Ibis London Blackfriars Hotel

Ibis London Blackfriars is housed in an attractive modern building with reflective windows. The chain hotel has a stylish lobby that features a striking red-and-black color palette, wooden floors, and a sleek reception desk under a slew of hanging silver spherical lights. Futuristic gray and red chairs provide seating along the edges of the room. The lobby morphs into the restaurant and bar area, a similarly fashionable spot. The main bar is black and white, illuminated by hanging red lights. Seating includes gray modern armchairs, stylish white circular booths, and green and black chairs. Hanging black lamps, patterned rugs, and statement walls add artistic touches to the scene. This property draws a large number of couples and business travelers, despite its lack of business amenities. Most guests can be seen enjoying breakfast in the bar during the mornings or a late night drink in the evenings. 

Located a five-minute walk south of Blackfriars Bridge, this Ibis hotel is a good base for exploring the city by foot and public transportation. There are some restaurants and bars in the immediate neighborhood, but not a diverse amount of options. Some attractions can be reached on foot, including Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (11-minute walk), Borough Market (14-minute walk), the London Eye (15-minute walk), and St. Paul’s Cathedral (16-minute walk). Other popular tourist sites like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the National Gallery can be reached in about 15 minutes via public transportation. The Southwark Station and a bus stop are just a two-minute walk away, while Waterloo Station can be reached in seven minutes on foot. Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, and Luton Airport are all about an hour away by car or public transportation, while London City Airport can be reached in about 30 minutes by car or public transit.

Unlike the stylish common spaces, guest rooms are minimally decorated in tan and brown hues, making for a rather bland look, but they're clean, modern, and not unpleasant. Hardwood floors and blond wooden headboards and furniture are paired with white linens and brown and burnt-orange curtains -- but the spaces lack any form of artistic decoration. Rooms are small and the hotel maximizes space with built-in shelves, open closets, and built-in benches padded with thin orange cushions. Like the rooms, amenities are basic and include flat-screen TVs, kettles, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi, but no safes. Bathrooms can be a bit of a tight squeeze, but offer ample sink space and mirrors. Showers are small, toilets are cramped between the shower and the sink, and toiletries are limited to wall dispensers. Note that there have been some noise complaints due to thin walls. 

Ibis London Blackfriars is a relatively basic hotel with few property facilities. The highlight is its restaurant and bar. A continental spread with English and American breakfast items is served in the mornings, but it incurs an extra charge. Foggs Restaurant provides international dishes for lunch and dinner seven days a week, while the bar offers a diverse selection of drinks. There is no business center, but guests can utilize a lobby computer with Internet access, though it’s awkwardly placed on the same small desk that reception uses. Wi-Fi is free throughout.