Honestly, booking a hotel in London is a nightmare. You're usually staring at a map of the South Bank, trying to figure out if you should pay the "Big Ben View" tax or settle for a windowless box three miles away. If you’ve spent any time looking at the South Bank skyline, you’ve seen the massive, curved facade of the Park Plaza County Hall London. It sits right behind its sister hotel, the Westminster Bridge property, but here’s the thing—most people ignore it because it isn’t right on the water.
That's a mistake.
I’ve spent enough time navigating the labyrinthine corridors of London’s hospitality scene to know that "riverside" often translates to "noisy and overpriced." The Park Plaza County Hall London is different. It’s tucked just far enough back to avoid the worst of the buskers and the tourist throngs, yet you can still walk to the London Eye in about three minutes. Maybe four if the light at the crossing is being stubborn. It’s an interesting building with a history rooted in the massive redevelopment of the old Greater London Council site. When the GLC moved out, this pocket of London became a goldmine, and this hotel managed to snag a spot that offers some of the largest rooms in the city for the price point.
The Studio Room Hack You’re Probably Missing
Most London hotels give you a bed, a tiny desk, and a bathroom where you can barely turn around. Park Plaza County Hall London is built differently. Because it was designed with a more modern, apartment-style layout in mind, almost every room is a "Studio."
You get a kitchenette.
Think about that for a second. In a city where a mediocre sandwich costs twelve quid, having a microwave and a fridge is basically like finding free money. It’s not a full kitchen, obviously—don't try to roast a Sunday dinner in there—but for families or anyone staying longer than two nights, it changes the entire vibe of the trip. You aren't beholden to the hotel breakfast or the local Pret A Manger. You can just... exist.
The layout is a bit weird, though. The building has this central atrium design where the hallways look down into the lobby or the restaurant area. It can feel a bit like a high-end spaceship. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room on a higher floor away from the elevators. The soundproofing is generally decent, but the sheer volume of people moving through a 399-room hotel means the "ping" of the lift can become the soundtrack to your afternoon nap if you aren't careful.
Location: Beyond the Tourist Traps
Everyone talks about the proximity to the South Bank, which is great, don't get me wrong. Being able to stroll over to the Hayward Gallery or the BFI without taking the Tube is a luxury. But the real value of the Park Plaza County Hall London is its proximity to Waterloo Station.
It’s a five-minute walk.
Waterloo isn't just a train station; it’s a portal. You have the Jubilee, Northern, and Bakerloo lines right there. If you want to get to the West End, you’re looking at a ten-minute journey. If you want to head to Greenwich or even out to Windsor, it’s all right there. Most people stay here and walk across Westminster Bridge—which is usually a slow-motion shuffle through a sea of selfie sticks—but the real pro move is walking south toward Lower Marsh.
Lower Marsh is where the locals actually go. It’s a street behind the station filled with independent coffee shops, a decent street food market on weekdays, and some of the best secondhand bookshops in the area. Staying at this hotel puts you on the border between the "Disney-fied" version of London and the actual, gritty, wonderful city.
The View Situation
Let’s be real. You want to see the Shard or the Eye.
At the Park Plaza County Hall London, views are a bit of a gamble. Some rooms look directly into the back of the neighboring offices or the other Park Plaza. If you want the "wow" factor, you have to book the higher-category suites. The Penthouse and the higher-floor Junior Suites face the river. From there, the view of the City of London skyline is genuinely breathtaking. You see the Gherkin, the Walkie-Talkie, and the Shard all lined up like a glass-and-steel mountain range.
- Check the room number. Odd-numbered rooms on the higher floors usually have the better views toward the city.
- The 14th floor and above. This is the "sweet spot" where you clear the surrounding rooflines.
- Corner suites. These offer a wraparound perspective that makes the room feel twice as big.
Dining and the "Atrio" Experience
The on-site restaurant is called Atrio. It serves Italian-ish food. Honestly? It’s fine. It’s a solid 7 out of 10. The pizza is actually quite good because they have a proper oven, but you’re in the middle of one of the greatest food cities on earth.
