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Summary of reviewsNovotel London Waterloo is consistently lauded for its prime location, deemed ideal for tourists eager to explore London's iconic attractions on foot. Close to landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, the hotel’s central yet quiet setting offers both convenience and tranquility. The hotel's well-connected access via bus and metro is also a highlight for many guests.
The rooms receive positive comments for their spaciousness and cleanliness, making them well-suited for families. With modern amenities and cozy decor, many visitors appreciate the comfortable and well-maintained environments, often accompanied by beautiful city views. Although some minor maintenance issues and housekeeping delays are noted, the overall feedback underscores the room comfort as one of the hotel’s strong points.
Guests appreciate the professional and friendly staff at Novotel London Waterloo, often citing their welcoming demeanor and eagerness to assist. Service at the front desk and in the bar and dining areas is frequently praised with staff efforts notably enhancing guest experiences.
Novotel London Waterloo's breakfast typically earns favorable reviews, especially for its wide variety and quality. Families value the policy of free breakfast for children. However, the breakfast does receive occasional critique over repetitiveness, lukewarm food and price concerns. Dinner experiences are mixed with commendations for food quality but criticisms regarding limited variety, high prices and slow service.
Cleanliness across the hotel is generally well-regarded with frequent mentions of tidy rooms and public areas. While there are some isolated complaints about maintenance and cleanliness issues, the majority of reviews reflect a positive perception of the hotel's hygiene standards.
Guests generally find the gym and sauna facilities to be well-equipped and clean, though they occasionally struggle with finding these amenities due to insufficient signage. Parking is another plus with many appreciating the secure, underground garage despite its relatively high cost.
For families, Novotel London Waterloo stands out with spacious family rooms, child-friendly amenities such as a mini playground and special touches like free breakfast and cuddly toys for kids. The hotel’s family suites accommodate larger groups comfortably, contributing to its reputation as a family-friendly destination.
Lastly, the wifi service at the hotel receives mixed feedback. While some guests praise its strength and reliability, especially in common areas, others report connectivity issues in the rooms, particularly on higher floors.
In summary, Novotel London Waterloo excels in providing a comfortable and convenient stay with standout location, welcoming staff and family-friendly amenities. While there are areas for improvement, especially in dining service and wifi connectivity, the overall guest experiences reflect a positive impression of the hotel’s facilities and services. Show more
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Categories
Family Friendly Hotel
This hotel offers family rooms and suites near the London Eye and other attractions. It features a kids' play area, a swimming pool, and a children's menu in the restaurant.
Luxury Hotel
Hotel for Honeymoon
Dog Friendly Hotel
Romantic Hotel
Business Hotel
Hotel with Parking
Accessible Hotel
Hotel with Gym
4-Star Hotel
Room Types
Superior Double Room with 2 Sofa BedsThis air-conditioned room features free Wi-Fi, a queen-size bed, and a double sofa bed. It also includes a flat-screen LCD TV, a minibar, and a work area, along with a hairdryer, laptop safe, tea and coffee making facilities, and ironing supplies. The en suite bathroom has eco-friendly toiletries.
Executive Queen RoomFeaturing bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The double room has carpeted floors, a seating area with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, as well as a wardrobe. The unit has 1 bed.
Premium Superior Queen RoomThe triple room includes a private bathroom equipped with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The triple room features carpeted floors, a seating area with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, as well as a wardrobe. The unit offers 1 bed.
Superior Queen Room with SofaThe triple room provides a safe deposit box, a sofa, as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower and a hairdryer. The triple room features carpeted floors, a seating area with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, as well as a wardrobe. The unit offers 2 beds.
Executive Queen Room With Sofa BedThe double room includes a private bathroom equipped with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The spacious double room provides air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a wardrobe, as well as a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The unit offers 2 beds.
Executive Suite with King BedThe air-conditioned suite has 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The suite features carpeted floors, a seating area with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as a safe deposit box. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.0
Very Good
Location
Novotel London Waterloo receives rave reviews for its exceptional location, praised consistently by guests. Situated just across the river from renowned attractions such as Big Ben, the London Eye and Westminster, the hotel is ideal for both sightseeing and convenient city access. Many guests appreciate its central yet relatively quiet spot, making it a prime launching pad for exploring London by foot, bus or metro. The hotel is described as being within a short walking distance to most major landmarks, including Buckingham Palace and St. James Park and well-connected with bus stops and a nearby metro station. For marathon participants, the proximity to the finish line is particularly noted.
