Many hotels promise iconic views, but it’s certainly true of the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, which quietly opens the curtains and lets some of the most famous sights on London skyline peep in. We arrived just as the afternoon light began to glow. Across the water stood Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, both gleaming in the late afternoon sun, while the enormous wheel of the London Eye rotated slowly just downriver.
The area around the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has a very high concentration of tourist attractions, with the London Aquarium, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market all on the same stretch of riverside promenade. At check-in, we had a wonderful warm welcome from Prakhar: an unexpected complimentary glass of bubbles and a visit to the ‘sweet shop’ to pick up some complimentary treats!
The London Marriott Hotel County Hall itself has that rare quality of feeling stately without being stuffy. The original 1922 architecture is still visible (stone corridors, wooden panels and pediment transoms over doorways, wide staircases, and a sense that Important Decisions were once made here) but the hotel has woven in a lighter, contemporary character. The Ayes and Noes lobbies have retained their names, if not their purpose. Animals in bowler hats in the artworks reflect British humour’s self-aware irreverence and wink at any stuffiness.
A Room With Big Ben Outside
Our room was one of the recently opened King Balcony Rooms with a Big Ben view, introduced at the start of 2025 to the existing London Marriott Hotel County Hall. My first instinct upon entering was to walk straight to the balcony doors and check whether the view met my expectations.
It exceeded them.
Standing outside with the river below, the view stretched directly toward the Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, so close it felt as though you could lean forward and hear the clock ticking. London at night is famously photogenic, but your camera can’t do the moment justice! Boats drift past beneath Westminster Bridge, the wheel of the London Eye glows softly, and the river reflects a slightly shimmering version of everything.
Disclaimer: I will quickly mention here that, yes, Big Ben is the nickname of the bell and the building is Queen Elizabeth Tower. However, no one in London calls it that (not Google Maps, not the hotel and not the residents) and I have made the editorial choice to go with familiarity rather than accuracy throughout this article. Feel free to send me your disapprobation via email, post or on the ‘gram.
Inside, the room continued the same playful nod to British tradition that runs through the hotel. The marble bathroom gleamed reassuringly under more map-inspired wallpaper, the bedding was the sort that encourages you to cancel morning alarms, and the décor balanced subtle Thames-shaped lines with deep orange pops of colour. Freshly refurbished, everything felt crisp without losing the sense that you were staying somewhere with genuine history.
Dinner at Gillray’s Steakhouse
Dinner took place downstairs at Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar, London Marriott Hotel County Hall’s flagship restaurant, named after the famous satirical cartoonist who once delighted in lampooning British politics. The name feels appropriate here: you’re dining with the UK’s parliamentary nexus just over the river. The room carries a confident warmth and Gillray’s obliges with an unapologetically British menu centred around locally sourced steaks.
It would have been irresponsible not to investigate Gillray’s Gin Bar, which has a formidable collection of more than 100 gins. I ordered the Amázzoni Spritz, a bright citrus aperitif made with the gin of the month; Amázzoni is a dry gin with a hint of sweetness, made in Brazil and using local ingredients to the extent that only the juniper berries are imported. My handsome dining partner selected a dirty martini, which certainly hit the spot after a long day.
After being welcomed to the dining room by Tom and seated at our Thames-view table, we were served by Shafin and Saurabh, who were both knowledgeable and charming (one notable moment was being told to “choose your weapon” upon being presented with a selection of steak knives!). Bread arrived in the form of two Yorkshire puddings with horseradish spread, then our starters arrived. I had three baked oysters, served in their shells, then helped my companion eat his steak wedge salad because there was a distinct disparity in the amount of time it took to eat our dishes, and I’m a hungry girl.
The steaks appeared soon after we were appropriately armed: bavette with green peppercorn sauce for me and flat iron with bearnaise for him. Both were exceptionally seared and succulent (I always order steak ‘as the chef recommends’), perfectly paired with a bottle of La Consulta Catena 2019 Malbec from Mendoza. The sides we ordered were fluffy smashed parsley-spiked potatoes, mushrooms with tarragon and creamed spinach, all rich, indulgent and delightful.
Finally, we ordered a warm dark chocolate brownie – cooked to order and served in its skillet with chocolate orange ice cream – and the most curious menu item, a bone marrow crème brûlee. This last dish was striking as it was served in the hollowed-out bone, lightly redolent of salty marrow and wonderfully creamy. Novelty aside though, the chocolate brownie was our favourite.
By this time, the neon lights on the river side of the building were a little incongruous with the classic interior, so we retreated to the room and the privacy of our balcony. Outside, tourists still gathered along the embankment photographing Big Ben, unaware that some of the best views were just a few floors above them.
A Historic London Base
One of the pleasures of staying at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall is its uncanny proximity to everything. Step outside and you’re moments from Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and the river walk along the South Bank.
But the hotel also rewards lingering inside. The historic Library hosts a traditional afternoon tea with river views, and there’s a 25-metre indoor swimming pool and gym. Swimming laps before breakfast beneath the same roof that once housed London’s political leadership was pleasantly surreal. Breakfast itself was served in Gillray’s, with a variety of hot and cold options as part of a set menu. Service was amazing again, with Ankita being kind enough to wrap up some food to take with me as I rushed off into London’s maze of activity.
London has no shortage of luxury hotels for business and leisure visits, but the London Marriott Hotel County Hall manages something a little rarer: it makes you feel briefly woven into the city’s history.
London Marriott Hotel County Hall
London County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7PB
United Kingdom
