London Hotel Comparison

London Hotel Comparison Based on Our Travel Experiences

When planning a trip to London, choosing where we stay is dictated by what we have planned. Let's take a look at the how major brands compete on the ground in London so as to provide a clear picture from our own travels. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt offer different value propositions across the city, depending on whether we prefer high-end luxury, historic charm, or transit access.

Marriott Hotels in London

JW Marriott Grosvenor House London

My stays at Marriott's flagship hotels include the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane. Loyalty recognition swings dramatically here. On one occasion, my elite status secured an upgrade to a suite overlooking Hyde Park. On another visit, a standard room assignment landed a less inspiring view.

The location places us right into the heart of Mayfair and Grosvenor Square. Grosvenor Square has served as a historic hub for centuries, tied to American diplomacy and aristocratic estates. The area is known for its wealth and it is very common to see expensive cars on every street.

From the JW, we can easily walk to Oxford Street, New Bond Street and Regent Street. Inside the hotel, the executive lounge is spacious. Dining at the JW Steakhouse delivers an exceptional experience, and we found the steak dinner well worth the price.

Residence Inn Kensington

For longer stays and with our son, we used the Residence Inn in Kensington as a practical alternative. It sits right next to a Tesco supermarket, helping us save money on dining out. Plus the upgrade to a two bedroom suite was perfect. Our room and his room.

The rooms are comfortable, and breakfast is well executed, though it gets busy. While it requires walking a few extra blocks to the Earl's Court Tube station, I find the overall value for the money hard to beat.

Hyatt Hotels in London

Great Scotland Yard Hotel

We have splurged on the Great Scotland Yard Hotel. We enjoyed the boutique experience. Located on a quiet historic street, the proximity to Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, Parliament, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Embankment Tube Station, and the Cabaret Theater makes sightseeing effortless. It is steps away from Hobson's Fish and Chips, which we consider one of the best Fish & Chips locations.

Even without holding elite status with Hyatt, I notice the hotel goes out of its way to make me feel special. The rooms are exceptionally clean, well maintained, and rich in character. Standard rooms run compact, but that matters little whenour time is spent exploring. Skipping the hotel breakfast is easy given surrounding neighborhood cafes, or grabbing pastries from the Tesco corner store and enjoy morning coffee in the room or at Trafalgar Square people watching.

Hilton Hotels in London

DoubleTree by Hilton London Kensington

Hilton excels at transit connectivity at the DoubleTree by Hilton London Kensington. Situated across the street from the Gloucester Road Piccadilly Line tube station, it offers a transit hack straight from Heathrow Airport without a line transfer. Hilton honors my Gold membership with a complimentary breakfast, and the welcoming staff makes this a reliable favorite. The downside is that the rooms are dated. They lack the polish found at Great Scotland Yard or the JW Marriott. It is functional, but I view it as just a room.

Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow

I consider the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow a practical airport stop. Located a few hundred meters from the Hatton Cross Tube station on the Piccadilly line, it offers direct airport access while remaining inexpensive by London standards. It is heavily frequented because of its close location to the airport, taking no more than 10 minutes to get from Hatton Cross tube to Heathrow. That makes departures very quick. Airline flight attendants and weary travelers frequent the property because the staff accommodates check-in times. The team keeps lost items, such as our left-behind Kindle, securely stored for months until we returned through London.

DoubleTree by Hilton London West End

The DoubleTree West End features older interiors, but I find the rooms clean and functional. Its prime location places us within walking distance of major West End theaters.

DoubleTree by Hilton London Victoria

Another convenient hotel is the DoubleTree near Victoria Station. It places us within walking distance of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Because it sits near Victoria Station, we have great options utilizing trains or buses to head out for day trips to places like Kent or Hampton Court Palace. While the Tube handles our travel inside the city, regional trains and buses make escaping for a day trip straightforward. A quick transfer from the Piccadilly line connects us directly to Victoria, and complimentary breakfast is included for our Gold status alongside wonderful service.

We also like this hotel for its proximity to see Wicked, Hamilton or Mama Mia! All three are no more than a few hundred meters away.

Choosing Your London Base

Ultimately, our London hotel selection comes down to itinerary priorities. Marriott delivers high-end Mayfair positioning or budget travel with a child(ren), Hyatt provides historic boutique style near Westminster, and the Hilton hotel brand offers the best tube convenience.