An exciting addition to London’s luxe hotel scene: A review of the new Park Hyatt London River Thames

Freshly opened after years of planning, Park Hyatt London River Thames is a stunning addition to the London hotel scene and a great option for those who love the Park Hyatt brand. A work trip to the Big Smoke in November had me eager to experience this hotel — which was on TPG's list of most anticipated hotels for 2024. As soon as bookings opened, I jumped at the chance to review the property.

Despite opening less than a month ago, service was flawless during my two-night stay. Plus, most of the property's amenities, including its bars and restaurants, are now open (or soon will be).

Wondering what this new member of the World of Hyatt family is like? Here's what it was like to stay there — and why you should add it to your Park Hyatt wish list.

What is Park Hyatt London River Thames?

As the city's first Park Hyatt, the newly built Park Hyatt London River Thames appeals to business travelers and travelers seeking high-end digs and plenty of amenities.

The hotel, which has 201 rooms including a total of 31 suites, occupies several floors of a new development within the Nine Elms neighborhood — an area along the River Thames that has received a lot of funding and undergone a total transformation in recent years (it's also home to the U.S. Embassy).

With a chic atmosphere featuring stylish modern furnishings and artwork from prominent British artists, as well as ample space in rooms — especially by London standards — the property exudes luxury.

How to book Park Hyatt London River Thames

The new Park Hyatt London River Thames is a Category 7 property, meaning base-level award rates range from 25,000 to 35,000 points per night. While most standard free night certificates won't be redeemable here, as they're only valid for a free night at a Category 1-4 property, World of Hyatt members who achieve Globalist status earn a Category 1-7 free night certificate that could be used for a stay at the hotel.

If you decide to book with points, remember that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio if you have a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If you have the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), you can also transfer Bilt Rewards Points instantly to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

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For my visit, I chose to book with cash. Base rooms like the one I reserved start at $633 a night, so for my two-night stay, I paid about $1,313 when factoring in the room rate, taxes, fees and a mandatory 5% service charge. I was upgraded to a Park Suite Deluxe, which generally costs $2,140 or 60,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

When booking Park Hyatt London River Thames, you'll want to use a credit card that earns the most points for Hyatt stays or possibly one that offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status, and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status, and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year.

I used my World of Hyatt Business Credit Card to pay for my two-night stay, a massage and a few meals. All in, I spent $1,762, which should earn me 7,048 World of Hyatt points. Based on TPG's November 2024 valuations, those World of Hyatt points are worth about $120. That's not a bad return on my spending.

Related: World of Hyatt card vs. World of Hyatt Business card: 2 valuable hotel earners

Rooms feel elevated, modern and chic

As I mentioned, I was upgraded to a deluxe one-bedroom suite at check-in. I had used a World of Hyatt suite upgrade award, which allowed a one-category upgrade, but I was upgraded two categories as a gracious gesture since my room wasn't quite ready when I came to check in around noon.

My 796-square-foot room felt massive, especially compared with rooms at other hotels I've stayed at in London.

I was assigned Room 307, which was thoughtfully designed with a large living room and dining area that were separated by a door from the bedroom.

There was a small restroom immediately on the right of the suite's entrance, replete with marble counters and an electric toilet.

A lovely printed screen separated the hallway area from this smaller restroom.

Immediately beyond was a spacious living area with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Thames River. A 65-inch LED television took up most of the space on one wall, and hung above a small console table. There was a wonderful welcome amenity of fresh fruit and a note from the hotel waiting for me on the coffee table.

The L-shaped couch was a comfortable spot to work or watch TV.

The small dining area, which centered around a compact dining table, was a great place for my London-based colleague and me to work.

There was a sleek black bar cabinet filled with luxe amenities, including my favorite: a Nespresso machine with plenty of extra pods.

This cabinet also held a teapot, plenty of Belu still and sparkling bottled water, and, in the drawers below, cutlery, fine china, snacks and a pull-out minibar fridge filled with various wines, Champagne and other beverages.

Among the brands on offer were Belvedere vodka, Hennessy cognac, Woodford Reserve Kentucky whiskey, Patron tequila, Noam Bavaria Berlin beer and Billecart-Salmon Champagne.

Walking into the bedroom, I saw that I was in a corner suite with floor-to-ceiling views from two sides of the room. There was a 55-inch LED television placed discreetly in the corner between two windows.

Blackout shades came down with the push of a button.

There was a daybed at the foot of the bed as well as a small sofa with an ottoman.

The cozy king-size bed was nested inside a wraparound headboard made of a luxe gray fabric. The crisp white bedding was a joy to pull back each night of my stay, and I slept well.

