I have walked by this hotel on many occasions and I have seen it in many films and TV series, but I have never been inside.
Today, that changed as Emma and I were booked in for the evening, as part of our wedding anniversary.
The brutalist concrete style, of the exterior, is not repeated internally. Bright tiles and mirrors bring a modern and contemporary feel.
Reception was fully staffed, so we didn't have to wait long to be checked in. Padam, who checked us in, assured us that he had given us a great room with an even better view. We would see.
The lift (elevator) was silent, smooth and spacious, with mirrored walls and ceiling and tiled floor, which made it seem even bigger. A small ashtray, built into one of the elevator panels, showed the age of the building.
Arriving on the fifth floor we turned right and then, a bit further on, turned left, finally arriving at 561. Our room was simply decorated and had everything now expected of a hotel: bed, smart TV, kettle, iron, Nespresso machine, air conditioning, desk, wardrobes, underfloor heating, etc..
Each item of furniture had a glass top, to protect it from damage. There were switches for various lights and heating and air conditioning.
The bed was comfortable and spacious, with plenty of pillows, too.
As promised, by Padam, the view was stunning and exactly what you would hope for when staying at this hotel.
Our view was directly south, looking down on the River Thames, with Tower Bridge and The Shard to our right. Perfect.
Breakfast, on Saturday morning, had everything on offer. There were cereals, pastries, breads, full English, tea and coffee machines and various juices and iced water. We were fortunate enough to be sat by a window, overlooking St Katharine Docks, rather than in the centre of the room.
As luck would have it, Tower Bridge opened for a maintenance check on Saturday morning, for which we had an excellent view.
Checking out was easy, as we simply handed our wood-effect keys in at reception.
The staff and facilities were excellent and I would definitely stay here again.
Oh, and one last thing... A big "thank you" to my wife for booking the hotel.
Brief History
Situated to the east of Tower Bridge, on a small island site of St Katharine Docks and Marina, the Tower Hotel took just three years to complete.
The exterior was designed by the Renton Howard Wood Partnership, while the interior was designed by Glyn Smith Associates.
The main building and much of the civil engineering was built by Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited, with Rider Hunt & Partners as the quantity surveyors and Ove Arup & Partners as the consulting engineers.
At the time of its construction it was the largest hotel development, east of the City of London, in the 20th century.
The hotel was opened on September 19, 1973, by Sir Richard Hull, the Constable of the Tower of London.
J. Lyons, who operated the hotel, sold it in 1977 to EMI Leisure. In 1980 Trusthouse Forte bought EMI Leisure and the hotel was later acquired by the Thistle Hotels Group.
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| The Tower Hotel, from St Katharine Docks and Marina. |
The hotel has:
- 24-hour reception (check in 15:00 / check out 11:00)
- 14 floors
- 18 suites 801 rooms
- A Starbucks in the foyer
- Afternoon tea
- ATM in the lobby and around the hotel
- Bars and restaurant
- Car park with 80 spaces
- Concierge services
- Gym
- Laundry service
- Meeting and events rooms
- Porter service
- Room service
- Wedding planner service
- WIFI free and unlimited
Built in the brutalist style the hotel was voted the second most hated building in London, in a BBC poll in 2006.
Affixed to the rear of the hotel is a piece of film history, often overlooked by visitors to St Katharine Docks and Marina. The item in question is called 'Silver Jubilee Crystal Crown', and is a 2 ton piece of transparent Perspex. You can read more about the 'Silver Jubilee Crystal Crown' by clicking the link below.
This was the original 'monolith' from Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'.
On St Katharine's Way, to the rear of the hotel, you will find some public art by the artist Dale Devereux Barker. This work consists of over 100 vitreous enamel panels and, although some repeat, they are great to see up close, as they were intended.
There is also a wonderful sundial, designed by Wendy Ann Taylor, that truly shines in the morning light.
With its high level view of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the River Thames, the hotel is often used as a filming location. So-much-so that the hotel offers:
- Roof Top filming
- Production offices
- Make up and costume room hire
- Coach & Car parking spaces available
- Catering locations
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