The cleanliness and spaciousness of the rooms, along with good family accommodations, contribute to the positive experiences. The friendly staff, good quality breakfast and a secure parking garage also receive favorable mentions. Overall, guests highly recommend Novotel London Waterloo for its unbeatable location and solid amenities, making it a perfect choice for visitors looking to thoroughly experience London's iconic sights.
Breakfast
Novotel London Waterloo's breakfast offerings have received mixed responses from its guests. On the positive side, many reviews highlight the breakfast as very good or excellent, often mentioning the wide variety of choices available. Guests appreciated the quality and freshness of the food with specific praise for the English breakfast options and the well-organized continental breakfast. Families particularly enjoyed that children ate for free and some guests noted the helpfulness and friendliness of the breakfast staff.
However, other reviews pointed to areas needing improvement. The breakfast was often described as repetitive with limited variety day-to-day. Some guests found the hot food to be lukewarm or even cold and the orange juice to be watered down. High pricing was a recurring concern with some guests deeming the breakfast expensive relative to its quality. There were also instances of overcrowding in the breakfast room, leading to long queues and delays in replenishing food.
Overall, while many found the breakfast offerings satisfactory and sometimes even superb, the consistency and value for money were flagged as areas for enhancement.
Dinner
Novotel London Waterloo offers a mixed dining experience. While many guests commend the food quality, praising it as delicious and very good, there are multiple criticisms regarding the limited variety and high prices. Positive feedback highlights the good menu, excellent food and the availability of a wonderful bar with a variety of beers and coffee. Some guests found the food to be okay value for money.
However, the restaurant's service receives frequent complaints, especially regarding slow meal service and overwhelmed, inefficient staff. Additionally, the waiting times for dishes are notably long. The restaurant space itself is described as small with some deeming the food substandard and overpriced for what it is. There is also criticism about the high prices for food and breakfast with some guests noting that the dinner menu was disappointing in both quality and variety.
Despite the appealing aspects of the dining experience like a lovely dinner and healthy food options, the negative aspects such as limited variety, slow service and inefficiency overshadow the positives for many. Improvements in service speed and variety could significantly enhance the overall dining experience at this hotel.
Rooms
The rooms at Novotel London Waterloo receive mixed feedback from guests but generally emphasize comfort and spaciousness. Many reviews praise the rooms for being large, clean and comfortable, often noting that they are spacious enough for families. Guests appreciate modern amenities, cozy decor and the cleanliness of both rooms and bathrooms. Several reviews highlight rooms with beautiful city views, including landmarks like Big Ben and the London Eye.
However, there are some recurrent criticisms. Several guests were disappointed by the cleanliness upon arrival and pointed out issues like stained carpets and outdated decor. Others mentioned maintenance problems such as broken fixtures and noisy air conditioning. The cleaning service, which often occurred late in the day, also drew some negative remarks. Additionally, rooms intended for families of four were sometimes deemed too small and uncomfortable, specifically when the sofa bed was in use.
Despite these issues, the overall sentiment towards the room size and comfort remains positive with many guests appreciating the spacious layouts and modern furnishings. The hotel's location and friendly staff further contribute to a pleasant stay, making the spacious and well-maintained rooms a highlight for many visitors.
Beds
At Novotel London Waterloo, guests generally praise the bedding, noting that the beds are comfortable and conducive to a good night's sleep. Many reviews highlight the availability of double beds and sofa beds that cater well to families and it's mentioned several times that children were particularly happy with the sleeping arrangements. The rooms are also described as clean and well-equipped with sizable and cozy beds that add to the overall comfort.
Nonetheless, there are mixed feelings about the firmness of the mattresses and the quality of pillows. Some found the mattresses too hard, while others considered them perfectly firm and supportive. The pillows received some criticism as well, being described as rock-hard or lumpy by a few guests.
The sofa beds appear to be more of a hit-or-miss with some finding them comfortable enough for children, but others found them to be uneven and uncomfortable. There are also mentions of occasional issues like unmade beds or stained sofa beds.
In conclusion, while there are a few areas for improvement, most guests seem to find the beds at Novotel London Waterloo comfortable and satisfactory for a pleasant stay.
Cleanliness
Novotel London Waterloo garners mixed reviews regarding its cleanliness, but many guests highlight positive experiences. Several guests consistently commend the hotel for being very clean, tidy and comfortable. Rooms are often described as clean, bright and modern with clean linens, towels and spotless environments being frequently noted. The pool area and public spaces, including the conference and dining rooms, are also highlighted for their cleanliness.
