Review: The Westin London City is a hidden gem in the heart of the city

London’s new wellness hotel which boasts a riverside setting and luxurious spa couldn’t be more of a need in the heart of a bustling area of the city that’s always on the go.

I arrived in London a bit stressed, I’m not good on the tube, so was looking forward to an escape. Usually when I visit the capital my plan list is packed with activities and places I want to visit (Buckingham Palace, the Shard, etc), so it’s never really a calming or relaxing UK break. If I want that I normally book a cottage in Wales or a spa day in Cheshire.

Therefore, London and the word calm has never really been spoken in the same sentence when I’m conveying my recent getaways to family and friends. If I’m being completely honest, I hate travelling in London, it sets my anxiety off and I find the big crowds and the packed commuters, squashed in like sardines on the tube, frightening and anxiety inducing.

I felt that same anxiety creep up on me on the train from Liverpool down to London Euston and I had to keep telling myself that this time it would be different, this time I’m visiting , described as an ideal spot for an indulgent getaway in the heart of the capital.

Arrival, location and first impressions



The Westin London City hotel sign
The Westin London City hotel sign

After getting off at London Euston myself and my partner, Mark, made our way out towards the underground. We had to get a tube from London Euston Square Station, which was just a two minute walk from London Euston, to Mansion House where the hotel was. The tube trip was only ten minutes, and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t that busy.

After stepping off we quickly checked our iPhones for a walking route to the which was just four minutes from Mansion House. We got confused and had to reroute as there were some roadworks taking place nearby.

What immediately struck me was that the hotel actually ran over Upper Thames Street so there were two entrances either side of the road. Part of the building ran across the street, almost like a very posh services, although I was highly doubtful that it would be like Charnock services on the M6 (it really wasn’t).

We found the entrance to the right hand side of us. As we entered the glass doors we were hit by the sense of aromatherapy oils and soft, calming music. A stark contrast to the bustling traffic outside and the noise of diggers up ahead as workmen set about their daily tasks.

My shoulders automatically relaxed from the hunched position of carrying my bag and the friendly concierge greeted us and told us a bit about the hotel including the fact that it’s centred around six pillars of wellbeing: “Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well.”



The Westin London City lobby
The Westin London City lobby

The lobby was beautiful, and the glass entrance and porch were filled with giant flower statues. A connotation that the hotel was one with nature despite its urban surroundings, a further sign too that you were here to relax, this place would be your saviour.

The lobby also had a view which looked onto the River Thames, with the Shakespeare Globe and the Tate art gallery staring directly back. A little to the left, the famous Shard too.

Looking up towards the ceiling I noticed there were cloud-like sculptures and as we entered the black, glossy lifts the aromatherapy scent followed, which wasn’t overpowering. We were greeted by reception on the fourth floor, which was also home to the lounge and Mosaic restaurant. The floor below had the Hithe + Seek bar which offers a party like experience and dinner with a view.

The huge fourth floor was entirely open plan with views of the Thames continuing. After a friendly interaction with the reception staff about our trip down here, we were shown to our hotel room which was on the seventh floor.

The hotel room



Classic room at The Westin London City
Classic room at The Westin London City

Key cards in hand, we walked through the expansive fourth floor, complete with marble tiled floors and modern sculptures, and headed to the lifts. The long hallways, with patterned carpet and dark panelled walls, added a cosy yet mesmerising feel as we headed towards the hotel room.

We had a classic room which contained a modern, marble bathroom, with a huge walk-in shower, an iconic Westin Heavenly king-sized bed, sitting area, a 55inch flat-screen TV, wireless phone charger which was also an alarm clock and a Nespresso coffee machine, as well as a mini fridge, large wardrobe and storage space. The room also included a hairdryer, robe and slippers, safe, desk and iron and ironing board – all the essentials for travelling and staying in the city.

