Luxury Hotels Near London City Airport
East London around London City Airport has few true luxury hotels, and I would rather say so plainly. Of the three hotels tagged luxury on this page, only the InterContinental London - the O2 is a five-star property; the Radisson Blu Hotel, London Canary Wharf East and The Westbridge Hotel London Stratford are upscale four-stars. All three score between 8.8 and 9.0, so the comfort is real. I recommend the InterContinental on Greenwich Peninsula for a genuinely high-end stay, and the other two when the location suits your plans better, Canary Wharf for work and Stratford for the Olympic Park.
The east of London has been rebuilt over the last decades: the towers of Canary Wharf, the Greenwich Peninsula around the O2 arena and Stratford, transformed for the 2012 Olympic Games, now home to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Westfield shopping centre. Upscale hotels here are modern rather than historic.
Where to stay near the airport
One Five-Star and Two Upscale Alternatives
Luxury near LCY is mostly about a calm room, a good bar and a spa after a flight, not about grand historic hotels, which sit in the West End and the City. The InterContinental delivers the full package with a spa, an indoor pool and river views. The Radisson Blu adds a spa and river views at four-star level, and the Westbridge offers refined rooms and an all-day restaurant in Stratford. Choosing between them comes down to how much you value a pool and a spa against the neighbourhood you want to wake up in.
The InterContinental London - the O2 by IHG is the only five-star hotel on this page and the one I would choose for a true luxury stay. It offers posh rooms and suites, some with river views, a spa, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre, several restaurants and a plush bar. Its 9.0 score from almost 6,000 reviews confirms that the experience matches the category. The hotel stands on Greenwich Peninsula, next to the O2 arena, on the south side of the Thames, so I would allow time for the river crossing before an LCY flight, especially early in the morning.
The Radisson Blu Hotel, London Canary Wharf East is an upscale four-star rather than a luxury hotel in the strict sense, but it offers several of the comforts that matter: river views, a spa, a fitness centre, a restaurant, a bar and room service. It scores 8.8 from almost 2,500 reviews. I would pick it when business in Canary Wharf is the reason for the trip and a spa at the end of the day is the extra you want. Canary Wharf has the Jubilee line and the Elizabeth line, so evenings in central London remain easy to plan from this base.
The Westbridge Hotel London Stratford offers upscale, air-conditioned rooms in a refined setting, with an all-day restaurant, a bar, a fitness centre and free Wi-Fi, and it scores 8.8 from more than 1,200 reviews. It lists no spa or pool, so it is the most limited of the three on facilities. Its strength is the location: Stratford, with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the London Stadium and the Westfield shopping centre nearby. I would choose it for a concert, a match or a family visit in East London, when the neighbourhood matters more than a spa before or after the flight.
Taken together, the luxury label near London City Airport covers one five-star hotel and two well-rated four-stars, which is honest enough as long as you know what to expect. If a spa and a pool are essential, only the InterContinental offers both; the Radisson Blu has a spa without a pool, and the Westbridge has neither. If you are looking for the classic grand hotels of London, they are in Mayfair, Knightsbridge or along the Strand, and the Elizabeth line makes it realistic to stay there and still reach LCY. For a stay close to the runway, I would book the InterContinental first.
A traveler's takeFor a luxury stay near London City Airport, I would book the InterContinental London - the O2, the only five-star hotel in this list, with a spa, an indoor pool, a hot tub and some rooms with river views, and a 9.0 score from almost 6,000 reviews. If my plans centred on the Olympic Park, my choice would be The Westbridge Hotel London Stratford.
Luxury9.0InterContinental London - the O2 by IHG
Posh rooms, river views, and a full-service spa near the O2
Why guests love itInterContinental London - the O2 is a 5-star near London City Airport that labels itself kid-friendly and backs it with an indoor pool and hot tub, rated 9.0 from nearly 6,000 reviews. Suites give families extra room, and some rooms look over the river. Parents can use the spa and fitness center, and the plush bar and restaurants cover the evening. The building is smoke-free with accessible features. It suits a family that wants a proper London stay, not only an airport night.
Luxury8.8Radisson Blu Hotel, London Canary Wharf East
Upscale lodging with river views, a spa, and easy public transport access
Why guests love itRadisson Blu Hotel London Canary Wharf East is a 4-star hotel rated 8.8 from nearly 2,500 reviews, with river views. Rooms are air-conditioned, and the hotel has a spa, a fitness centre, a restaurant, a bar, room service, free Wi-Fi and a business centre. London City Airport is a little over an hour away by public transport. I see it as a strong choice for a longer stay or an afternoon flight, less so for a dawn departure.
Luxury8.8The Westbridge Hotel London Stratford
Refined hotel with upscale rooms, dining, and fitness facilities
Why guests love itI see The Westbridge Hotel London Stratford as a comfortable base for families flying from London City Airport with some time to spare. The rooms are upscale and air-conditioned, Wi-Fi is free, and the all-day restaurant means meals fit any schedule, which helps with tired children. There is also a bar and a fitness center. The airport is reached by public transport rather than on foot, so I would keep it for evening flights rather than early ones.
Good to know
- 1Book the InterContinental London - the O2 for the only five-star stay on this page, with a spa, an indoor pool and river views.
- 2Allow time for the Thames crossing between Greenwich Peninsula and LCY before an early morning flight.
- 3Choose the Radisson Blu Canary Wharf East when work in the financial district comes first and a spa is a welcome extra.
- 4Stay at The Westbridge Hotel London Stratford for events at the London Stadium or a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
- 5If a pool matters, only the InterContinental has one among these three hotels.
- 6For classic grand hotels, stay in central London and use the Elizabeth line to reach the airport area.