Novotel London Bridge

Hotel Description

Honestly, the Novotel London Bridge surprised me – and I mean that in the best way. You know how some hotels feel like they’re trying too hard to be everything to everyone? This one actually gets the balance right. It sits on Southwark Bridge Road, which sounds fancy but is really just this perfectly positioned spot where you can walk to Borough Market in about eight minutes (I timed it because I’m weird like that) and stumble back to your room after sampling way too much cheese and craft beer.

The thing that struck me first walking in was how they’ve managed to make a chain hotel feel… well, not chain-y. The lobby has this warm, lived-in vibe – leather chairs that look like people actually sit in them, not just pose for Instagram photos. Check-in was refreshingly quick, though I’d avoid arriving around 6 PM when all the business travelers descend at once. The staff genuinely seemed to know the neighborhood too, which is rarer than you’d think. When I asked about good coffee nearby, the guy at reception didn’t just point me toward their own café – he sent me to this little place on Union Street that locals actually use.

The rooms themselves are what I’d call thoughtfully designed rather than flashy. Everything works properly (revolutionary concept, I know), the shower has actual water pressure, and – this is key for London – the windows open, so you’re not trapped in recycled air all night. I was on the sixth floor facing away from the main road, so surprisingly quiet for central London. You’ll still hear the occasional siren, but that’s just the city doing its thing. What I really appreciated were the small touches that showed someone was thinking – proper bedside outlets where you can actually reach them, a desk that’s the right height for working, blackout curtains that actually block out light. The neighborhood itself is brilliant if you want to feel like you’re in real London rather than tourist London. You’ve got the cathedral and Shakespeare’s Globe if you want the historic stuff, but you’re also walking distance from some seriously good pubs that haven’t been discovered by every travel blog yet. The George Inn is literally around the corner – this ancient coaching inn where Dickens used to drink, and it still feels authentic rather than themed.

I mean, it’s not perfect – the air conditioning can be a bit aggressive, and if you’re on a lower floor facing the street, you might get some noise from late-night revelers heading home from the bars. But honestly? That 8.5 rating feels about right. It’s the kind of place where everything just works without any drama, the staff knows what they’re doing, and you wake up feeling like you’re actually in London, not some generic hotel that could be anywhere. Plus, walking across London Bridge to get to the tourist bits never gets old – there’s something about having the Thames and the city spreading out in front of you that makes you feel like you’ve figured out some secret about how to do London properly.

Rooms

• Superior Room with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 2 adults, 2 children
• Executive Queen Room With Sofa Bed with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Superior Premium Queen Room with Sofa Bed with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Executive Premium Queen Room with Sofa Bed with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Queen Suite with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Superior Room with Queen Bed and Convertible Sofa with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for 2 adults

Facilities