Maintenance and cleaning services are generally appreciated when attended to properly with some guests experiencing well-maintained and thoroughly cleaned rooms. However, there are areas of concern that suggest room for improvement. Complaints include unclean carpets, inadequate vacuuming, dust, unemptied trash bins and occasional oversight of room maintenance. Some guests reported discovering unclean items such as used underwear, dirty paper napkins and stains on carpets and fixtures.
Despite the occasional negative remark, the overall impression suggests that when the hotel's cleaning protocols are followed correctly, they can offer a commendable level of cleanliness and comfort. Staff efforts in maintaining cleanliness, combined with convenience and helpful amenities, are generally appreciated, contributing positively to guest experiences.
Staff
The staff at Novotel London Waterloo generally receive high praise for their professionalism and friendliness. Guests frequently highlight the welcoming and courteous demeanor of the front desk and reception staff, describing them as helpful, smiley and attentive. The bar and restaurant staff also earn commendations for their accommodating and friendly service. Several reviews note that the staff went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay, often reacting quickly to address concerns and providing excellent service.
Instances of exceptional individual attention are mentioned with specific staff members being acknowledged for their helpfulness and professionalism. The staff’s ability to manage check-ins efficiently and provide valuable local information adds to the positive experience.
However, there's an occasional mention of unprofessionalism and unfriendliness, particularly concerning some reception staff, who were described as rude or indifferent at times. Despite these isolated incidents, the majority of guests appreciate the overall friendliness and efficiency of the hotel staff, making Novotel London Waterloo a welcoming place to stay.
Wi-Fi
The wifi experience at Novotel London Waterloo presents a mixed bag for guests with both positive and negative feedback. On the positive side, many reviewers found the wifi to be good with strong connectivity. Some appreciated the free wifi and noted the excellent Wi-Fi, which was described as having super coverage and being brilliant all around. Additionally, the internet was often praised for its good quality and fast broadband speeds, making it adequate for various needs including contacting reception via WhatsApp and connecting phones to the TV to stream Netflix.
However, some guests encountered significant issues. There were several complaints about no wifi in the rooms and instances where wifi was terribly slow or wouldn't connect often. A few noted no password was provided for the wifi, leading to difficulties finding it. The connectivity for certain devices, especially iPhones, was problematic, though Android phones and laptops seemed to fare better. Internet reception was also reported to be slow and unreliable on higher floors, like the fourth floor and some described the wifi as lamentable or terribly slow.
While there is an overall positive sentiment about the quality of the wifi in common areas, there seems to be inconsistency in room-specific experiences, suggesting that the hotel might benefit from addressing these connectivity issues to ensure a more uniformly positive guest experience.
Gym
Visitors to Novotel London Waterloo generally had positive experiences with the hotel's gym and sauna amenities. Many guests appreciated the well-equipped gym, noting the availability of essential equipment, water fountains and towels. The gym was frequently described as clean and well-maintained. The sauna also garnered positive remarks, adding value to the fitness facilities. Some guests mentioned using the gym and sauna without any issues and found the operating schedule to be flexible.
However, there were a few drawbacks mentioned. Some visitors faced challenges with locating the gym and sauna due to inadequate signage. A few reviews highlighted issues with the gym's operating hours with it closing too early for some. There were instances of miscommunication or lack of information regarding the availability and location of the gym and spa and occasionally the gym was closed unexpectedly, leading to some disappointment.
Overall, while the gym and sauna facilities at Novotel London Waterloo are praised for their quality and convenience, improved signage and clearer communication about their availability could enhance the guest experience.
Parking
The parking experience at Novotel London Waterloo receives generally positive feedback from guests. Many reviewers appreciate the secure and sizable parking garage located conveniently beneath the hotel, describing it as clean and safe. The availability of on-site parking is highlighted as a significant advantage, especially in a bustling city like London and is a key reason some guests choose the hotel.
While the parking facility itself is often praised as good, easily accessible and impeccable, there are some notable drawbacks mentioned. The cost of parking is a recurring concern with several guests finding it quite high, typically around £24 to £48 per day. Additionally, there are comments about the parking garage's lift not functioning and a lack of maintenance.
Despite these issues, the convenience and security of the underground car park are frequently cited as positives. The presence of parking at a reasonable price, though somewhat variable and the overall quality of the facilities contribute to a generally favorable perception of the parking at Novotel London Waterloo.