Both sides of the bed had U.K. outlets, but also USB and USB-C ports, so you could charge your devices even without an adapter. I will say plugs in the room were plentiful, though most fit U.K.-standard plugs only, so you may need a few adapters if you have lots of items to charge.

I loved the sweeping views from my room of nearby buildings and the river in the distance, though the views on higher floors were better. From my suite, I could see Battersea Power Station in the distance. The suite did have a terrace that wrapped around my corner of the building, but it was not accessible.

Just off the bedroom was a huge walk-in closet with all the amenities you'd expect at a high-end hotel.

The closet featured laundry bags, an ironing board and iron, a high-end hair dryer, a safe, and plenty of drawers and several other convenient storage areas. I appreciated the sleek wooden hangers in the large closet next to the pretty floral wallpaper.

A small bench was ideal for storing a rolling suitcase.

An elegant marble bathroom was among the most dramatic spots in the room and featured a showstopping claw-foot tub, all set on a cross-hatched marble floor.

A double sink was on the left and had amenities like cotton swabs and pads, Molton Brown bath products, a dental kit, and lotion. There was a scale on the floor.

The claw-foot tub was very inviting and would make a wonderful place to spend some time relaxing.

There was a separate walk-in shower with both a rainfall showerhead and wand, and a small bench. Plush towels were placed on the wall across from the shower. The water pressure was excellent and the Molton Brown shampoo, conditioner and body wash smelled great.

Finally, within the master bathroom, there was a separate water closet with a fully automatic Kohler bidet toilet. It had a heated seat and adjustable washlet functions that could be adjusted by a small computer screen. Talk about luxurious!

Artwork is plentiful throughout the hotel

Art is a central selling point of the hotel, from the lobby sculptures crafted by Charlie Whinney to a striking painting at the reception area by Ian Rayer-Smith.

Other paintings by well-known British artists decorate the walls and spaces of the property.

The location is slightly removed from the action but still convenient

The Park Hyatt London River Thames is in the Nine Elms neighborhood, near both Battersea Park and the Albert Embankment. It's not close to the major sites of central London, but there is a tube station — the Vauxhall station on the Victoria line — that can get you to central London across the river quickly.

The Battersea Power Station is a former coal-fired power plant that has been converted into apartments and also houses a ton of stores and restaurants within its structure and surroundings. It's just a 25-minute walk or a short five-minute drive from the hotel. The nearby Vauxhall neighborhood, famous for its LGBTQ+ nightlife and bars — including the iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern — is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

London landmarks like Westminster Abbey and the London Eye are about a 15-minute car ride away. Heathrow Airport is an hour by car (and anywhere between 50 and 100 pounds, depending on traffic and time of day), or you can use public transport and get there in about an hour as well.

Frankly, it's not the best location in London, but with easy access to public transportation, this factor doesn't need to be a deal breaker when deciding on a stay.

Related: London hotels used by actual royalty

A nice selection of dining and drinking options at Park Hyatt London River Thames

Despite the hotel's recent opening and ongoing construction in some parts of the complex, the Park Hyatt London River Thames already offers several fun dining options. Two more dining and drinking options will open later this year.

Nine Elms Bar and Lounge

Nine Elms Bar and Lounge is the first thing you see when you walk into the elegant lobby at the Park Hyatt London River Thames. With hardwood floors and leather and wood furnishings, the restaurant features a dramatic bar as its centerpiece. It's a warm and inviting space filled with several different seating areas giving off almost a retro cigar bar feeling (no smoking allowed). I enjoyed that the space's back wall gave a nod to the neighborhood's industrial past.

At the bar, you can order from a lengthy menu of cocktails, mocktails, espresso drinks, and an impressive selection of beers and wines. The story behind the name of the bar and restaurant (and the whole neighborhood) is that the area near the Park Hyatt was famous for once being home to nine giant elm trees.

Nine Elms Kitchen and Terrace

Nine Elms Kitchen and Terrace is next door, and that's where you'll get breakfast as a perk of being a top-tier World of Hyatt Globalist. It also serves lunch and dinner.

I found that the breakfast spread was impressive, complete with a full buffet setup.

Related: Which hotel has the best free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals to find the winner

Fresh salmon and lots of other delicious meats and cheeses were also on offer.

You can also order off an a la carte menu. I had the egg white omelet with fat-free cheese and spinach, which was delicious though a pricey $26. My colleague had the eggs Benedict for $25.

I also had a fabulous dinner in the same space, which looks like a whole different scene in the evening.

