Holiday Inn Express London – Southwark

Located in a modern block building on a busy road surrounded by budget cafes and within walking distance of the river, the hotel is a vibrant, laid-back scene with a mix of tourist and business travelers. An open-plan lobby, lounge, and dining area makes the most of the space and there's a good mix of comfy and functional seating. The design features mostly soft-gray and primary colors, including the large blue ottomans, red armchairs, and white streamlined tables. Murals of London's skyline and aerial map, plus geometric-print rugs add some pizazz. Guests are typically on their way in or out, expect during the free breakfast when it can get quite busy. An elevator is available but past guests have warned it's small and slow, and easier to walk the stairs.

Not far from Southwark's buzzing scene, but not in the center of it, the hotel is nevertheless well-located for accessing many of the nearby offerings. Foodie hotspot, Borough Market, is within a 10-minute walk, as is the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. The event-filled South Bank Centre can be reached on foot in 30 minutes, or in half the time by bus. A five-minute walk to Southwark tube and 10 minutes from London Waterloo East station, it's easy to hop on a train and explore the city. Oxford Street is 15 minutes by tube, as is London's financial district -- The City -- and a 20 minute walk across the river takes travelers to St. Paul's Cathedral. The closest airport is London City Airport, less than 30 minutes by taxi or public transit. Heathrow is an hour's drive and just less by public transport, while Gatwick is slightly farther.

Decently sized for London, rooms are generic but practical and modern with a theme of blue and white. They're outfitted with striped carpet, dark-wood furniture, and gray accent walls, plus royal-blue throws that match the curtains and modern wall hangings. Beds are comfy and some have sofa beds. All are air-conditioned and come with flat-screen satellite TVs, a good-sized work desk and chair, kettle alongside tea and coffee, and a hairdryer. There are no fridges or safes. There are also a radio, shelving space, and a hanging rail for clothes. Guests have reported traffic noise to be audible in some rooms. Most bathrooms have sleek glossy black tiling and rainfall showerheads, and all come with toiletries. 

This is an express hotel, so features are unsurprisingly limited. A buffet-style breakfast is free and includes items such as sausage, scrambled eggs, and baked beans, as well as pastries, cereal, and coffee. There's no full restaurant, but vending machines sell snacks and a small bar is open throughout the day and evening. It doesn't have much of an atmosphere though, so it's worth walking five or 10 minutes to another bar in the area. Handy for the modern traveler, a computer station is free to use and printing and copying services are available. Wi-Fi is free throughout. No conference facilities or gym are on-site.