Family
Novotel London Waterloo proves to be a desirable choice for families visiting London. With its prime, accessible location and spacious, comfortable family rooms, it is highly recommended for those traveling with children. Many guests have highlighted the family-friendly atmosphere, noting amenities such as the mini playground in the lobby and a designated children's play area. While some felt the play features could be improved, the overall environment is welcoming and safe for families.
The hotel offers several thoughtful touches for children, including free breakfast even for teenagers and cuddly toys upon arrival. Family suites designed with convenience in mind accommodate up to six people, ensuring enough space for larger family groups. Guests especially appreciated the generously sized rooms with a double bed and an additional comfortable double sofa for the children.
While a few reviews mentioned minor issues such as room cleanliness and a need for enhanced tea and coffee facilities, the majority of guests found the hotel ideal for family vacations. The easy access to nearby family-friendly areas and the availability of connecting rooms contribute to its reputation as a fantastic option for family stays.
In summary, Novotel London Waterloo successfully caters to the needs of families, offering a blend of comfort, convenience and thoughtful child-friendly amenities.
4 Star
Novotel London Waterloo receives mixed reviews when it comes to its four-star rating, facilities and services. While some reviewers describe the hotel as clearly fitting into the four-star category, others believe it to be merely adequate or even below expectations for such a classification. A few guests consider the hotel to be close to five-star quality, suggesting a luxurious experience. In contrast, some express disappointment, feeling that the facilities and amenities fall short of what a four-star rating promises.
The consistency in room cleanliness appears to be a point of contention with some guests noting it meets four-star standards while others see it as inadequate. There are remarks about the breakfast options being subpar for a hotel of this class with expectations of a more comprehensive selection.
Several guests pointed out specific amenities they felt were missing, such as slippers or more bathroom items like a hair dryer. The price is occasionally mentioned as quite high relative to the quality provided, implying that the value may not always match the cost.
Overall, while Novotel London Waterloo is generally considered competent within its category, it leaves some visitors feeling the experience is average rather than exceptional for a four-star hotel.
Business
Novotel London Waterloo presents itself as a practical choice for business travelers. With a business-friendly atmosphere and facilities well-suited for short business trips, it caters effectively to the needs of those visiting for work purposes. The hotel's business center and secure luggage storage add to its appeal. Guests have appreciated the useful business amenities, including a reliable WiFi connection. The location has been particularly noted as convenient for work-related activities. Despite some minor issues such as a need for desks in rooms and occasional shower problems, the overall conditions make it a viable option for conference attendees and business visitors seeking a decent, functional stay.
Accessible
Novotel London Waterloo receives commendations for its accessibility features, making it a convenient choice for guests with disabilities. The hotel provides easily accessible parking and is well-equipped with features like ample steps and lifts, ensuring no physically inaccessible areas. The general consensus points out the hotel's good access and that it is very accessible overall.
Specific praise highlights its suitability for disabled visitors, noting the positive approach and friendly staff towards those with mobility issues. The accessible rooms are well fitted for wheelchair users, ensuring a comfortable stay.
Its location is another accessible advantage, being a short distance from the Business Station and just ten minutes from the nearest tube station. Additionally, it's within walking distance to several key landmarks, including the London Eye and Elizabeth Tower, providing guests with mobility issues the ease of exploring major attractions.
Some minor concerns were mentioned, such as a thermostat emitting light at night and difficulty using the television without downloading additional software. However, these do not overshadow the generally positive reviews regarding accessibility and the supportive environment for disabled visitors.
Luxury
Novotel London Waterloo receives mixed reviews when it comes to luxury. While some guests found their rooms to be luxurious and the hotel to have a very luxurious feel overall, others felt it did not meet the expectations of a four-star rating in terms of facilities. The hotel offers clean, comfortable rooms with a modern look and provides a high standard of service. However, some felt that the facilities did not justify a four-star classification. The location is praised for being close to attractions and guests appreciated surprises like balloons and chocolates. The overall ambiance and provisions like bottled drinking water add to the positive experience, though opinions differ on whether it truly offers a luxury stay.
Dog Friendly
Novotel London Waterloo stands out as a pet-friendly hotel, welcoming dogs warmly and ensuring a comfortable stay for both guests and their furry companions. The hotel allows dogs to accompany their owners to breakfast, providing a more inclusive experience. The convenience of being able to bring pets, along with services like dog sitting, adds to the appeal, making it a suitable choice for travelers who don't want to leave their pets behind. However, it is important to note that there is an extra charge for bringing a pet, which prospective guests should consider.
No, Novotel London Waterloo doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Novotel London Waterloo.
Yes, Novotel London Waterloo welcomes dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Novotel London Waterloo.