Hilton London Bankside – Bankside’s Best Luxury Design Hotel

Hilton London Bankside is at the forefront of Hilton Hotels’ innovative, design-focused evolution. Every element of the hotel has been meticulously thought out to echo the rich history and vibrant atmosphere of the area, merging raw urban elements with sleek, modern aesthetics. A stone’s throw from iconic London attractions like the Tate Modern, Borough Market, and Shakespeare’s Globe, The property boasts 292 guest rooms, including 25 suites that offer stunning cityscape views, along with a rooftop penthouse, peloton guest rooms, a vegan suite, and a heated indoor pool and gym. Two dining experiences are onsite too OXBO Bankside and The Distillery. The Luxury Editor recently visited – read on to discover more.

Background & Concept

The Hilton London Bankside, a recent addition to London’s luxury design-focused hotel scene stands out for its design-centric approach, meticulously integrating every element of the property to mirror the captivating history and atmosphere of its Bankside location. This integration harmonises the area’s urban edge with sophisticated contemporary design. Constrained by height limitations, the hotel’s architecture consists of three interconnected structures—two of a lower height and one taller—covering a total area of 20,325 square meters, unified by a striking glass entrance and an internal light court.

Drawing inspiration from the Bankside neighbourhood’s authentic character and history, the hotel’s distinctive design merges urban and Brutalist architectural elements with sleek, polished details, embodying the essence of luxury that defines this Hilton property.

Location

Located in what is now one of the most fashionable and ‘trendy’ areas of the capital, guests are a stone’s throw from all things culture, with the Tate Modern on the doorstep, Borough Market a short stroll away, Shakespeare’s Globe next door and The Shard within easy access. Well connected with public transport Blackfriars Station is a ten-minute walk away and Southwark Station and Waterloo East are both just a short walk.

A Living Gallery

The property features a thoughtfully curated art collection by Peter Millard and Partners Ltd, highlighting the talents of emerging British artists like David Farrer, Simon Bingle, and Kathy Dalwood. Their artwork captures the sophisticated yet occasionally raw essence of Bankside, exemplified by Niki Hare’s graffiti wall panel near the main entrance. Every artwork has been meticulously selected to harmonise with the property’s industrial and urban design elements, such as aged tin ceilings, exposed metal beams, and iron light fixtures.

Bankside Fox

During the construction phase of the hotel, the “Bankside fox” became a nightly visitor to the site, entertaining the construction team and overseeing the progress. The fox symbolically approved the hotel’s design by imprinting his paw prints on the freshly poured concrete floors. In honour of its role as the “protector” of Hilton London Bankside, the interior design weaves the fox theme into the hotel’s artistic decor, with its motif appearing across different areas within the hotel.

Rooms & Suites

Guest rooms and suites blend an ‘urban industrial meets luxury’ theme with strategic lighting, such as exposed bulbs and glass pendants, to accentuate the beds. Rooms also showcase concrete-effect wall coverings and limed timber, softened by sleek, Italian-style furniture, winged headboards, and plush upholstery, ensuring a luxurious feel. The bathrooms are marked by bold greys, with floor and half-wall tiles complemented by pale travertine on the remaining walls, achieving a clean and sophisticated look.

292 guest rooms range from entry-level Guest Rooms through to Deluxe, Executive with Lounge Access, with a Suite category, a Penthouse, and two King Rooms with Peloton Bike. 

King Bed Room with Peloton Bike

Elevate your stay in a Peloton room, equipped with a state-of-the-art Peloton Bike, SPD pedals, Peloton hand weights, yoga mat, and resistance bands. Enjoy privacy as you access a vast selection of live and on-demand fitness classes.

Penthouse

Experience ultimate luxury in the Penthouse Suite, featuring breathtaking views from its private terrace. This suite provides exclusive Executive Lounge access, and includes complimentary breakfast, snacks, and beverages. Covering 100 sq. m., it features a sophisticated design with a separate bedroom equipped with a king-sized Hilton Serenity bed, a living room with a dining area, and a large bathroom. Enjoy a 47-inch HDTV, work desk, free WiFi, minibar, laptop safe, and premium bath products.

Vegan Suite

The property has introduced a vegan suite, catering to ethically-conscious travellers. Developed in collaboration with Bompas & Parr and endorsed by The Vegan Society, the suite is designed for a comprehensive vegan experience, featuring plant-based check-in desks, keycards, vegan-friendly bedding, and eco-cotton carpets.

This transformation is part of the hotel’s commitment to align with contemporary vegan lifestyles, offering everything from vegan pillow options and toiletries to a vegan in-room menu and minibar. The suite showcases a Piñatex leather headboard, anti-bacterial pillow materials, and organic cotton carpets. It boasts renewable Moso Bamboo flooring, Piñatex leather seating, and a minibar filled with vegan snacks. The menu includes vegan breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, while the toiletries and stationery are environmentally friendly and free from animal products. Even the cleaning supplies used throughout the hotel are eco-friendly and cruelty-free.

