Holiday Inn London Docklands Excel Hotel

Stayed at the Crowne Plaza, Docklands for a 2 night business trip. Arrival: Travelled via the Docklands Light Railway from Canary Wharf. Due to construction work I ended up having to go through a multi-storey car park in order to reach the front door of the hotel. The hotel do run a shuttle bus during commuter hours to/from Canary Wharf. I would definitely recommend this means, although you need to book at peak times. Check-in: When I checked in I was told my room was a twin room, with 2 single beds. Being 6'3", this was not ideal, so I asked if there were any rooms with a double bed available. I was told that there was if I wanted to upgrade (at a cost). Out of principal I declined, but over the next few minutes the receptionist continued to keep asking about this upgrade, which I started to find annoying. Not sure if there is some kind of staff incentive for selling upgrades. My mood was not helped when I found out my 5'3" colleague had been given a double room without upgrading! Room: Clean, modern, with a good view of Canary Wharf, even from the 3rd floor. Although this view may disappear when the construction next door is completed. Bath / shower in good condition. Aircon was a bit noisy. Tiny single beds... Food/Drink: There is absolutely nothing nearby, save for the conference centre, so unless you are willing to travel a little, the hotel bar/restaurant is your only option. After deciding nothing on the restaurant menu appealed, I decided on a burger off the bar menu which was okay. Food and drink prices were a shade on the expensive side, but surroundings are pleasant enough and the staff generally attentive. Overall: Would probably stay somewhere with more surrounding amenities in future. But a decent, modern functional hotel.

Stayed at the Crowne Plaza London Docklands for 2 nights in December, since we were attending a wedding in Canary Wharf. Getting off at the Royal Victoria DLR stop, we could spot the hotel easily since the big red sign was clear about 100 yards away, but navigating round the building site next to it was a bit more problematic, and there was a lack of pavements. We found that there is a back entrance to the hotel which brings you out right at the DLR station the next day, so use that if you stay here!! The room we got seemed to be a superior room, although I'd booked a standard one, however since I'm a Platinum Priority Club card holder, sometimes room upgrades are given. The room itself was lovely, clean and modern, well fitted, and everything worked perfectly (shower, air conditioning etc). We got unlimited free bottles of water from the minibar and a free bottle of wine on arrival. The other facilities in the hotel are good too - the gym & pool are useful, and the bar and restaurant area are a good size and very modern. WE had breakfast one morning, but didn't use the bar at other times, as Christmas parties had taken up residence. Overall I was very impressed by this hotel. The location is not going to be useful for everyone, but for anyone travelling to the docklands or Excel then I would thoroughly recommend this hotel.

If this hotel was in a different location I would not have had a problem with it, other than the fact we were in a non-smoking room which absolutely reeked of smoke! The service was OK but we found a couple of the receptionists really rude and unpleasant. The cleaning staff and housekeeping were all nice though. However, it is right under a flight path! I can't understand how some many other reviewers have not mentioned this. I am not a particularly light sleeper but I found the noise unbearable as the planes pass directly over the top of the hotel very, very low. There is nothing in the surrounding area either - no shops, pubs, bars, restaurants so make sure you have everything you couls possibly need before going back to the hotel at night! The hotel would have got 3 out of 5 if it had been in central London, or at least in a better location.

I stayed at this hotel in September. I was resident on a Sunday and Monday night and I booked a Superior Room for £110 + VAT (Incl Breakfast). The hotel is a 2 minute walk (if that) from the Docklands Light Railway - Royal Victoria Station. It takes 10 minutes to get into Tower Bridge DLR station so it is convenient. If you like a hotel in a quiet area (as in no shops/nightlife) then this hotel is ideal as it is right beside the river surrounded by apartments, excel centre and new apartment developments. You also get a very good view of the millennium dome and canary wharf. The only noise is from the planes at London City Airport, this isn't an overly busy airport and it didn't affect me at all however if you are a light sleeper you may wish to take some ear plugs. We used the DLR to get to the hotel and walked round the corner to reception which is modern but I wouldn't say luxurious. There was a separate check in area for Priority Club members which was basically a sign hanging above one end of the reception desk together with a clipboard with details of all PC members checking in that day, the idea is you make your mark next to your name and your room card etc are all ready for you in an envelope, credit card pre-authorised etc, so there is no waiting around. I am a platinum member of PC but my details were not on the list which in fact was empty. The staff at reception were quite efficient and pleasant and gave my room key to me promptly. No mention of an upgrade was made (a benefit of Platinum PC membership) so I asked and was told I had been upgraded to an Executive Room. When I asked the difference I was told it was the same room just on a higher floor (again can’t complain as it does state that is allowed in the terms and conditions also!). I enquiried if there were any suite available and how much it would cost to upgrade. They told me it would be £50 per night to upgrade to a Junior Suite or £75 to an Executive Suite. Having read the details of the rooms prior to booking on their website I knew the junior suite was just one large(ish) room so I chose the Executive Suite which was on the fourth floor (they have five in total I believe one on each floor). The room is located at the far end of the hotel on the corner. As you enter there is a hallway area with wardrobe, safe, iron, etc, door for the bathroom which had a standard size bath tub, separate power shower, sink and vanity unit, molton brown toiletries, all done out in a dark slate and white colour, quite nice looking but not overly big. The Living room was quite large and looked directly out over a development of a new road (this may be an apartment block by now as I believe Barratt are building there) then you got a clear view of the Millennium Dome and Canary Wharf in the distance together with the river. The living room and floor to ceiling windows which opened onto a balcony which was ok for standing on but wasn’t wide enough for chairs. The balcony wrapped around the whole suite area. The living room had a dining table for four people, usual desk area, two leather arm chairs and leather sofa (modern design in green and quite hard not very comfy but looked ok for the room). A filter coffee maker and one bag of coffee (more available free from housekeeping), 21” standard TV, mini bar, fairly good lighting and air conditioning which worked well in the living room area. The bedroom is at the other end of the hallway so very private if you had people round for drinks, this had a desk area, 21” TV, same style armchair and ottoman as the living room, very large super king sized bed which was actually very comfortable. The bedroom had its own separate balcony this time looking out directly over the river and nearby developments. Again there was air conditioning but it always seemed a little too warm for some reason. Service in the hotel was standard UK hotel service; I let you decide what that means! We did get everything we wanted in the end! Room service was ok but the menu was very boring. The restaurant downstairs was quite large and looked nice enough but at the weekend there is no body about so you would be dining on your own! Breakfast is served in the main restaurant downstairs, usual Crowne Plaza Offerings and service. Don’t order poached eggs they won’t arrive (both mornings), the buffet is not bad but nothing special and only worth having if it is included in your rate. For the price I paid I feel I got good value £204 a night incl VAT & breakfast for a large (by London standard) executive suite. I wouldn’t however pay their rack rate of £360+ VAT excl breakfast. Hope this helps you make your mind up.

