Park Hyatt London River Thames review

What is Park Hyatt London River Thames?

As the city’s first Park Hyatt, the newly built Park Hyatt London River Thames appeals to business travelers and travelers seeking high-end digs and plenty of amenities.

The hotel, which has 201 rooms including a total of 31 suites, occupies several floors of a new development within the Nine Elms neighborhood — an area along the River Thames that has received a lot of funding and undergone a total transformation in recent years (it’s also home to the U.S. Embassy).

With a chic atmosphere featuring stylish modern furnishings and artwork from prominent British artists, as well as ample space in rooms — especially by London standards — the property exudes luxury.

How to book Park Hyatt London River Thames

Rooms feel elevated, modern and chic

As I mentioned, I was upgraded to a deluxe one-bedroom suite at check-in. I had used a World of Hyatt suite upgrade award, which allowed a one-category upgrade, but I was upgraded two categories as a gracious gesture since my room wasn’t quite ready when I came to check in around noon.

My 796-square-foot room felt massive, especially compared with rooms at other hotels I’ve stayed at in London.

I was assigned Room 307, which was thoughtfully designed with a large living room and dining area that were separated by a door from the bedroom.

There was a small restroom immediately on the right of the suite’s entrance, replete with marble counters and an electric toilet.

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A lovely printed screen separated the hallway area from this smaller restroom.

Immediately beyond was a spacious living area with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Thames River. A 65-inch LED television took up most of the space on one wall, and hung above a small console table. There was a wonderful welcome amenity of fresh fruit and a note from the hotel waiting for me on the coffee table.

The L-shaped couch was a comfortable spot to work or watch TV.

The small dining area, which centered around a compact dining table, was a great place for my London-based colleague and me to work.

There was a sleek black bar cabinet filled with luxe amenities, including my favorite: a Nespresso machine with plenty of extra pods.

This cabinet also held a teapot, plenty of Belu still and sparkling bottled water, and, in the drawers below, cutlery, fine china, snacks and a pull-out minibar fridge filled with various wines, Champagne and other beverages.

Among the brands on offer were Belvedere vodka, Hennessy cognac, Woodford Reserve Kentucky whiskey, Patron tequila, Noam Bavaria Berlin beer and Billecart-Salmon Champagne.

Walking into the bedroom, I saw that I was in a corner suite with floor-to-ceiling views from two sides of the room. There was a 55-inch LED television placed discreetly in the corner between two windows.

Blackout shades came down with the push of a button.

There was a daybed at the foot of the bed as well as a small sofa with an ottoman.

The cozy king-size bed was nested inside a wraparound headboard made of a luxe gray fabric. The crisp white bedding was a joy to pull back each night of my stay, and I slept well.

Both sides of the bed had U.K. outlets, but also USB and USB-C ports, so you could charge your devices even without an adapter. I will say plugs in the room were plentiful, though most fit U.K.-standard plugs only, so you may need a few adapters if you have lots of items to charge.

I loved the sweeping views from my room of nearby buildings and the river in the distance, though the views on higher floors were better. From my suite, I could see Battersea Power Station in the distance. The suite did have a terrace that wrapped around my corner of the building, but it was not accessible.

Just off the bedroom was a huge walk-in closet with all the amenities you’d expect at a high-end hotel.

The closet featured laundry bags, an ironing board and iron, a high-end hair dryer, a safe, and plenty of drawers and several other convenient storage areas. I appreciated the sleek wooden hangers in the large closet next to the pretty floral wallpaper.

A small bench was ideal for storing a rolling suitcase.

An elegant marble bathroom was among the most dramatic spots in the room and featured a showstopping claw-foot tub, all set on a cross-hatched marble floor.

A double sink was on the left and had amenities like cotton swabs and pads, Molton Brown bath products, a dental kit, and lotion. There was a scale on the floor.

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The claw-foot tub was very inviting and would make a wonderful place to spend some time relaxing.

There was a separate walk-in shower with both a rainfall showerhead and wand, and a small bench. Plush towels were placed on the wall across from the shower. The water pressure was excellent and the Molton Brown shampoo, conditioner and body wash smelled great.

Artwork is plentiful throughout the hotel

Art is a central selling point of the hotel, from the lobby sculptures crafted by Charlie Whinney to a striking painting at the reception area by Ian Rayer-Smith.

Other paintings by well-known British artists decorate the walls and spaces of the property.

The location is slightly removed from the action but still convenient

The Park Hyatt London River Thames is in the Nine Elms neighborhood, near both Battersea Park and the Albert Embankment. It’s not close to the major sites of central London, but there is a tube station — the Vauxhall station on the Victoria line — that can get you to central London across the river quickly.

The Battersea Power Station is a former coal-fired power plant that has been converted into apartments and also houses a ton of stores and restaurants within its structure and surroundings. It’s just a 25-minute walk or a short five-minute drive from the hotel. The nearby Vauxhall neighborhood, famous for its LGBTQ+ nightlife and bars — including the iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern — is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

London landmarks like Westminster Abbey and the London Eye are about a 15-minute car ride away. Heathrow Airport is an hour by car (and anywhere between 50 and 100 pounds, depending on traffic and time of day), or you can use public transport and get there in about an hour as well.