Don't eat every meal in the hotel.
Just around the corner on Westminster Bridge Road, you have spots like Troia for Mediterranean or the various stalls at the Southbank Centre Food Market. That said, the breakfast at the hotel is a massive spread. It’s a buffet, it’s loud, and it’s chaotic during the 8:30 AM rush. If you value your sanity, go at 7:00 AM or wait until 10:00 AM. They do a full English, plenty of fruit, and pastries that are surprisingly fresh for a hotel of this scale.
The Reality of the "Business" Vibe
This hotel attracts a lot of corporate travelers. You’ll see people in suits tapping away at laptops in the lobby bar. This is actually a good thing for leisure travelers. Why? Because the staff is used to efficiency. They aren't fumbling with check-ins. They know how to handle a guest who needs a dry cleaner or a taxi to Heathrow now.
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However, it does mean the lobby lacks that "boutique" warmth. It feels professional, sleek, and a bit clinical. If you’re looking for a cozy, Victorian-style London inn with creaky floorboards and a fireplace, this ain't it. This is a machine. A very well-oiled, comfortable, glass-and-chrome machine.
Is it actually family-friendly?
Surprisingly, yes. London is notoriously bad for families. Most hotels force you to book two rooms, which doubles your cost instantly. At the Park Plaza County Hall London, the studio rooms often have a pull-out sofa bed. The kitchenette means you can keep milk in the fridge and heat up a snack for a toddler at 3 AM without calling room service.
There's also a gym and a sauna. The gym is... okay. It’s a hotel gym. It has the basics. If you're a serious powerlifter, you'll be disappointed, but if you just want to burn off the calories from that third pint of London Pride, it does the job.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Area
People think the South Bank is "Central London." It is, geographically. But it’s also a bit of an island. Once you’re on this side of the river, you’re committed to crossing a bridge to get to the "action" of Soho or Covent Garden.
Walking across the bridges is one of the best things to do in London, but doing it four times a day gets old. Use the boats. The Uber Boat (Thames Clippers) stops at the London Eye Pier. It’s the best way to see the city. You can tap in with your credit card or Oyster card, sit in the back with a coffee (or a beer), and roar down the river to Canary Wharf or Greenwich. It’s much more civilized than the Tube and only a short walk from the hotel lobby.
Nuance: The Pricing Fluctuations
Price-wise, this hotel is a chameleon. During a random Tuesday in November, you might snag a room for £180. During a peak summer weekend or when there’s a major conference at the QEII Centre across the water, it can spike to £450.
Always check the official website against the big booking engines. Park Plaza is part of the Radisson family (Radisson Rewards), and they often have "member rates" that genuinely save you 10-15%. Also, look for the "Stay and Eat" packages. Sometimes the cost of adding breakfast at the time of booking is half what they charge you if you walk into the restaurant on the day.
Actionable Steps for Your Stay
If you’ve decided to pull the trigger on a stay at Park Plaza County Hall London, don't just show up and hope for the best. London rewards the prepared.
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- Request a "City View" at least 48 hours in advance. Send a polite email. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it puts you at the top of the list if a room opens up.
- Sign up for Radisson Rewards before you book. Even the lowest tier usually gets you a discount and sometimes a slightly later checkout (12:00 PM instead of 11:00 AM).
- Skip the hotel coffee in the room. Walk three minutes to Flying Horse Coffee under the railway arches at Waterloo. Your taste buds will thank you.
- Use the side entrance. There is a smaller entrance that feels less chaotic than the main revolving doors if you're coming from the station side.
- Download the Citymapper app. Google Maps is fine, but Citymapper is the gold standard for London transport. It will tell you exactly which carriage of the train to get on at Waterloo to be closest to the exit.
London is a city of layers. The Park Plaza County Hall London is a solid, reliable layer. It isn't the fanciest hotel in the city, and it isn't the cheapest, but it hits that "Goldilocks zone" of space, location, and utility that is incredibly hard to find in Zone 1. You get the view without the noise, the kitchen without the Airbnb hassle, and the transport links of a major hub. For most travelers, that's exactly what's needed.