Crowne Plaza London Docklands

Opened in 2003, the imposing glass and aluminum facade of the Crowne Plaza London - Docklands gives the impression of a hotel built very much in the current millennium. The lobby area is bright and contemporary, though generic wall art and patterned rugs means that the interiors struggle to escape the charmless cookie-cutter aesthetic of a hotel chain. Deep red and rich crimson hallways help to redeem the lobby, but much of the rest of the property leans heavily towards the corporate. This makes sense considering the clientele tend largely towards business guests who favor the Crowne Plaza's location in the Docklands near the enormous ExCel convention center.

The hotel is set in a strip of modern buildings that look out over a small dock area located in East London's Docklands. It's a five-minute walk to the ExCel conference center and a couple minutes from the Royal Victoria Docklands Light Railway station, from which it's 40 minutes to London's West End. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus to Canary Wharf, which takes about 10 minutes, while the nearby Emirates cable car ride runs to the O2 Arena. London City Airport is also just five minutes away by car, but getting to Heathrow takes well over an hour.

The hotel's 210 rooms are all being renovated to a new style and color scheme -- from current cherry reds and oranges to a palette of more fresh neutral tones -- and completion is due at the end of 2014. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars come as standard, as does the chain's signature aromatherapy sleep aid kit. The sleek, contemporary bathrooms have black tiled walls with built-in shelves as well as shower/tub combos and both wall-mounted and individually bottled high-end toiletries. Wi-Fi is free, but can be spotty. Most rooms overlook the streets; views from the top floors are the best.

Features are convenient and relaxing at this property. The on-site Quad Club and Spa has a fully equipped fitness center, an indoor swimming pool with a hot tub, a sauna, a steam room, and three treatment rooms. The Docklands Bar and Grill serves traditional British and European dishes with locally sourced ingredients in modern surrounds with simple, neutral decor that echoes the corporate style found in other common areas. The bar area is open until late and serves a variety of drinks, including locally brewed craft beers from the Meantime Brewery in nearby Greenwich. The hotel also has an entire wing dedicated to meeting rooms with an open atrium lobby area. There's on-site parking (for a fee) and free -- though occasionally sluggish -- Wi-Fi throughout.