Hilton Canary Wharf (London)
As HHG (VA, but almost there on stays too)
Checkin: 20 Jan for 3 night stay, allowed late checkout without charge to 3pm, could have stayed later for a fee.
Paid: $484 (311 pounds) for a double hilton guestroom (Any weekend anywhere promotion)
Upgrade: Yes, to executive level with lounge access
Breakfast: In exec lounge included; asked if could come down to restaurant, told that this wasn't included in room rate so would be chargable. Lounge breakfast had a sufficient range for me, so stuck with the freebie!
Lounge: I thought it was fab, since they had afternoon tea 3-5.30pm and then "light evening meal" 6-9.30ish - no reason to spend money on food anywhere else if you don't want to! :mrgreen: Reasonable range of soft drinks and juices, however as a non-drinker I can't comment on the range of alcoholic beverages, sorry!
Room: Standard Hilton exec really, IMHO quite sizable for London (esp compared with Hilton Hyde Park standard room!), nice views of the rain that set in the second I landed
Greeting from CSM: About an hour after checkin, a hotel employee knocked on my door with a CSM letter and a platter of goodies - essentially 3 shot glasses, one each with fresh pineapple, fresh berries, and a white/dark chocolate mousse, plus a piece of oatmeal slice - delicious.
2 complimentary bottles of water in room, seemed to be restocked daily, however there was also more in the exec lounge and noone batted an eyelid when guests walked out of lounge witha bottle or 2. Annoyingly they were all the glass Strathmore bottles of water, so rather heavy if you threw one into your bag for sightseeing.
Facilities: Didn't try any, but I think there is a fitness centre, not sure about pool. Also restaurant, bar etc
Access: I flew into LCY, which I loved, despite poor views due to low cloud and rain. Was on DLR about 10 mins after landing; DLR South Quay station is the closest to the hotel. Canary Wharf Tube was also an easy walk with suitcases (lift/escalators all the way) and that puts you on the Jubilee line, where you can interchange to LHR via tube. I went to Kings Cross/St Pancras and could do an interchange with lifts at London Bridge station, so hassle-free really!
Trip Advisor ranks this as #18 in London and best of the Hiltons, and certainly I didn't have any problems and enjoyed the stay. Main issue would likely be the location in Docklands, which is a bit further away from the main tourist centres, but having been to London on multiple occasions I loved the change in area and of course the Tube/DLR make access to everything easy.
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