Frankly, it’s not the best location in London, but with easy access to public transportation, this factor doesn’t need to be a deal breaker when deciding on a stay.

A nice selection of dining and drinking options at Park Hyatt London River Thames

Despite the hotel’s recent opening and ongoing construction in some parts of the complex, the Park Hyatt London River Thames already offers several fun dining options. Two more dining and drinking options will open later this year.

Nine Elms Bar and Lounge

Nine Elms Bar and Lounge is the first thing you see when you walk into the elegant lobby at the Park Hyatt London River Thames. With hardwood floors and leather and wood furnishings, the restaurant features a dramatic bar as its centerpiece. It’s a warm and inviting space filled with several different seating areas giving off almost a retro cigar bar feeling (no smoking allowed). I enjoyed that the space’s back wall gave a nod to the neighborhood’s industrial past.

At the bar, you can order from a lengthy menu of cocktails, mocktails, espresso drinks, and an impressive selection of beers and wines. The story behind the name of the bar and restaurant (and the whole neighborhood) is that the area near the Park Hyatt was famous for once being home to nine giant elm trees.

Nine Elms Kitchen and Terrace

Nine Elms Kitchen and Terrace is next door, and that’s where you’ll get breakfast as a perk of being a top-tier World of Hyatt Globalist. It also serves lunch and dinner.

I found that the breakfast spread was impressive, complete with a full buffet setup.

Amenities at Park Hyatt London River Thames

One of the standout features of the Park Hyatt London River Thames is the incredible full-floor health and wellness center on level one. The elevators lead you to a world of pampering with a full spa, men’s and women’s locker rooms, unisex saunas, and a glimmering indoor swimming pool.

Indoor swimming pool

The expansive heated indoor swimming pool, which measures 65 by 26 feet, happens to be one of the largest in London. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the end of the pool let in the outdoor light (even when it’s overcast and gray like it was during my stay). It reminded me a bit of the famous Park Hyatt Tokyo’s rooftop pool.

The pool was fairly shallow, only going to a depth of just over 4 feet at the deepest end and just over 3 feet at the shallow end (so no diving allowed). Near the infinity-style edge, there were 15 lounge chairs, fluffy towels and an area with drinking water.

Locker rooms and sauna

There was a men’s and a women’s locker room, each of which featured marble countertops, wood accents and a Finnish-style hot sauna.

Gym

I enjoyed two workouts at the Park Hyatt London River Thames gym, which felt massive and featured floor-to-ceiling windows. I was happy to find plenty of cardio equipment — including brand-new Technogym machines — and weights for a great workout.

There’s also a small studio for yoga or other workouts.

The full-service spa

The stunning spa on the first floor features an extensive menu of treatments like massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

There are a total of six treatment rooms, including a couples massage room.

I got the signature Back to Brilliance massage, which cost a whopping $279 with service charges included. It was delightful and very relaxing, and I left feeling soothed and ready for bed.

I also got to spend time in the lovely relaxation room, which offered snacks and a variety of soothing teas.

Reasons Park Hyatt London River Thames might not be for you

Of course, no hotel is perfect. Here are a few reasons the Park Hyatt London River Thames may not be for you:

• The location is a bit removed from the major sights of London. While it is still in Zone 1, it’s a bit out of the way. The nearest Tube station is a few minutes’ walk away, and there aren’t many attractions in the immediate area.
• The Nine Elms neighborhood is a major construction zone, so construction noise could be bothersome, and some of the views (i.e., nearby construction sites) are not so inspiring.
• This hotel, like much of London, is expensive. Though you could save some cash by using World of Hyatt points, you’ll still pay a lot for food and drinks. The spa services are expensive, too.

Accessibility at Park Hyatt London River Thames

Park Hyatt London River Thames is a very accessible property. New construction means the hotel is among the most wheelchair-friendly properties in London.

There are 21 rooms that are fully accessible — the most in London, according to the hotel. Accessible rooms feature lowered door handles and wide points of entry. As you can see from the accessible room I toured, the bed was lower to the ground for easier access. Chairs and other furniture were also lower to the ground.

The closet, too, had a low-hanging bar for easier access. There was a roll-in bathroom with wide doors, and grab bars around the toilet, sink and shower. The shower had a bench and grab bars as well as an emergency cord. There was another cord alarm near the entrance to the restroom.

Public areas of the hotel were all flat, including the entrance, making for easy access. Elevators featured grab bars, a lower set of elevator buttons and wide doors.

The pool is also accessible and features a chair lift for those who may need one.

One area where I saw an opportunity for improvement was a lack of Braille signage.

Checking out of the Park Hyatt London River Thames

The Park Hyatt London River Thames is a new favorite for this Hyatt loyalist. Incredible service, high design, a slew of great amenities and delicious dining options made it a big winner for me, despite being a pricey option and in a slightly off-the-beaten-path neighborhood.

I had a fantastic stay and would recommend the hotel, especially to someone who has World of Hyatt points to burn in London. Status goes a long way at this property, especially if you’ve got a suite upgrade to use.

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