The sublime views of London from our room and the lush roof terrace, thanks to its unrivalled position on the Thames.
The entirely unique concept of the hotel, once a floating prison in the Netherlands before its conversion into a four star hotel.
The feel-good, comfort classic dishes available any time of day – or night – thanks to the superb in-house chef.
Staying in a hotel whose ethos revolves around bringing people together and giving back to the community!
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Good Hotel London ★★★★
Premium hospitality with a cause on the infamous River Thames
By Sophie Lawrence, VeryChic correspondent
In London’s East End, where fearsome skyscrapers laud over the land and the surrounding river, seeing a grass-topped hotel bobbing along the Thames is a rather unusual sight. But then again, despite its deceptively average name, the Good Hotel London **** is rather unusual by nature. Formerly a Dutch prison, it has since been converted into a floating hotel that is as committed to a bespoke, luxury experience as it is to good causes. Intrigued? So was I. Yet the full delights of this quirky hotel are best seen, not heard!
Chic idea: to make the most of your time in London, book your tickets in advance for a wide range of activities, here.
I’ll admit that it took me a while to wrap my head around the concept of the Good Hotel London ****. Yet just as its name attests, there’s nothing about this hotel that isn’t good – or dare I say, great.
Look Good
Even after mentally preparing myself for the surprise, the appearance of the Good Hotel London **** was as striking as ever. What looked like a shipping container was stacked neatly onto a boat, crowned by a lush, grassy rooftop terrace with luminous white letters shining onto the water. However, to my great surprise and delight, the open plan design was full of light, and the ultra-modern design paired with smart, original artwork gave a cutting-edge vibe that felt irresistibly Shoreditch.
Feel Good
On the other hand, the laid-back ambience of the Good Hotel London **** felt worlds away from the stiff-upper-lip mood that dominates too many of the more traditional London hotels. Instead, the open-plan environment here feels remarkably homely – almost like the East End’s living room - where people come together to relax, work and create. Coming back from a day out in London to this fantastic atmosphere on the roof garden, as well as a few of Chef Miguel’s superb comfort food creations, was the icing on cake of my London adventures.
Do Good
Of course, the real magic of the Good Hotel London **** goes far beyond river views and fantastic food. Its commitment to giving back to the community and employing those locally in need creates an entirely unique dynamic between guests and staff, and fosters an infectious sense of community spirit. After my one-of-a-kind, refreshing stay here at the Good Hotel London ****, I couldn’t help but think this hotel had maybe undersold itself – I felt far better than simply “good” by the end of it.
Room with: tea & coffee essentials, kettle, safe, air conditioning, heating, desk, wake-up service / alarm clock
24-hour reception
148 rooms (non-smoking)
Wi-Fi available for free in the rooms and common areas of the hotel
Restaurant serving international cuisine (open everyday for lunch and dinner)
Bar (open until 11pm)
The establishment provides disabled and limited mobility access
Pets are not permitted in the establishment
Taking a tour of London through an unusual perspective, led by lifelong London citizens who find themselves homeless, or ex-homeless. www.sockmobevents.org.uk
A taste of some pretty fantastic global cuisine at Mazi Mas, a “roaming kitchen” that prides itself on using local, sustainable ingredients as well as supporting women from migrant and communities. www.mazimas.co.uk
A homely breakfast (or a meal any time of day) at the Mudchute Kitchen on the Isle of Dogs, a sprawling farm with an excellent selection of sustainable food and drink options. Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London, E14 3HP www.mudchute.org/mudchute-kitchen
Getting your fill of London’s famous modern art scene at the NOW Gallery. 1 Green Place, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0PE
Good Hotel London ★★★★
Western Gateway
E161FA
London
United Kingdom
The Good Hotel London is located facing the river and boasts a rooftop terrace with a panoramic view.
BY PLANE
London is served by a number of airports: - London Heathrow Airport (LHR), located 14 miles (23 km) west of central London - London Gatwick Airport (LGW), located 30 miles (48 km) south of central London - London Stansted Airport (STN), located 30 mi (48 km) north-east of central London - London Luton Airport (LTN), located 29 miles (47 km) north of central London - London City Airport (LCY), located 6.9 miles (11 km) east of central London - London Southend Airport (SEN), located 42 miles (68 km) from central London.
Between them, they receive flights from most capitals and major cities across Europe.
HOW TO GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL
From London Heathrow: - By train: The Heathrow Express isn’t the cheapest but is certainly the fastest method, taking 15 minutes to London Paddington. Tickets are around £26 single (£21 in advance) or £39 return (£34 in advance). Regular train services also run, taking twice the time, for around £10. The cheapest method is the Underground (tube) Piccadilly Line, taking closer to an hour.
From London Gatwick: - By train: The Gatwick Express to London Victoria runs regularly with a journey time of 30 minutes. Tickets are around £20 single (£10 for children) or £35 return (£18 for children); it is a little heaper if booked in advance. For around £15 single, Southern Trains operate four times an hour to London Victoria, taking around 35 minutes.
- By bus: The National Express operates direct coach services to London Victoria once an hour with a journey time of around 90 minutes. Tickets are around £8 single, £15 return.
A low-cost, frequent and non-stop transfer service is also operated by EasyBus from North and South terminals to Earls Court/West Brompton. The journey takes about an hour.
From London City: - By train: There is a DLR train station in front of the airport; it is three stops to Canning Town where you can change for underground (metro) services. It is also possible to take bus number 474 to Canning Town.
- By taxi: London City airport is close to central London, therefore a cab will cost around £30.
From London Luton: - By train: A shuttle bus operates to Luton Airport Parkway Station. East Midlands Trains run to London St Pancras/ Kings Cross in about 25 minutes. Tickets are around £18 single and £30 return.
- By bus: The National Express to London Victoria (about 35 minutes) is around £10 single and £15 return. EasyBus run to Baker Street (60 minutes) which is often cheaper but prices vary.
From London Stansted: - By train: The Stansted Express runs to London Liverpool Street in about 50 minutes, for around £23 single and £33 return.
- By bus: The National Express to London Liverpool Street (about 75 minutes) is around £8 single and £15 return. EasyBus run to Baker Street (75 minutes) which is often cheaper but prices vary.
ACTIVITIES
We recommend that you book activities online in advance in order to make the most of your time in London.