So here’s the thing about art’otel London Battersea Power Station – it’s basically sitting right in the middle of what feels like London’s biggest construction site, but somehow that actually works in its favor. I mean, Nine Elms has been transforming so rapidly over the past few years that half the locals still get lost down there, but this hotel landed in probably the best spot possible. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Battersea Power Station Tube on the Northern Line extension (which, honestly, still feels surreal to say since we waited decades for that thing), and the whole area has this buzzing energy of a neighborhood that’s figuring itself out.
The hotel itself is surprisingly sophisticated for somewhere surrounded by cranes and new builds. Walking into the lobby, you get hit with this mix of contemporary art – they take the “art” part of their name seriously – and there’s something about the lighting that makes everything feel warm rather than sterile. The rooms are spacious by London standards, which is saying something, and the soundproofing is actually decent despite all the development happening around you. I stayed on the seventh floor facing the river and you know what? The views across to Chelsea are pretty spectacular, especially at sunset when the whole Thames corridor lights up. The bed was one of those where you sink in just enough without feeling like you’re being swallowed whole, and the bathroom had proper water pressure – small victories that matter when you’re dealing with London hotels.
What really surprised me was how well-connected everything feels once you’re there. Vauxhall is just across the river if you fancy a walk (about fifteen minutes), and getting into Central London is actually easier than from a lot of Zone 2 spots. The hotel staff seemed to genuinely know the area too – they pointed me toward this little coffee place on Electric Boulevard that I never would’ve found otherwise, and their restaurant recommendations weren’t just the obvious tourist traps. The whole Battersea Power Station complex is right there with its shops and restaurants, though it still has that slightly artificial feeling of brand-new developments. But honestly, for a five-star place with an 8.8 rating, it delivers without being pretentious about it. You’re paying for the location and the newness factor, sure, but you’re also getting a hotel that feels like it belongs in 2024 London rather than trying to recreate some Victorian fantasy. If you don’t mind being part of London’s newest experiment in urban living, this place gets it right.