London, England
The Royal Horseguards hotel is quietly positioned in a listed Victorian building overlooking the River Thames, close to both Trafalgar Square and the South Bank. It has an award-winning restaurant, refurbished bar and outside terrace
Our review
I love the position of this hotel: two minutes from Embankment tube, a short walk over the bridge to Waterloo Station, moments from The Strand and very handy for everywhere else.
Considering it’s so central, it’s also very quiet and in a safe neighbourhood.
Staying on my own, I had an executive double room on the 8th floor overlooking the London Eye and the River Thames. The view is fantastic and worth staying here for that reason alone. But there are lots of other good reasons too. There was a small entrance hallway with a door off to the bathroom with a shower over the bath, television, heated towel rail and heated floor.
The double bedroom had a large wardrobe with proper hangers and a safe at waist height. There was a large desk with ample plug sockets for devices. Tea and coffee making was provided with a note about fresh milk on request. There was a mini bar and useful iPod charger. Bedside lights were on tables some distance from the bed and not really good enough for reading. There was also a card with information about the room on it; far preferable to those large manuals organised in alphabetical order, that I suspect very few people read. The room had a small table and two tub chairs but the space wasn’t really big enough for two people to relax in. For a base for sightseeing, it is fine. For me, it was perfect.
Room service was another small niggle. The toasted sandwich was excellent; what a shame the fries served with it were just fast food staple, and to my mind let the side down a bit. It took an age to be delivered too; maybe I was unlucky, or very hungry.
Breakfast was a real treat, with smart linen on the table and cooked food to order. High quality food, much of it organic also filled the buffet table. I was asked how I liked my egg cooked for my usual Eggs Florentine. This is a first for me. Needless to say, the eggs were perfect. Fresh fruit options included orange and grapefruit segments with the membranes removed and the rest of the buffet looked fresh and appetising. I was a bit surprised that Anchor butter was served in plastic pots; it seemed discordant with the rest of the spread and lowered the tone a bit, I felt. Overall however, it was a very good breakfast.
One thing I noticed – and it’s one of the many reasons I would recommend this hotel – is the genuine friendliness of the staff. The concierge, the check-in girl, the room maid, the waiting staff (who had no clue who I was) were all very pleasant and made me feel at home.
A bit under the radar, the Royal Horseguards deserves consideration for a stay in London, whether on business or for pleasure. It certainly ticked my very demanding boxes.
Rooms
The Royal Horseguards offers around 282 rooms and suites. Rooms combine Victorian features with modern comforts, including Hypnos beds, air conditioning and spa-style bathrooms. Many rooms provide views over the River Thames, gardens or the city, while suites add separate seating areas and enhanced river outlooks.
Food and Drink
Dining centres on One Twenty One Two Restaurant, serving modern British cuisine in an elegant setting with garden and river views. The Equus Bar offers classic and contemporary cocktails in a refined lounge atmosphere, while The Green Parlour and Lounge host traditional afternoon tea in historic surroundings.
Wellness
Wellness facilities include an on-site fitness centre equipped for cardiovascular and strength training, available to guests throughout their stay.
Facilities
- Fitness centre
- Restaurant and bar
- Afternoon tea lounge
- Outdoor riverside terrace
- Meeting and event spaces
- Business centre
- 24-hour reception
- Room service
Location
Situated on Whitehall Court beside the River Thames, the hotel lies between Trafalgar Square and Westminster. Nearby landmarks include the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Banqueting House and the National Gallery, with Embankment Underground Station just moments away.
Getting there
Address: The Royal Horseguards, 2 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EJ
Arriving by train: London Underground – London Charing Cross station is less than five minutes’ walk away and Waterloo just a 10 minute walk away.
Arriving by air: London Heathrow – Located 17 miles (26 Km) 33 minutes by car.London Gatwick – Located 27 miles (43 Km) 55 minutes by car.London City Airport – located 8 miles (12 km) 22 minutes by car.
More information
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* Note: The hotel review was last updated in early 2026. Please let us know if you spot any factual errors.