On our family trip to London this summer, we stayed three nights at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, and we LOVED it. It was our family’s first trip to Europe, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay.
Here’s our full London Marriott County Hall review: the room we booked (and why we booked it almost a year in advance), the location, breakfast, the M Club lounge, the free program for kids, and the avocado toast.
London Marriott County Hall at a Glance
- Where: Westminster Bridge Road, on the South Bank of the River Thames, right next to the London Eye
- Our room: Deluxe Double Family Room, which I think is the ideal room for a family of four
- How long we stayed: Three nights
- Best for: Families, first-time visitors to London, and anyone who wants to walk to the big sights
- Highlights: The location, the huge room, breakfast in The Library, and the free Very Important Kids program
- The one miss: The avocado toast
A Historic Building That Feels Beautiful, Not Old
The hotel is inside County Hall, a grand building on the river that was opened by King George V and Queen Mary in 1922 and was home to London’s local government for decades. It became a Marriott in 1998, and you can still feel the history throughout the building.
I’m not someone who loves staying in old, historic buildings. Old hotels can feel dark, creaky, or tired. But this one doesn’t. Instead, it’s so nicely done, so beautifully kept up and cared for, that it just felt lovely.
The Location: Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye
The location is perfect. The hotel sits right along the River Thames, and you can see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye from the hotel. It’s beautiful.
As soon as you walk out the front door, you’re centrally located to so much. The London Eye is basically next door, Westminster Bridge takes you straight across to Big Ben and Parliament, and you can even walk to Buckingham Palace. It’s about a 25 to 30 minute walk across the bridge and through St. James’s Park. Because we had kids with us, being able to walk to the big sights instead of dealing with taxis or the Tube every time made our days so much easier.
The Deluxe Double Family Room at the London Marriott County Hall
We booked our room almost a year in advance because there was one specific room we wanted: the Deluxe Double Family Room. In my opinion, this is the ideal room to book for a family of four.
The room was very large and comfortably fit all four of us without cramping our style at all. Plus, it was very clean and very quiet, which surprised me given how central the hotel is. After long days of walking around the city, having space to spread out and a quiet room to sleep in made a huge difference.
If we stayed here again, we would book the exact same room, and we’d book it early again. Family rooms are limited, so if you’re traveling with kids, don’t wait.
The M Club Lounge
Because we’re Marriott Bonvoy members, we had access to the M Club. It’s a quiet club room where you can sit down, have a drink, and grab scones, biscuits (the British kind, which means cookies), and candy.
It’s a nice place for a quick snack, especially if you have kids who are hungry every hour. Ours definitely were, so being able to pop in for a snack between outings, without paying London prices at a cafe, was a real perk.
Breakfast in The Library
Our membership also included a complimentary breakfast every morning in The Library. It’s an actual old library, so it’s cozy and comfortable and such a great way to start the day.
Breakfast isn’t a buffet. Instead, they give you a menu, and you can basically order whatever you want on it. I tried the smoked salmon and the full English breakfast, and they also have omelets, pancakes, pastries, and pretty much every breakfast item you can think of. There’s a fresh smoothie of the day, fresh juices, and of course coffee and tea.
However, the only bad thing I had was the avocado toast. The avocado was the worst avocado I’ve ever tasted in my life. I guess it’s hard to get good avocados in England, since they usually come from Mexico or California, so I’ll give London a pass on this one. I’ll eat my avocados at home. So order the full English instead.
The Little Candy Shop
Another sweet thing about this hotel is a small candy shop where you can grab complimentary British candy every day. It was so fun for the kids, and I also thought it was very cute.
The Very Important Kids (VIK) Program
The last thing I want to mention is the London Marriott County Hall’s Very Important Kids (VIK) program. It’s free, so if you’re traveling with kids, sign up for it. Here’s what our kids got:
- Kid-sized slippers and a kid-sized bathrobe
- Kid-friendly shower and bath toiletries
- A little British London bear, which our kids slept with every night
- A goodie bag with magnetic London bookmarks, a kaleidoscope, and an activity book with crayons
- A little Paddington Bear coin purse that our kids carried with them for the rest of the trip
Our kids felt so special.
The Pool, the Restaurants, and the Staff
The hotel also has a beautiful indoor pool, which the hotel calls London’s largest indoor swimming pool, and the restaurants are just beautiful.
The staff was unbelievably friendly, from security to the wait staff to housekeeping. We didn’t run into a single person we had an issue with. Everyone was warm and welcoming to our kids.
Tips for Booking the London Marriott County Hall With Kids
- Book the family room early. We booked almost a year ahead to get the Deluxe Double Family Room, and I’d do it again.
- Check your Marriott Bonvoy benefits. Lounge access and free breakfast made a big difference for us, especially with hungry kids.
- Sign up for the Very Important Kids program. It’s free, and the kids loved it.
- Plan to walk. Big Ben, Parliament, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace are all walkable from the hotel.
- Skip the avocado toast. Trust me.
Is the London Marriott County Hall Good for Families?
Yes. Between the big family rooms, the free kids’ program, the daily candy, the lounge snacks, and a location you can walk from, it’s a great hotel for families.
Would We Stay at the London Marriott County Hall Again?
Absolutely. This hotel is truly beautiful, and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I would stay there over and over.
More From Our Europe Trip
This post is part of our series on our summer trip to London and our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France.
London With Kids
- Virgin Atlantic Review: Flying LAX to London With Kids
- London Marriott County Hall Review: A Family Stay by Big Ben
- London With Kids: One Big Thing a Day (Our Easy Itinerary)
- Getting Around London With Kids: The Best Ways, Honestly
- Dining in London With Kids: Our Honest Reviews of 4 Spots
Our Celebrity Apex Cruise
- The Retreat on Celebrity Apex With Kids: Was It Worth It?
- Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour From a Cruise Ship: Fun, Hot, and Worth It With Kids
- Porto Cruise Port Without an Excursion: Hot Dogs, Vinho Verde, and Shopping With Kids
- Vigo and La Coruña Cruise Ports With Kids: A Walking Tour, Galician Food, and Gelato
- Bilbao Shore Excursion With Kids: The Guggenheim, the Market, and the Pintxos We Missed
- Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge: Our Cruise Excursion With Kids
- Le Havre to Paris on a Cruise With Kids: Is the Long Day Worth It?
Planning a cruise? These are already on the blog:
