You know what caught me off guard about the Leonardo Royal? Walking up Cooper’s Row, you’re basically threading between the Tower of London and the financial district – I mean, there’s literally a medieval fortress on one side and glass skyscrapers on the other. It’s this weird London thing where history just crashes into modernity, and somehow this hotel sits right in the sweet spot between them.
The building itself has this solid, reassuring feel – nothing flashy, but you can tell they’ve put thought into the details. Check-in was smooth (though avoid Friday evenings if you can, since you’ll be sharing the lobby with a mix of business travelers wrapping up their week and tourists who’ve just realized they’re staying walking distance from the Crown Jewels). The rooms are what I’d call properly British comfortable – not massive, but everything’s where it should be, and honestly, the beds are better than you’d expect for a four-star. The windows actually open too, which is rarer than it should be in London hotels, though you might want to keep them closed if you’re facing the main road during morning rush hour.
What really works about this place is the location, but not in that generic “convenient location” way everyone talks about. I’m talking about being able to walk to Borough Market for Saturday morning coffee, then cutting through the back streets to hit the South Bank without dealing with tourist crowds. Tower Bridge is literally a five-minute stroll – and I mean the proper walk across it, not just gawking from the ground. The Tube connections are solid (Tower Hill is right there), but honestly, you’ll probably end up walking more than you planned because everything’s so close. The staff actually know the area too – ask them about the best route to avoid the cruise ship crowds at the Tower, or where to grab a decent pint that isn’t tourist-priced. There’s this little pub on St. Katharine’s Way they pointed me toward that I never would’ve found otherwise. The hotel restaurant is fine – nothing spectacular, but the breakfast will set you up properly for a day of wandering around, and room service doesn’t take forever like some places. One thing though – if you’re driving, definitely sort out parking ahead of time. This part of the City isn’t exactly built for cars, and street parking is basically a myth.