Enjoy a very British break at London Marriott County Hall Hotel

With an unrivalled position at the foot of Westminster Bridge, overlooking the River Thames to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the newly refurbished London Marriott Hotel County Hall captures the subtle essence of great British style.

The renovated hotel echoes the building’s incredible history with some quirky and humorous nods to its London location.

It’s an ideal base to stay when exploring the capital given its central location and its position means it’s easily walking distance to many of London’s popular landmarks and sightseeing attractions.

Opening in 1922 as the headquarters of the former London Country Council before first becoming a hotel in 1998, the building’s history has been captured in the redesign, with stylish furnishings and contemporary colour palettes used to lift the décor. The Grade II listed building with vaulted ceilings and wood panelled chambers have witnessed many important British moments throughout the years.

The original wrought iron detailing that is apparent in the building’s entrance and ceremonial gates that lead to the council chamber have been a key inspiration for the design.

The bronze tone in the linear metal work has been re-interpreted into the bespoke cabinetry and ironmongery. With the original building completed in the 1920’s there are nods to Art Deco patterning within the carpet design and bespoke decorative lighting pieces too.

Bold, oak timbers were selected for the colour schemes to create a connection to the listed panelling in the principal corridors and a refreshingly light palette in the guest rooms and public spaces creates harmony between the past and future of the building as well as reflecting its essentially masculine style.

Tradition aside, the refurbishment of the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has included some elements of humour and eccentricity that gives the hotel a quirky, light feel to complete the building’s history.

Corridors are wallpapered with a bowler hat and brolly design, complementing the pocket watch print curtains and yellow blinds, both of which echo London’s business culture.

Every lift lobby in the six-story hotel features a wall decorated with book covers of English publisher Penguin Books, while artworks by local London artists adorn the corridor and guestrooms walls, with subjects including former London Mayor and County Hall occupant Ken Livingstone and Shakespeare’s Globe. Artwork in the guest rooms make fun references to London Underground Stations, such as a dog in a bowler hat, entitled ‘Barkin’, for Barking Station and a fox in a fascinator, entitled ‘Fox’all’, for Vauxhall Station.

Rooms were originally London County Council members’ offices and therefore are larger in size than most normal London hotel guest rooms, averaging 30-45sqm.

There are 206 guest rooms, including 26 suites, set over five floors all of which are air-conditioned and many offer river views and balconies.

The colour theme in the refurbished guest rooms is a blend of dark and light greys, orange and petrol blue, with a variety of textures used in the wallpaper and soft furnishings. Bespoke pieces have been created to follow the building’s design, such as curved sideboards and workspaces, while special attention has been paid to the tiniest elements. The orange armchairs are a tribute to the orange and red leather-upholstered seating used in the former London council chamber and all suites include upgraded bathrooms with mosaic flooring and bespoke wallpaper featuring a historic map of London from the era of the building’s infancy.

The rooms range from classic-style Deluxe Rooms with outstanding views of the Jubilee Gardens, River Thames and the London Eye, to the Executive Big Ben Rooms with views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

There are also 14 Junior Suites and seven Balcony Suites, covering 40 sqm -50sqm with private five sqm balconies, as well as 4 Executive Suites including Lounge access and Big Ben or River Thames view and the prized Westminster Suite, covering 135 square metres, enjoying some of the most spectacular views across the River Thames onto Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The Westminster Suite also has the benefit of a large dining space containing a table for 12 people.

As you would expect from Marriott, there’s 24-hour room service, a private mini-bar, 32-inch flat-screen television, Wi-Fi connectivity, and direct dial voice-mail telephones. Bathrooms have a robe, comfy slippers and complimentary bathroom amenities by British bath and beauty brand Molton Brown. Guests can enjoy complimentary use of the leisure club, featuring a 25m indoor pool and a 6,000 square-foot gym that is spread across two floors with state-of-the art fitness equipment to help you work off the calories after indulging.

The appreciation of all things British doesn’t end there. The hotel boasts a fab Grill bar called Gillray’s Restaurant and Bar plus The Library Lounge offers scrumptious traditional afternoon teas in a delightful and tranquil setting, also looking out on to the River.

