Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from citizenM Southwark when I first walked up to that sleek glass entrance on Lavington Street. The whole area’s been transformed over the past decade – you’ve got these gorgeous Victorian warehouse conversions sitting right next to ultra-modern hotels like this one, and somehow it all works. The lobby hit me immediately with this sort of Amsterdam-meets-London vibe (makes sense since citizenM is Dutch), all moody lighting and oversized furniture that actually looks like somewhere you’d want to hang out rather than just pass through.
The rooms are… well, they’re small, let’s be honest about that. But here’s the thing – they’ve thought through every single inch. That XL bed takes up most of the space, but it’s ridiculously comfortable, and the whole setup feels more like a really well-designed studio apartment than a cramped hotel room. The mood lighting system is pretty brilliant once you figure it out, though I’ll admit I spent the first night cycling through settings like a kid with a new toy. What really won me over was stepping out onto some of the upper floor terraces – you get these unexpected glimpses of the Thames and the city that you just don’t see from street level. The bathrooms are these transparent glass boxes which sounds weird but somehow works, especially with those rain showers that actually have proper pressure.
Location-wise, you’re about a seven-minute walk to Borough Market (go early on Saturday mornings before the crowds hit), and you can easily stroll along the South Bank to Shakespeare’s Globe or cross over to St. Paul’s. The Southwark tube station is practically around the corner, but honestly, I found myself walking everywhere because this part of London is just so walkable. There’s a Pret right across the street if you need your morning coffee fix, but the hotel’s own canteenM does surprisingly good breakfast – their Dutch pancakes are worth getting up for. One small thing that surprised me: it’s actually pretty quiet at night despite being in central London, probably because Lavington Street doesn’t get much through traffic. The 8.6 rating makes total sense to me – it’s not trying to be a grand luxury hotel, but what it does, it does really well. If you’re the type who wants to experience London rather than hide away in your hotel room, and you appreciate good design without the stuffiness, this place gets it right.