What a pleasant surprise!
I’m recently back from a quick trip to London, where I stayed at an unfamiliar property because I had a Marriott free night certificate burning a hole in my pocket.
I hadn’t previously heard of London’s Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection, but it was one of the few Marriott Bonvoy properties where I could use my free night certificate, so I took a chance on booking it.
Boy, am I glad I did.
It turned into one of my favorite hotel stays of the year. Here are a few reasons why.
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The Bankside Hotel is a great deal with Marriott Bonvoy points
The best thing about the Bankside Hotel is that you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points for great value. I was able to use the annual free night certificate, which you get by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
The night that I stayed would have cost over $600 if I had paid cash, so I consider that a great use of my annual free night (which can be used for award stays costing up to 85,000 points per night).
Cash rates at the hotel range from $375 to over $644 per night, so using points can be a solid option. Award stays start as low as 60,000 Marriott points per night and go as high as 101,000 points a night. It’s one of the cheapest options out of Marriott’s higher-end properties in London.
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The automatic Platinum Elite status that comes with holding the Brilliant card also meant I enjoyed free breakfast during my stay, which is a pretty great perk.
Related: Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
It has a prime sightseeing location in London
The Bankside Hotel is in a terrific part of London, the vibrant South Bank area. Next door to the hotel is a walking path that takes you along the River Thames. It’s a busy area, but it’s far enough from the real hustle and bustle of the city to feel like a small oasis.
This 161-room hotel is within walking distance of all kinds of can’t-miss spots, too. For example, you’ll find the Tate Modern, food- and craft-centric Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe performing arts venue, iconic St Paul’s Cathedral, Blackfriars Bridge and the National Theatre all within a short stroll of the property.
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St Paul’s Cathedral. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
The one downside to the location is that it is far from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR). It took me an hour and a half to get there by taxi, and it’s about an hour via the Tube.
Related: The best ways to travel to London with points and miles
Large rooms are standard at the Bankside
London is notorious for small hotel rooms, but that isn’t the case at the Bankside Hotel. While I didn’t get upgraded to a suite as a Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite member, my room was large and comfortable.
The hotel’s location within a newly constructed building (it opened in 2018) means the rooms feel spacious and well designed. During my visit, there were well-placed lamps, and the layout of the space just made sense. I liked that there was a good work desk, and I also found the sofa seat to be a comfortable spot for reading.
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There were plenty of outlets, too, as well as a Nespresso coffee maker that also made tea and a minifridge. As an added bonus, there were convenient water-filling stations (sparkling or still) on each floor to fill reusable pitchers in the rooms. Plus, simple buttons on the room’s wall enabled blackout curtains.
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The room also had a closet filled with standard amenities and even an artist’s box with supplies for making art, which was a thoughtful touch.
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The one thing I didn’t love about my room was the view of a street and buildings across the way, but I had no other complaints.
The bathroom was just as roomy, with amenities by Grown Alchemist. It also had one of the hotel’s trademarks: a quirky period-inspired portrait of a British man with a comb in his hair.
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In fact, the hotel is well known for its modern art. My room had a fascinating photograph of public housing.
The impressive collection carries into the hotel’s public spaces. There’s even a gallery in the basement with works for sale from local artists, should you wish to bring a piece home with you.
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It has great food and amenities for a smaller-scale hotel
Art Yard Bar & Kitchen is the only restaurant at the hotel. As its name suggests, the ground-floor venue is packed with modern art, much like the rest of the hotel. The bar gets lively in the evening and has lots of seating. Plants and sculptures fill the colorful space.
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Breakfast was free for Platinum Elite members. It was yummy, with made-to-order eggs and a pretty decent selection in a buffet-style setup. A highlight was the machine with freshly squeezed juice.
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I also enjoyed dinner at Art Yard and found the service was friendly. I ordered a variety of delicious small bites, including roasted carrots with whipped oat cream ($12), fried chicken bites with ranch sauce and wildflower honey ($16) and green asparagus in a wild garlic hollandaise sauce ($8).
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While there was no pool, there was a well-equipped gym with Precor equipment, including treadmills and a rowing machine, and even a Peloton bike.
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The hotel also had solid accessibility features, including in the gym, where guests could use a stair lift and an accessible restroom.
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Related: Your guide to Marriott breakfast benefits for Platinum Elite and higher members
Checking out
I had a fabulous stay at the Bankside Hotel. The service, in particular, was excellent. Despite arriving at 11 a.m., I was allowed to check in early (the staff even brought me a cappuccino). I was also permitted to check out late.
This hotel was a great value, especially given my use of a free night certificate, but I’d encourage anyone looking for a good Marriott Bonvoy redemption to consider the stylish Bankside Hotel. While it’s not in the classic center of London, it’s in a fun, centrally located neighborhood that may help you discover another side of London.
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