Gillray’s Restaurant & Bar is the most English of English dining destinations playing homage to top quality beef. It’s named after James Gillray, the 20th-century English master caricaturist who gained notoriety satirising the politicians of his time.

The menu features nine cuts of steak – bone-out and bone-in – and is all about indulging in great English produce with sweeping views of the embankment. They locally source too with meat hailing from eighth generation butcher O’Shea and fresh fish from Billingsgate Market. The award-winning menu introduces great British favourites from starter to dessert. Indulge in homemade frazzles, tear and shear Yorkshire puddings and a selection of fresh Cornish oysters.

For main course, steak-lovers can enjoy a signature dish Yorkshire Pudding Club, a 150g sliced sirloin steak served with all the trimmings or a traditional roast (served on Sundays) with selection of seasonal vegetables and goose fat roasted Maris Pipers.

Originally the Member’s Reading Room and altered in the 1960s to become the Chairman’s Reception Room, the bar specialises in English gins with more than 100 gins. The showstopper of course, is Gillray’s very own bespoke house gin. Traditional by style but not by taste, it possesses spicy juniper berries to add that extra kick and warming liquorice-root notes.

To celebrate the completion of Big Ben’s milestone conservation project and The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the hotel has rolled out the red carpet with a selection of exciting Big Ben-tastic experiences. From a Big Ben inspired afternoon tea, to limited-edition cocktails, alongside inspiring experience packages that promise not only unmatched views of the neighbouring London landmarks, but also to provide unforgettable moments for the whole family.

A limited-edition gin cocktail commemorates Big Ben’s reveal and the Platinum Jubilee. In 2019, a portion of the bar’s signature cocktail ‘True Reform of Parliament’ was stored in an oak barrel to age. It was left untouched in a mezzanine overlooking the London’s famous landmark for three years where the liquid including Gillray’s Signature Gin aged whilst the Big Ben renovation progressed, developing its character, complexity and marrying new flavour notes. The result introduces a twist on the negroni with mellow and smoky yet subtle nut flavours.

The aged “True Reform of Parliament” cocktail is served in a crystal cut glass and poured over a miniature Big Ben ice cube. In celebration, the cask will be displayed and made available for 70 cocktails only. It’s priced at £29.

In homage to the hotel’s unrivalled, front row views of the iconic Elizabeth Tower, The Library introduces a newly crafted Big Ben Afternoon Tea. Steeped in history, The Library is the original members’ library where bookcases made of English oak support the busts of writers and classical figures including Shakespeare, Milton, Agrippa and Plato with over 3,000 original books to choose from.

The menu features signature pastries including The Elizabeth Tower, an indulgent inside-out chocolate mousse cake in the shape of the world-renowned tower, The Clockface, a panna cotta and rhubarb infused dome – the silvery blue shades of the cake are an ode to the original colour of Big Ben – and The Big Ben, a lemon curd and raspberry cake served on buttery shortbread in the shape of a bell. Served alongside the pastries, are warm sweet and savoury golden raisins and basil scones, and an array of savoury sandwiches including Tea cured salmon created exclusively by London’s oldest smokers H Forman & Sons in beetroot bread, or a crayfish cocktail in a butter brioche bun. To complete the afternoon tea, guests will choose using their sense of smell from a selection of hand-selected teas from The Tea Makers of London, including County Hall’s own tea blend.

For those wanting to gaze at the newly restored landmark in closer detail, binoculars and telescopes will also be available to accompany the afternoon tea experience. It’s great value, priced at £55 per person, £65 with a glass of champagne or £71 with unlimited English sparkling wine and served from 12.00pm to 5.00pm Monday to Sunday.

The hotel’s discovery package includes overnight stays with binoculars to discover every detail of the iconic landmark, a copy of “the Pocket Photographer” mobile travel photography book by Mike Kus to help guests to capture every moment as they explore the London landmarks, a limited-edition surprise Big Ben welcome amenity as well as a Jubilee or Big Ben inspired cocktail.

To keep any little guests occupied while parents snap the perfect shot, they will enjoy an engaging Big Ben activity book and receive a gift to remember their trip to London. Prices are from £795 for the balcony suites, the River Thames view suite, the County Hall suite, the Westminster suite and the executive rooms.

Address: Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB

www.MarriottCountyHall.com

For bookings, please call: +44 (0)20 7902 8000