There was also a nice surprise in the room, a message from the hotel written in chocolate with truffles. This added to the welcoming and friendly feel of the entire trip



The chocolate greeting in the room
The chocolate greeting in the room

The lighting and the overall décor in the room was simple yet contemporary, and the bed was extremely comfortable with the pillows being the perfect height and had the correct ‘sinkable’ feeling for me. There was a tall window by the seating area (as you can see in the picture above) but the view was the road outside rather than the River Thames that I was hoping for, but beggars can’t be choosers! Nevertheless the room was comfortable, clean and quiet despite it overlooking the busy road.

I particularly liked the coffee machine and generous portion sizes of herbal teas, as well as the storage space available – myself and my partner usually have to fight for hangers and space but not this time.

The spa



The swimming pool in the spa
The swimming pool in the spa

The riverside hotel, which is part of the Marriott family, is also home to a five-star spa too. Guests are invited to switch off from daily life at their spa, which is the UK’s first Heavenly Spa by Westin, home to a tranquil 12 metre pool (positioned around the remains of a Roman bathhouse), five treatment rooms, relaxation room, thermal suite including sauna, steam room, ice fountain and sensory shower, plus a Westin Workout fitness studio.

After getting unpacked in the hotel room we made our way down to the spa. We were greeted by the spa reception staff who told us our treatment time, showed us around the facilities and handed us grapefruit infused water as we filled out our consultation forms.

The changing rooms were massive, and filled with plenty of lockers, seating areas and mirrors. Robes, towels and flip flops were all located inside the lockers, and to close these over required a four-digit pin of your choosing. The changing rooms also had a female-only steam room inside too, despite there being a steam room already in the spa I thought this was a great touch for female guests who may feel uncomfortable entering the main one.

The spa itself was smaller than one’s I have experienced before, however it didn’t really need to be any bigger because the talking point was the pool and the jacuzzi. The 12 metre pool was flanked by large loungers, big enough to probably fit three people on, let alone two.


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The jacuzzi was warmer than the pool and featured a variation of jets and air pumps to target pressure points and areas of tension on the body. It was a perfect size too, not too big nor small and you didn’t feel squashed if other guess entered, because some I’ve been in at other sites can get a little intimate and uncomfortable if too many enter.

Another room adjoining the main pool area housed the showers and steam, sauna facilities. The different lighting, music and décor added to the experience. I tried out the sauna and the steam room and enjoyed both.



The heavenly spa sauna and steam rooms
The heavenly spa sauna and steam rooms

The experience showers offered different settings such as cold mist and monsoon rain, a lovely temperature lift after releasing toxins in the steam room.

After spending some time in the pool, I was called in for my treatment – a 60 minute Heavenly Massage – by the lovely Katie. I had the full body massage and this was the best part of the entire trip. Katie was so friendly and her dedication to her job really shone through. She did everything she could to make me relaxed, and even offered me fresh slippers because mine got soggy from the pool (woops).

We discussed the types of oils I wanted to have on my body for the massage and if I had any injuries or areas of focus. After choosing the lavender scented oils I stepped onto the heated massage bed. During the massage I fell asleep, despite Katie working through the knots in my back. The calming music and the heated towels all added to the relaxation.

I forgot about my stresses and what I needed to do when I got back form London during my time in this room.



Relaxing with a herbal tea after my massage
Relaxing with a herbal tea after my massage

After the massage I was led into an open treatment room, which had cosy armchairs and loungers, and a stunning chandelier that looked like dripping water as a focal point. The silk curtains surrounding each seating area added a layer of privacy without feeling closed in.

I was handed a herbal tea after the massage to complete the wellness journey and I left the area feeling relaxed but not sleepy. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated while my muscles got used to a new sensation of looseness. Everything felt completely restored, including my mind.

The Mosaic restaurant



Gemma Sherlock and her partner Mark Ward at the Mosaic restaurant in the Westin London City hotel
Gemma Sherlock and her partner Mark Ward at the Mosaic restaurant in the Westin London City hotel

The Mosaic restaurant is located on the fourth floor and has a modern feel throughout, from the leather sofas to the marble tables. The windows that stretch to the right hand side of the restaurant overlook the main road and the offices beyond.

