Novotel London Excel - London, United Kingdom 

Good hotel, bad location for tourists
Posted: Thu, Jul 24 2008
This Novotel hotel is nice and modern. The lobby is very beautiful and airy, and wireless internet is available throughout the public areas. I found the staff to be quite aloof, but they were very efficient. The rooms are furnished in Novotel's new interior 'novation' design, and features a good size bed and sofa. The bathroom is very clean and modern (speakers are incorporated in the bathroom). Drink and food was dreadfully overpriced, and presents something of a problem if you're looking for a cheaper option as there are no shops nearby. The hotel is in a great location if you have business at the London Docklands areas or East London, or obviously visiting the London ExCel for events; however, it is not so great if you're visiting London as a tourist. In the latter case, you'll need to take the train (Docklands Light Railway) or a taxi into central London (this costs 10-15 pounds). Also there is very little to do at night in the immediate area and I would not recommend walking around alone after dark.

Fantastic Hotel with Great Bar, Terrace and Restaurant
Posted: Sat, Jun 21 2008
I write this review for completeness. I have stayed at this Novotel 3 times and always use its bar and restaurant when staying around the London ExCel Conference and Exhibition Centre. I stay in hotels in the close vicinity of the London ExCel Exhibition and Conference centre at least twice a year. I refer you to my user name for reviews of the other hotels I have stayed in at the ExCel location. To get the full feel for this hotel I direct you to my reviews of the Novotel sister 2* hotel IBIS which is in what looks like the same building just split into Novotel 4* and IBIS 2* (both part of the ACCOR group of hotels). This is my favourite hotel and if the price is right I will stay here. If not I stay right next door at the Novotels 2* sister hotel the IBIS and use the Novotel for bar and restaurant facilities. I only stay at the other local hotels if when booking these hotels are already fully booked. The rooms are good but I do not like the bathroom and toilet facilities. These spoil the Novotel for me. The toilet room is too small and cramed and the bath too small for me. The shower is great and the bedroom is spacious with a good desk and chair for doing preparations and paper work etc. Point the TV towards the bath and a speaker in the bathroom comes on so you can hear the TV sound clearly in the bathroom. The hotel bar is fantastic and they have floor walkers so if you are a lone traveller you do not have to loose your seat when going to the bar, just ask a floor walker to take your order and they will serve you at your seat even on the outside terrace. Drinks prices are very reasonable for a hotel bar in a 4* setting. I use this bar in summer and the terrace is fantastic, you can sit outside with uninterupted views of Canary Wharf and watch the planes landing and taking off from London City Airport. At night on a warm summers evening the Canary Wharf skyline all lit up has to be experienced; it is breathtaking. The upper deck restaurant is not cheap but the food is excellent. The bar and restaurant are open to the public so you do not have to be staying here to enjoy the Novotel bar and restaurant experience. This is my number 1 hotel of the 7 hotels right outside the London ExCel.