I'm finally planning a trip to London for April 2024! I'd like to hear from anyone who has stayed at the ibis London Blackfriars hotel in the last couple of years. Booking.com gives it an overall 7.9 with some decent but mixed reviews. Tripadvisor's recent reviews are a bit troubling when describing the mattress and bathrooms. I realize this is a budget hotel chain. The last mention on this forum is from five years ago, so I was hoping someone would have more recent experience. Thanks for any input!
Posted by
London
1212 posts
I don't know this hotel particularly, but it's handy for the South Bank, where you can walk along the river and there's plenty to see. Tate Modern art gallery is a big attraction. There's good links on the tube at Southwark and Blackfriars and Waterloo is a short walk for your national rail trains that can take you out of London on day trips. The hotel is right by The Cut, one of my favourite streets in the area.
Opinions on mattresses are too subjective for me to base a decision on that would influence staying at a particular hotel. Some people prefer hard, some soft. 7.9 sounds good to me, especially if the price is right. The building itself looks modern and fresh and the pictures of the rooms make them look quite attractive in my opinion.
It's a good spot to base if you want to avoid the expense of staying right in the heart of the west end.
Posted by
San Francisco area
1880 posts
Premier Inn is often mentioned in the forum as a nice budget option. Apparently the hub hotels have smaller rooms and the plus rooms are bigger and nicer. They have many locations throughout London and one right near the Blackfriar station. I’ve never stayed at one so I can’t provide first had experience.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7049 posts
Not that it means much, but it looked fine when I walked by it yesterday. It looked like most Ibis hotels.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4085 posts
The Blackfriars pub, in the centre of that neighbourhood's action, is among the most distinctive in London. Its colourful history includes being saved from the swamp of new and tall buildings through a public campaign led by the then-poet-laureate Sir John Betjeman. That alone deserves a toast.
Posted by
OP
Tampa, FL
606 posts
Thanks for the replies, folks, especially about the Blackfriars pub. I plan to check that out. After further research, I've booked another hotel near Waterloo Station. Looking forward to my first visit to London!
Posted by
Land of La
9104 posts
OP definitely check out the Blackfriars Pub. It’s gorgeous inside.
The dichotomy of the architecture of the Blackfriars station and the pub reflects the melding of old and new London.
You are also close to St Brides church. If interested Evensong is well done there. Lovely Anglican church. https://www.stbrides.com/
Posted by
Preston UK
1087 posts
Whilst still not a long way away bear in mind that both The Blackfriar and St Brides church are on the north bank of the river and your hotel is on the south side. Places on either side of the river have Blackfriars in their name as the station sits literally on top of the river and you can enter and leave at either side.