Jinjiang-Radisson had a phenomenal sale in April of which many of us have taken advantage. To be honest, Radisson doesn’t really have many properties worth making a special trip for, so after looking through the options for a few days, I only ended up booking two trips.
I used the remaining points to book a couple of Radisson hotels in London just for the experience. The first one I stayed at was the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, which I personally think is the best Radisson property in the UK.
The name of the hotel is actually quite clever. It’s not called “Westminster”, but “Westminster Bridge”, and that’s because it’s technically just across the bridge from Westminster Abbey, but to be fair it’s still pretyy close. What’s interesting is that in this small area, there are three Park Plazas: Westminster Bridge, County Hall, and Waterloo. A bit further south there’s also Park Plaza London Riverbank, which I will review next time.
Despite being on the South Bank, the location of this hotel is fantastic. Not only is Westminster Abbey just a bridge away, but Waterloo Station is also just a few minutes’ walk. On a sunny day, a stroll along the Thames is really lovely. Even better – this hotel falls within the New Year’s Eve fireworks zone. So if you’re lucky enough to stay here on December 31st, you can enjoy the fireworks without having to jostle with the crowds!
Coming from Westminster Bridge, I passed the London Marriott County Hall – another excellent hotel – and arrived at the Park Plaza. The exterior is modern but understated.
The ground floor houses a public space with a café. The tiled design and wall art give it a very stylish touch.
Up one flight of stairs, you’ll find the main lobby.
I checked in successfully a little after 1 pm. The front desk didn’t mention my VIP status at all and no word on breakfast or lounge access. I had to ask and check manually to confirm the benefits. Sometimes wonder if Radisson upgrades are automated by the system, since even with unfamiliar front desk staff, upgrades still usually happen.
The night before, I’d already seen my room number in the Radisson app. Originally I was assigned a room on the 12th floor, but it hadn’t been cleaned yet, so they moved me to one on the 10th. I didn’t bother asking for a better upgrade.
The hotel is built in a cylindrical shape, so the room layout is slightly odd, and the views can vary a lot depending on which direction your room faces. Based on online reports, VIPs here are typically upgraded to a studio room, and occasionally to a junior suite.
Mine had a separated sitting area near the entrance:
Then came the bedroom with a large, comfy bed.
That box in the middle is actually the bathroom, definitely an unusual layout.
But the room itself is spacious, and there’s even a bathtub which for London is a big plus. By European standards, this could easily be marketed as a junior suite. Some rooms have views of Westminster or Big Ben, but mine faced the railway and The Shard in the distance.
Soundproofing was excellent. Despite being so close to the train tracks, I couldn’t hear a thing.
The VIP Lounge is on the second floor, and each guest floor has a view down into the lounge, accompanied by tempting little ads trying to upsell you on access.
My first reaction after scanning my room key and walking into the lounge? Wide-open eyes and a genuine “Wow” – it’s rare for a hotel lounge to blow me away like that.
This isn’t your typical executive lounge. Because of the building’s cylindrical structure, the rooms line the perimeter, creating a triangular central atrium. Instead of using it as a lobby (which I think most hotels would do), the hotel turned it into the VIP Lounge, exclusive to eligible guests.
The architecture, materials, colour palette, and skylight are all stunning. And the full-height glass wall with direct views of Westminster and Big Ben? Absolutely breath-taking.
I’d go as far as to say this is hands down the most beautiful executive lounge in the UK.
Breakfast is served here on some days but not when I was here, and beware that it closes at 8 pm. During the day, there are snacks like cookies, fruit, and soft drinks.
Happy Hour starts at 5:30 pm. and includes hot items like mini burgers, fried shrimp, and falafel, plus salads, bread, and small bites – enough to fill you up.
What stood out the most was how few people were there. I counted no more than seven or eight guests at any time. Keep in mind that no room or suite comes with lounge access and it’s either reserved for VIPs or available for £55 per person per day. After booking, the hotel sent me an email offering a half-price upgrade (possibly with breakfast included), which honestly isn’t a bad deal. Upgrading to a suite costs just £99 in the same email.
Breakfast is served in the main restaurant on the ground floor, and frankly, it was nothing special. Judging from the availability the day before, I thought the hotel wasn’t that full. But breakfast revealed just how busy it actually was.
Cooked-to-order items like omelette cost extra. The breakfast menu also tried to push the VIP Lounge again, but it didn’t seem like many people were buying into it.
On the fourth basement level, you’ll find the swimming pool (reservations required), sauna, and gym.
I already had a good impression of the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge going into this stay, but it still managed to exceed expectations. The rooms are modern and spacious, there’s a pool, and most importantly, the VIP Lounge is a work of architectural genius. As far as I know, this is the only Radisson property in London that features a lounge and offers complimentary access to VIPs.
Despite being officially rated as a four-star hotel, the overall experience here beats many of London’s five-star properties. Personally, I think this is one of the best value-for-money hotels in the entire city.
Recent Comments