I travel to London quite often and have anxiously anticipated the opening of the Park Hyatt London River Thames. My daughter lives outside of London, so I don’t need a hotel very often because I usually stay with her. But I love going to the theater in London, so we decided to stay overnight at the Park Hyatt after enjoying a musical on my recent visit so we could check out this hotel. 

 

Location

The Park Hyatt has stunning views of the Thames River. I thoroughly enjoyed watching boats traveling down the river from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The hotel is not in a location that’s convenient if you prefer walking to a lot of the main tourist areas, but it is easily accessible by Tube and very close to the Vauxhall Tube station.  Or if you prefer, it’s a quick and inexpensive Uber or taxi ride into central London.

 

 

Redemption Value

The Park Hyatt is a Category 7 property, so it can be booked from between 25,000 and 35,000 Hyatt points per night, depending on whether the dates you select are peak, off-peak, or standard.  I booked a standard king room with a Category 1-7 free-night certificate I got as a Milestone Reward. I used our hotel upgrade template and asked for an upgrade as a Globalist, and before I got to the hotel, I saw this:

 

 

 

Globalist Benefits

We didn’t have a car, but if we had, we would have enjoyed complimentary valet parking. We were able to check in a little early and could have taken advantage of a late 4:00 p.m. check-out if we had wished to.

Globalist breakfast was served at The Nine Elms Kitchen. There was a nice buffet, and we could also order one hot item from the menu in addition to the buffet. The breakfast was really good, and the restaurant was also very beautiful.

 

 

 

 

A lovely welcoming note awaited us in the room when we checked in, along with some chocolate tartlets and two water bottles. Jess will be glad to hear that the robes are cozy and fluffy and I’m sure she’ll enjoy them on her upcoming trip.

 

 

The Room

By London standards, the room was huge. When we first entered the room, we noticed a half-bath off to the side. The large living area in our suite was impeccably decorated, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light (even though it was a typically dreary London day).

 

 

 

 

The bedroom was large with the usual comfortable, fluffy duvet. Again, the views of the Thames were stunning. 

 

 

The bathroom, too, was large, with a clawfoot tub, a large shower, and a nice walk-in closet. Two things we really loved, though, were the heated toilet seats that opened when you walked in. (Oh yes, it is the little things!) I also love large, fluffy, white towels, and theirs were amazing.

 

 

 

Other Amenities and Services

The hotel opened on October 8th, and we arrived on October 25th. I think the staff outnumbered the guests I saw. Everyone was over-the-top helpful to us (I think they just wanted to be doing something—anything). I am sure it will get busier as more people become aware of this hotel.

The hotel has a fitness center and a pool. A spa is also available; we would have loved to have had time to use it. Next time!

 

 

 

 

 

The Food

Before going to the theater, we ate dinner at the main restaurant, Nine Elms. I had the chicken, and my daughter had a filet. Honestly, we were a little disappointed. The food looked amazing, but it was a little heavy on the spices, and my fondant potato was seriously undercooked. But the breakfast we had in the same restaurant was delicious.

 

Bottom Line

Despite the miss at dinner, I would love to return to the Park Hyatt London River Thames. The magnificent views of the river can’t be beaten; the beautiful, modern British decor of the rooms and public spaces was gorgeous and luxurious; and the staff’s excellent service made up for the one slight miss. No, it isn’t in the heart of central London; but after a busy day out sightseeing, it is often nice to retreat to a quiet, luxurious hotel that’s somewhat removed from the crowded center.  The Park Hyatt provided the serenity I wanted and made me want to return for more.