You know what struck me first about H10 London Waterloo? The building itself – it’s this beautiful Victorian red brick that actually feels like London, not some generic glass box. When you walk up to the entrance on Waterloo Road, there’s something satisfying about the solid feel of the place, like it’s been part of the neighborhood forever (even though the hotel itself is relatively new).
The location is honestly brilliant if you know London at all. I mean, everyone talks about staying in Covent Garden or near Oxford Street, but Waterloo Road puts you right in the sweet spot between everything. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Waterloo Station – and I’m talking the kind of walk where you don’t even need to check your phone for directions. The Southbank is right there, so you can wander along the Thames to the London Eye or Borough Market without dealing with the Tube. Actually, Borough Market is maybe a fifteen-minute walk, and that’s where you’ll find the best coffee and pastries anyway. The rooms have this modern-meets-classic thing going on that works really well – clean lines but warm wood touches, and the beds are properly comfortable (not those rock-hard European mattresses you sometimes get). The bathrooms are small but thoughtfully designed, with decent water pressure and those little touches like good lighting that make getting ready less of a hassle.
What I really appreciated was how quiet it stays, considering you’re on a main road. The windows do their job, and honestly, the neighborhood settles down nicely in the evenings. During the day there’s energy from people heading to and from the station, but it never feels chaotic like some parts of central London. The staff genuinely seem to know what they’re doing – check-in was smooth, they had solid recommendations for dinner spots nearby, and when I needed an iron sent up, it appeared in about ten minutes. The 8.4 rating makes sense to me because it’s one of those places that just works without any major surprises, good or bad. It’s not trying to be the flashiest hotel in London, but everything feels well thought out. If you’re the type who wants to actually explore London rather than just hit the obvious tourist spots, this location gives you options. You can walk to Westminster across the bridge, catch a show in the West End (quick hop on the Northern line), or just sit by the river with a coffee and watch the city do its thing.