t try this out during our overnight stay.  There’s also a rather cool looking restaurant- Assado which can also be accessed by it’s own separate entrance.  We did have a drink in the bar, which is basically just a few tables and chairs in the main foyer area, where because it was after hours we were served by the night receptionist.  However this simple service was all we needed.

Breakfast the next day was a fantastic experience, it was served in the newly rearranged restaurant, with it’s quirky colourful tiles and high tables and benches which make you feel like you are in a trendy coffee shop rather than a hotel.  There was a large range of food on offer- bagels, cereals, pastries, continental meats, hot options, a few different types of yoghurt and a great coffee machine, although my husband said he would have liked a little more fresh fruit.  I thought it was fantastic and breakfast is included in the price, so no add on’s or extra charges.

Overall

Overall we were really impressed with the Hampton by Hilton Waterloo.  The staff were friendly and efficient, the hotel was modern and contemporary, spotlessly clean, and the rooms were comfortable.  Breakfast included is a great option and we thoroughly enjoyed the food which was great when we had slightly sore heads from a few too many cocktails the night before.  The main selling point of this hotel is the transport links and location, with train stations and bus stops just outside your door meaning you can get all over London with ease.

As the hotel is so new and also it being our first experience of the Hampton brand, I felt it was a tiny step up from our usual stays in Hilton properties, and I liked the quirky touches yet also the simplicity of the hotel.  It is perfect for a leisure or business break, for couples, solo travellers or families, and you won’t be disappointed if you book here- what you see is what you get.  It won’t leave a lasting impression or be somewhere you rave about for years to come but then you aren’t going to expect that with the prices you pay.  We would definitely return and recommend it to a friend.

The hotel is located at 157-183 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XA. For more information or to make a reservation call +44 207 401 8080 or visit Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo for latest rates and availability.