Premier Inn London Tower Bridge Hotel

The Premier Inn chain is known for offering a clean, comfortable place to sleep at reasonable prices, and this property is no exception. Decor is modern overall, if a bit generic, with a plum and beige color scheme throughout and dark wooden furniture that's more functional than stylish. The lobby has a small seating area with beige armchairs and floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a reception area that includes several express self-check-in machines. A large photo of the famous Tower Bridge covers an entire wall by the entrance. Off the lobby is the hotel’s restaurant, which serves breakfast and comfort food in a cozy space with plush seating, large windows, wooden tables, and a yellow, purple, and beige palette. As this is one of the U.K.'s largest hotel chains; plenty of guests looking for value and quality flock here, including tourists and business travelers. This Premier Inn branch in particular sees a large number of families. 

The hotel is located on Tower Bridge Road, a major thoroughfare leading to London's iconic Tower Bridge in Southwark. The area is busy day and night, and there are dozens of restaurants, bars, offices, and residential buildings within a couple of blocks. The nearest tube stop is Tower Hill, located on the opposite side of the Thames, and Bermondsey and London Bridge stations are each a 15-minute walk away. Additionally, there are several bus lines running in the immediate vicinity. A pleasant westbound walk along the South Bank takes guests to City Hall, The Shard, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge, and the London Eye. Most of London’s other major attractions can be reached by tube in under 25 minutes. Heathrow Airport can take up to 70 minutes to reach by cab, and the tube can make the journey in the same amount of time for far less money. The Thameslink to Gatwick Airport from London Bridge Station arrives there in 45 minutes, a trip that can take 90 minutes by taxi.

Rooms at the Premier Inn London Tower Bridge Hotel are spacious and clean, with enough square footage for a lounge chair that can be turned into an additional bed. Decor is contemporary, and a bit sharper than other Premier Inn properties we visited in London, though guests familiar with the Premier Inn chain will recognize the layout and decor. Beige carpets with thin purple and brown stripes, large padded headboards in handsome taupe shades, and modern dark wood veneer furniture make rooms appealing, while subtle pops of plum leave no doubt as to this being a Premier Inn. Large flat-screen TVs, electric kettles with free tea and coffee, air-conditioning, and comfortable Hypnos beds are all standard amenities. Free Wi-Fi is available, but it can be slow at times. Clean bathrooms have shower/tub combos, small sinks, dark laminate floors, and wall-mounted shower gel dispensers. Bathrooms are covered in plum tiling. Tower Bridge Road is busy, and light sleepers may want to request a room facing the rear of the hotel. 

Like all of the brand's properties, features are kept to a minimum in service of quality and lower rates. The on-site restaurant, Thyme, serves full English and continental breakfasts every morning in a small dining room with large windows, warm and colorful decor, and plush chairs around dark wooden tables. A short comfort food menu is also available during the day. Breakfast is not included in room rates. Unlike most other Premier Inn properties in London, this one features on-site parking for a daily fee, but note that the hotel is in the Congestion Charge Zone and driving around can add up. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, but there have been complaints of slow connectivity. Guests can upgrade to higher speed Internet access for an extra fee.