Hotel Review: Mariott, West India Quay, Canary Wharf, London

Strengths: Good location (not central though)

Weaknesses: Expensive

I stayed for 2 nights in Marriott West India Quay in Aug’07 on a Business Trip to London. I paid GBP 195 per might which is awfully expensive compared to any standards and does not add up from a value for money perspective. In half that amount is you get some other hotel offering similar facilities services but it will not have the Mariott Tag on it. In such 5 Stars you just land up paying for the brand and not only for the services they have to offer.

The hotel is in Canary Wharf, which is significantly far from central London. From Heathrow it will take you about an hour and a half to get here and you will have to changeover from the Picadilly Line to the Jubilee Line. In addition the Mariott West India Quay hotel is a significantly long walk from the Canary Wharf Station and if you are tugging along suitcases this may again be a problem. The hotel the is bang opposite the West India Quay station of the DLR (Docklands Railway) so it would be great if you could take the DLR and not the Jubilee Line tube if you have to access this hotel (unless obviously you are coming by cab).

The hotel is awesome absolutely 5 Star, and I had no issues with any of the services. The Corporate offices of Barclays (where I was working then), Citibank and HSBC are a 5 minute walk away and hence most of them people living here are on Business Trips. The room had everything you could ask for from a 5 start hotel. However I did not get a room overlooking the wharf so I was a bit disappointed. Remember to ask for a Canary Wharf facing room when you do your booking so you will have a great view especially in the evening.

The restaurant and the buffet breakfast were awesome as well and no complaints on that front. In I short stay there I visited the gym which had a variety of equipment but I do not think they have a swimming pool.

This hotel is a great pick if it is for a Business Trip paid for by your company and if your office is in canary Wharf. Would never recommend it for people who need to travel to central London frequently.