It’s worth noting that the Eat Well menu at this restaurant is all about promoting the wellness of your experience, so the food isn’t designed to overfill or indulge, but to offer tasty cuisine that’s nourishing and delicious, as well as being the right portion size. The restaurant is also home to a juice bar by day and Champagne bar by night.

For starters I opted for the Devon crab croquette with Cavolo Nero puree and sour cream, while Mark went for the ham hock terrine, with beetroots, winter leaves and horseradish. The were three croquettes on the plate, filled generously with crab meat, they had a fishy aroma that wasn’t too overpowering and the puree complimented the dish.



The ham hock terrine
The ham hock terrine

I was a little surprised that Mark chose the terrine as he normally avoids anything with salad, but he was inclined to try because after all we were in a wellness hotel. I was jealous of his plate, so I tried a bit of his too. The ham hock was served cold but was very tasty, seasoned well and the beetroot salad was refreshing and light.

A grilled Onglet steak was brought out for my main course which included sautéed hen of the woods mushrooms, roasted pearly onions and Malbec jus. I wasn’t too sure what to expect as I had never heard of an Onglet steak before ( I don’t get out much) but presumed it was a type of cut as I was asked the normal question, how do you like your steak? Medium rare.

I matched the steak, which was thick not chewy, with a side of herb-roasted new potatoes. The steak didn’t melt in the mouth like I was hoping for but I don’t think that was the main goal here. It was a beautiful piece of meat, with the flavour clinging to your taste buds from every bite, reminding you that you were eating quality-cooked food.

The size of the steak was just enough, and the small pearly onions really made the dish. Each mouthful of these were a burst of flavour, and combining that with the mushrooms and the steak into one forkful was just a dream.



The Onglet steak
The Onglet steak

I later found out that Onglet or hanger steak is a little known cut of beef, that has been savoured in France for years, according to GreatBritishChefs Chef Tom Hunt said of the meat: “It is often ignored by chefs in the UK and left for the butchers pocket. Onglet has a loose grain, that is very tender but only if it’s served rare. If you like your steak well done, then it would best to braise the cut for a long time.”

For dessert I chose the pear Tarte Tatin with cinnamon whipped cream which was absolutely mouth-watering.



pear Tarte Tatin
pear Tarte Tatin

I do have a sweet tooth but as I get older I’m avoiding chocolate so I always go for the menu item that offers something a little different, while also promising to deliver on the sweet front, and this did. Again, it was a perfect size, not too much, although I could of happily eaten more.

The cinnamon and the caramel were a match made in heaven and the pears were cooked beautifully, not too hard, just soft enough with a subtle hint of a crunch. Our meal was followed by cocktails and we left the restaurant feeling satisfied, but not full to the point of bloating. A great end to a relaxing break.

Verdict and overview of stay



Cheers to a amazing stay at The Westin London City
Cheers to a amazing stay at The Westin London City

I couldn’t fault my stay at The Westin London City. Everything was magical. The food, the spa facilities the treatment and the comfort of the hotel room. Staff were professional, friendly and more than helpful with requests.

The location of the hotel is excellent and it can often be missed on the big travel sites. It’s definitely worth a stay here because you’re close to Mansion House underground, a short stroll from the Tate and the Shakespeare’s Globe, a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays, in the London Borough of Southwark. Book tickets .

The hotel is also surrounded by a large span of riverside views for sightseeing and picture opportunities. There’s also nearby pubs along the Thames too which you can pop to, offering local craft ales. From the outside the hotel may not look like much but once you edge closer and venture inside you’ll be sorely mistaken, trust me you will not regret your stay here.

If you’re looking for a relaxing stay, and a different kind of London break then book The Westin London City because you’ll be spoilt for choice. Book a stay .

Rating – 5/5