I had bread and butter that cost $7 (unfortunately, the bread was a bit stale). I started with the chicken satay for $13. It was well cooked and flavored with a delicious mix of spices. The salad of butterhead lettuce was lovely — just the head of lettuce lightly dressed ($9). My burger was also expertly cooked, though pricey at $34. I was only able to finish half my burger, so I asked for it to go. The staff said they were out of takeaway containers, so they offered to send the leftovers to my room via room service. Imagine my surprise when they brought me a whole new burger a little later that evening.

In-room dining

I treated myself to the in-room dining experience during my visit, which didn't disappoint. The 24-hour room service menu includes a bigger selection than even the main dining room.

I enjoyed a home-style oven-roasted tomato soup, a Bolognese pasta and a fresh salad, all of which came out well and were delivered in less than half an hour. The total for all that food, a Coke Zero, and delivery and service charges was about $73.

Forthcoming restaurants

The Tamise Wine Library and Tea Lounge is on the second floor of the hotel. While it wasn't open yet during my visit, the hotel told me it would be in the new year. Here the hotel has a spectacular selection of more than 1,000 wines.

A Cantonese-style Chinese restaurant will open by the end of November, but doesn't have an official name just yet. This should make for another great option at the hotel once it opens.

Amenities at Park Hyatt London River Thames

One of the standout features of the Park Hyatt London River Thames is the incredible full-floor health and wellness center on level one. The elevators lead you to a world of pampering with a full spa, men's and women's locker rooms, unisex saunas, and a glimmering indoor swimming pool.

Indoor swimming pool

The expansive heated indoor swimming pool, which measures 65 by 26 feet, happens to be one of the largest in London. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the end of the pool let in the outdoor light (even when it's overcast and gray like it was during my stay). It reminded me a bit of the famous Park Hyatt Tokyo's rooftop pool.

The pool was fairly shallow, only going to a depth of just over 4 feet at the deepest end and just over 3 feet at the shallow end (so no diving allowed). Near the infinity-style edge, there were 15 lounge chairs, fluffy towels and an area with drinking water.

Locker rooms and sauna

There was a men's and a women's locker room, each of which featured marble countertops, wood accents and a Finnish-style hot sauna.

Gym

I enjoyed two workouts at the Park Hyatt London River Thames gym, which felt massive and featured floor-to-ceiling windows. I was happy to find plenty of cardio equipment — including brand-new Technogym machines — and weights for a great workout.

There's also a small studio for yoga or other workouts.

The full-service spa

The stunning spa on the first floor features an extensive menu of treatments like massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

There are a total of six treatment rooms, including a couples massage room.

I got the signature Back to Brilliance massage, which cost a whopping $279 with service charges included. It was delightful and very relaxing, and I left feeling soothed and ready for bed.

I also got to spend time in the lovely relaxation room, which offered snacks and a variety of soothing teas.

Reasons Park Hyatt London River Thames might not be for you

Of course, no hotel is perfect. Here are a few reasons the Park Hyatt London River Thames may not be for you:

• The location is a bit removed from the major sights of London. While it is still in Zone 1, it's a bit out of the way. The nearest Tube station is a few minutes' walk away, and there aren't many attractions in the immediate area.
• The Nine Elms neighborhood is a major construction zone, so construction noise could be bothersome, and some of the views (i.e., nearby construction sites) are not so inspiring.
• This hotel, like much of London, is expensive. Though you could save some cash by using World of Hyatt points, you'll still pay a lot for food and drinks. The spa services are expensive, too.

Accessibility at Park Hyatt London River Thames

Park Hyatt London River Thames is a very accessible property. New construction means the hotel is among the most wheelchair-friendly properties in London.

There are 21 rooms that are fully accessible — the most in London, according to the hotel. Accessible rooms feature lowered door handles and wide points of entry. As you can see from the accessible room I toured, the bed was lower to the ground for easier access. Chairs and other furniture were also lower to the ground.

The closet, too, had a low-hanging bar for easier access. There was a roll-in bathroom with wide doors, and grab bars around the toilet, sink and shower. The shower had a bench and grab bars as well as an emergency cord. There was another cord alarm near the entrance to the restroom.

Public areas of the hotel were all flat, including the entrance, making for easy access. Elevators featured grab bars, a lower set of elevator buttons and wide doors.

The pool is also accessible and features a chair lift for those who may need one.

One area where I saw an opportunity for improvement was a lack of Braille signage.

Checking out of the Park Hyatt London River Thames

The Park Hyatt London River Thames is a new favorite for this Hyatt loyalist. Incredible service, high design, a slew of great amenities and delicious dining options made it a big winner for me, despite being a pricey option and in a slightly off-the-beaten-path neighborhood.

I had a fantastic stay and would recommend the hotel, especially to someone who has World of Hyatt points to burn in London. Status goes a long way at this property, especially if you've got a suite upgrade to use.

Related reading:

• Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• World of Hyatt elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

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