King One Bedroom Suite With Lounge Access

During my stay, I was hosted in a King One Bedroom Suite With Lounge Access. Spanning 46 square meters (495 square feet), this suite combines a separate living space, along with a large bedroom and Lounge Access on the ground floor.

Bedroom

Large King Bed and luxurious bedding guaranteed a good night’s sleep, across from the bed is a flatscreen TV (one of two in the suite) along with a workspace and either side of the bed plays host to a wealth of plug sockets and USB ports. A turndown service in the evening prepares the bedding, puts out slippers and replenishes water.

Lounge

A separate lounge area complete with a large flat-screen TV, sofa, and comfortable chair along with coffee machine, fridge and complimentary water complete this cosy lounge area.

Bathroom

A walk-in shower with rain shower head and hand paddle, amenities are by Crabtree and Elevly (and smelled gorgeous) are provided along with a wealth of other mini amenities ranging from shaving kit to toothbrush.

Amenities

A large safe, iron and extra storage space are tucked away in a wardrobe next to the bathroom door. An espresso machine with complimentary capsules along with a fridge hosting chargeable extras is found in the lounge.

Views

A window in the lounge area and one in the bedroom offer two distinct views out over the city.

OXBO Bankside

There are two dining options in the hotel, OXBO Bankside is a destination restaurant, where head chef Ollie Couillaud delivers a richly flavoured A La Carte menu, complete with signature meals designed to satisfy all tastes, ranging from sumptuous classic mains to lighter, health-conscious choices. Utilising locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, the menu showcases a diverse blend of French, Eastern, and British culinary influences. Accommodating up to 168 diners, clever use of decorative perforated steel screens adds privacy while maintaining a lively atmosphere by arranging guests in smaller groups. Interior features a pressed tin ceiling, and rustic wood paneling.

A standout feature is the ghost mural by Diarmund Bryon-O’Connor, a nod to the historic Rose Tea Mural and the trade heritage of Southwark, London. And keep your eyes peeled for the ‘MOUNTED NOT STUFFED’ art collection by David Farrer, known for his papier-mâché animal heads, adding a unique touch to the left-hand wall of the restaurant.

The Distillery

The Distillery presents a lighter food offering and a huge range of gins along with beers wines and spirits to enjoy. In the 19th century, the site of Hilton Bankside was partly occupied by The Stephenson & Howell Standard Works, known for blending fine essences and flavours. This history significantly influences the art and design of The Distillery Bar today, which features decor reflecting ‘old world charm.’ Notable are the vintage seltzer bottles from Argentina, adding a touch of 1930s elegance.

The bar’s ambiance is enhanced by warm fumed oak flooring, rich leather upholstery with bronze details, and subtle ambient lighting. The barrelled ceiling adds a dramatic touch, while the unique ‘Penny Wall,’ containing over 16,000 British pennies dating from 1860, including those from the era of Queen Victoria and the Suffragettes, adds historical depth and required structural reinforcement due to its weight.

Our Dining Experience

During my stay at the property, I dined in the Distillery Bar. We were kindly offered both the Distillery and OXBO menus so ordered from the OXBO menu.

Cocktails

We started the night off with a Margarita and an Expresso Martini.

Starters

For starter we went for the Salmon tartare, guacamole, watermelon radish, baby leaves & focaccia crostini, alongside the scallop, prawn & cod fishcakes, pickled beetroot, sour cream, chives & Avruga caviar.

Mains

For mains we chose, the grilled sirloin steak, baby leaves, French fries and homemade BBQ sauce.

Dessert

Dark chocolate cube, mango & passion fruit gel, coconut sorbet along with the crème brûlée,

Breakfast

Located in OXBO, breakfast can be ordered a la carte or enjoyed buffet style. There is a great choice of breakfast items available with a hot station serving British favourites along with eggs cooked to order.

Executive Lounge

Executive rooms and Suites offer access to the ground floor Executive Lounge, where you can enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening canapés, alongside a wide selection of drinks in addition to a special arrivals area, and pre-check-in shower facilities. The lounge’s interior features unique sculptures by Simon Bingle, reflecting graffiti art, and white sculpted busts by Kathy Dalwood that capture the urban spirit and culture of the nearby Leake Street. The decor includes vintage elements and maintains a sophisticated private club atmosphere with comfortable seating and a warm colour scheme.

Gym & Spa

Located on the lower ground, the hotel has a 17 meter heated pool and gym which is open to all guests.

Final Thoughts

Hilton London Bankside showcases a remarkable industrial aesthetic, while its location and indoor pool make it ideal for families and guests looking for a cultural and relaxing visit to London, with convenient transport links it makes it easy to explore other parts of the capital.

This property is included in our guide to the best cool hotels in London and best hotels in Bankside.