This hotel is excellent for the business traveller especially if your working around Canary Wharf. I stayed for 3 weeks and was very happy with my stay. High Points: *Rooms very clean *Staff very friendly *Shuttle bus to and from Canary Wharf Thanks, Steven

We were in London for a conference at the excel. We had a executive room with a king bed. It was definitely above average. Nicely decorated, breakfast was good. The menu for the restaurant was not very good. The bar menu was better. In fact the bar was quite popular in spite of being pricey. We also walked over to the Novetel and ate dinner there.We looked at getting a room there too. Dinner was good. The Novetel was nice,It seemed like it was a step up from the Crowne, but the rooms were very pricey. For the money, the Crowne wins. There is not to much in the Docklands area so unless you are in for a convention, I would look else where. It took about 2 hours to get there from Heathrow on the metros. You have to make a few changes.

First the good things. It is only a short walk from the Docklands Light Railway which can take you to Canary Wharf or into the City. It is only about 20 minutes and not quite as far as it seems. However, as some other reviews have said there is nothing around the hotel so not somewhere you want to go unless you are in for the night. The first room I was in was a "superior" one. The second one which I was moved to (see later why) was a "standard" one and there was not much difference. Decent size, clean and well laid out in both rooms. That is about all I can saw good about this Crowne Plaza. I was initially given a smoking room (even although I had booked a non smoking one) and if you don't smoke and you end up in a smoky room it really isn't ideal. Now we all make mistakes, but how this was subsequently handled was really, really bad. I called reception to ask them to move me. After 15 minutes the promised call back had not materialised so I called again. Someone is on the way up. I wasn't going to wait as long again and just as well I didn't. I went to reception and was told nobody was on their way! I'd still be waiting if I hadn't have gone back to Reception. As a Platinum member of Priority Club (you need to say over 50 nights to get this) and you would expect, perhaps, that they might be keen to look after you. I was mistaken on that front. At least the room I was moved to was non smoking. However, as other reviewers have pointed out it is underneath the flight path for City Airport. I sleep pretty soundly and have spent many nights at airport hotels, but the noise woke me up. If you are a light sleeper you definetely don't want to stay here. The bed and pillows were way below the standard for Crowne Plaza, although that may be my perception as I was disappointed with the way I had been treated at the start of my stay. The CP at London City is excellent and well worth staying at (Standard or Executive Rooms are both excellent) and the beds there are very comfortable. All in all I wont be going back to this hotel and I would urge anyone thinking of booking here to think twice before doing so. You might be lucky and then again you might have a similar experience to mine!

The standard rooms here are not as flashy as some other new Crowne Plazas, however the hotel as a whole is lovely. Set on a dock side right next to a Docklands Light Railway station, it's a lovely place to stay, and get away from the noise and pollution of Central London. Yes, it takes a little while to get to from airports/central areas, but if you want to relax in the evenings (or other times during your stay) it's ideal - less so for a very short break on tight timescales, I guess. Good restaurant, bar and pool/gym, convenient parking (though watch the overnight charges at the ExCeL car park next door - use the hotel's instead. Our room had a couple of minor maintenance issues, but we were offered an upgrade, so can't complain.

This hotel is modern, clean, and stylish and has a gym and pool. Comfortable rooms with tea & coffee. The gym is reasonable with treadmills, bikes, cross trainer and multi gym equipment. Additionally it is situated right beside a Victoria dock so you can run outside if you wish. I've only ever had the breakfast buffet which is great. Good range of cooked items, fresh fruits, cereals. Staff are very helpful and will try to accommodate requests. They are interested in you unlike some other hotels! As for transport it is a 2 minute walk from the DLR Royal Victoria Dock stop - it’s a 15/20 min ride into Tower Bridge stop. It’s 1 stop away from Canning Town which is on the Jubilee line. The hotel is perfect if you are doing business in the city and want a good hotel at a great rate. I used to stay in Thistle Tower - you would never go back if you try this place out. Admittedly it’s not in the centre of town but after a day’s work I'm happy to get back to my hotel to relax. I wouldn’t recommend it if you are seeing London as a tourist, I would say it’s just too far from the sights.

This hotel has modern, clean rooms...but is TOO FAR! They do not offer any type of shuttle or transportation service to/from the airport or downtown area. Be prepared to spend lots of time using public transportation and/or spending the majority of your vacation money on taxi cabs.