Premier Inn County Hall London

I was just looking at that hotel yesterday - planning to book for an upcoming trip and also hoping to check in early. When making the reservation, there was an option for early check-in for I believe 18 pounds. I don't recall seeing details about what time early check-in begins. Please let us know how it goes for you!

My experience there (earlier this year) and in the past at other Premier Inns is no early check-in unless you pay. I don't remember how much.

The wifi is pretty bad unless you pay for the high-speed, and you get a different password for each day you stay there.

Breakfast is not included and (IMHO) overpriced and not very good. I had it the first day and never again.

Good location, though.

I know there are many fans of Premier Inn on this forum, but I am not one of them. I gave this one a try based on recommendations here, but I'll never stay at another Premier Inn.

I'd call that Premier Inn "solid" and haven't really had a problem with its basic Wi-Fi. However, I don't stream video or upload photos, so I'm not a demanding guest on that front. During air conditioning season I consider Premier Inns a really good option. When air conditioning isn't necessary, there may be other possibilities of equivalent or even better value, especially if an elevator/lift isn't essential.

I believe Premier Inns do now charge for early check-in, but they will store your luggage before check-in time or after check-out time. I've never been charged for that, but I've read (not recently) on the website that they request a charitable donation for doing so.

At one PI I revisited this year (I don't remember which one), I was allowed early access to my room, explicitly because I was a returning guest. I don't know whether that is an official policy, and early check-in is always dependent upon room availability.

I've never been tempted to eat at a Premier Inn. I much prefer to stop at the M&S Food Hall near the County Hall location or watch for one of the chain places like Pret a Manger. There's a Gail's branch nearby. I thought it might be a place to get something like an omelet, but it seemed to have only beverages and baked goods.

One change a lot of Premier Inns seem to have made recently is to provide only one hand towel even if two people are staying in the room. You can probably get a second one upon request, but it's annoying to have to ask.

I stayed at the Premier Inn across the street from County Hall. Its the only place I've stayed in London so I really have no comparison. I was irked over a few things, but the place was clean and the beds comfortable. I would look around for other possible options if we go back to London. That said, the staff at the entrance tried their best to be friendly and helpful. Their WiFi was beyond terrible. They gave me the upgraded WiFi daily for free. The towel situation was just stupid, but anytime I asked for towels, they were happily provided. I loved the location, so close to Westminster and the tube and also the train station. Like Ann said, there is a M & S across the street. I thought it was a great little quick grocery store with some deli items and bakery stuff. I even picked up candy and other treats to bring home for little gifts. We were at the PI for 8 nights and never had maid service. It needs to be requested. Every time I thought of it, it seemed more of a hassle than it was worth.

I value location, beds and cleanliness above anything else and the PI was fine on those counts. London is an expensive city for hotels and PI was a fine option.

You do have to pay for early check in a Premier Inn. County Hall is a great location and as long as you aren't thinking you are staying at a 5 star hotel, you should be fine. I too skip Premier Inn breakfasts, especially since there are just so many good options within 2-3 blocks of the hotel.

You have easy access to 2 major tube/transportation hubs. Westminster across the bridge and Waterloo, just down the street.
If you enjoy Asian Food, Wagamama's is just a few blocks down the riverbank and I have never had a bad meal there for lunch or dinner.

I would temper my expectations about early check in. It may work or it may not work depending on when previous guests depart and the type of room you have reserved. Expect that it may not happen and then be happily surprised if it does.

As others have noted above, you do have to pay for early check-in, but that is not always possible. Last year in March 2024, I stayed at the Premier Inn for five nights and the morning I got there, which was around 8:30 to drop off my luggage, I asked if I could pay for early check-in. However they were not offering it that day because they were running behind with the cleaning. So there’s no guarantee. At that time it was an £10 to check in early. I don’t know if they have raised that since last year, though.

With regards to the Premier Inn itself, I’ve always found it satisfactory. It’s clean and the beds are very comfortable and the prices certainly can’t be beat; especially if you book early enough. I usually don’t get their breakfast but when I do, I opt for the continental breakfast which isn’t bad and is cheaper than the full cooked breakfast.

I agree about the Wi-Fi being pretty awful for the basic. When I was at the County Hall location, I booked a Premier Plus room which included the premium Wi-Fi. And that was a lot better. But it depends on how much you use it. I used it a lot so that was important to me but it may not be to others. The location is very good, though, and if you don’t want to eat breakfast at the hotel, there’s a Gail’s Bakery about two blocks away that has wonderful breakfast sandwiches and pastries for Takeaway or to eat in. And the M&S Food and Pret as noted above.

Officially paid for early check in is at 1100.

But bear in mind that permitted normal check out is until 12 noon and you can pay to extend that to 2pm. So if they on the day have too many guests checking out that late, then have to clean those rooms they may not be able to honour every early check in, especially if you haven't pre paid for it. It works both ways. Such a late check out as noon can be very useful.
It would be different for a traditional hotel or guest house with fixed 10am checkout and fixed 2 or 3 pm check in.
But giving such flexibility at both ends of the day gives logistical complications.
If everyone stayed on to 2pm that would give 1 hour to clean every room before 3pm check in. Even everyone staying to noon would probably make their life hard.

If you want a guaranteed early check-in, you need to reserve the room for an extra night. That’s what I’ve started doing when my arrival is in the early am. It’s just nice to be able to get into the room right way to freshen up. Be sure to let the hotel know you will be arriving the morning after your reservation starts so they hold the room for you.

If it helps, Premier Inns are usually very good about holding your luggage for you (sometimes they ask for a small charity donation) and you can use the toilets in reception and sit there for a while to get your bearings.

I have been lucky at off-peak times with early check-in. One time I got into my room at 8.30am although that was during a quiet time when the hotel wasn’t full.

I paid 10 or 15 GBP in advance for early check in at the County Hall location this past August. But as others have said, they will hold your luggage if your room isn’t available.

And I agree that their breakfast is not a good deal. The Gail’s Bakery a block away is a good option.

I paid 10 or 15 euros in advance for early check in at the County Hall location this past August.

I suspect that you didn’t pay euros! :-)

Golden Girl you are right! I just returned from Spain so I’m still thinking Euros. I’ll edit my reply.

When we stayed there in 2023 and 2024 there was no early check in available. They wouldn't even let us pay to do so. Maybe it's changed since then. Of course that meant there was quite a line of people waiting by 3pm.

But otherwise we loved the location and our stay was uneventful. In 2024 we checked in on my daughter's birthday, and they filled the room with balloons! (she had turned 15). She loved it.

We just stayed at the Waterloo PI for 3 nights (checked out this am). We were able to pay 15 pounds to check in at noon the first day, because they had a room available, rather than just park our luggage. Our stay was fine. We ended up getting breakfast each morning. While the pastries aren't up to Gails' standards, we felt we would have paid more at Gail's. We had a full hot breakfast the first day at 12.99 but only did continental the last 2 days---yogurt, fruit, berries, pastries, toast, cereal, muesli, juice, hot porridge. Not a gourmet meal but just fine for 10.99. This was our second time at Waterloo, and we were happy with our time at County Hall before.

We stayed at the Premier Inn near Victoria Station and early check in is extra cost.
However, they will allow you to store your luggage until you check in.