With no shortage of Hilton hotels to choose from in London, location and price are often the deciding factors when choosing where to stay when visiting the capital as a family.
We recently enjoyed a one night stay at the Hilton London Metropole, the largest Hilton hotel outside of the United States and one of the brand’s most recognisable properties in London.
It had actually been several years since our previous stay back in 2018, before the hotel underwent a major multi-million-pound refurbishment. At the time, we enjoyed our stay and its convenient location near Paddington, but the interiors were beginning to feel a little dated. Since then, the hotel has been completely updated, transforming everything from the guest rooms to the restaurants, lobby and executive lounge.
Returning for the first time since the refurbishment, we were curious to see how much the hotel had changed.
Here’s what we thought of our return to the Hilton London Metropole.
Arriving at the Hotel
Arriving at the HotelThe Hilton London Metropole is an enormous property and its scale is immediately obvious when you arrive.
The building itself dates back to the 1970s and from the outside it’s not going to win any design awards. However, stepping inside reveals just how much the recent refurbishment has transformed the this hotel.
The new lobby area is modern, bright and spacious, with contemporary seating areas, sleek design details and stylish lighting giving the hotel a far more premium feel than before. It’s a significant improvement compared to what we remembered from our last visit.
The Hilton London Metropole is made up of three interconnected wings, with the tallest Tower Wing rising to 24 storeys. Altogether the hotel has more than 1,100 guest rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, and an enormous conference centre.
Because of the hotel’s size, it can initially feel slightly overwhelming when you first arrive. If you’re looking for a quiet boutique hotel experience then this probably isn’t the property for you. However, despite its scale, we found the service throughout the hotel to be excellent and the property works surprisingly well for families.
As Hilton Honors Gold members, we were able to check in at the dedicated Hilton Honors desk. The staff were welcoming and efficient, making the process feel surprisingly personal despite the hotel’s size. They thanked us for our Hilton loyalty and explained the hotel facilities in detail.
We arrived early in the morning, well before the official check-in time, so our room wasn’t ready yet. However, the team explained all the hotel facilities, breakfast arrangements and concierge services before kindly inviting us to relax in the Executive Lounge while we waited.
It was a small gesture, but one that immediately set a positive tone for the stay and made us feel genuinely welcomed.
Family Rooms
For families visiting London, the Hilton London Metropole offers a variety of room types including interconnecting rooms and suites, making it a good choice for larger families.
We booked one of their two queen premium rooms, which turned out to be a great option for our overnight stay.
Many London hotel rooms are often notoriously small for families, particularly in central locations, but the family rooms at the Hilton London Metropole are really spacious. Having two queen beds meant that all four of us could stay comfortably in one room without needing to book two separate rooms, something that can quickly become expensive when visiting London as a family.
The refurbishment has given the rooms a much more contemporary design, with warm wood finishes, neutral tones and soft lighting creating a calm and relaxing space.
Our room featured a large 55-inch smart television, fast Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets and USB charging points, all necessities when travelling as a family with multiple devices.
As you would expect from a 4 star Hilton hotel, amenities included:
- Tea and coffee facilities
- Mini fridge
- Iron and ironing board
- Hairdryer
- In-room safe
- Climate-controlled air conditioning
The window area also included a table which doubled as a desk and seating space. It was a nice place to sit and take in the views across the city. In fact this was one of our favourite aspects of the room, the view itself. Looking out across North London and spotting the famous arch of Wembley Stadium in the distance was a memorable sight, especially in the evening as the city lights started to come on.
When we returned to the room later in the evening we discovered a plate of chocolate cakes waiting for us, a thoughtful welcome gift that made the stay feel even more special.
As you would expect from Hilton, the beds were extremely comfortable and provided a great night’s sleep. Despite the busy location, the room was quiet thanks to effective soundproofing and blackout curtains.
The bathroom had also been fully refurbished and felt clean, modern and well designed. It included a spacious walk-in rainfall shower, marble-effect tiling and the standard Hilton toiletries from Crabtree & Evelyn.
Executive Lounge
The Executive Lounge was another highlight of our stay. Located on the second floor of the Tower Wing, the lounge now occupies the space where the hotel’s swimming pool once stood.
It’s one of the largest executive lounges we’ve visited at a Hilton hotel in London and the design feels stylish yet welcoming, with a mix of lounge chairs, sofas and dining tables creating different areas to relax.
The lounge is open daily from 7am until 10:30pm and offers several food and drink services throughout the day.
Breakfast is served in the morning, followed by afternoon tea between 3pm and 5pm, and evening drinks with canapés later in the day. The evening drinks service is strictly for guests aged 18 and over, but for the rest of the day families are welcome.
During the afternoon it was a great place to return to after exploring London, allowing us to relax and enjoy drinks and snacks in a quieter setting than the busy lobby areas.
Dining
There is a choice of bars and restaurants at the hotel, all of which have been transformed as part of the refurbishment and are totally unrecognisable compared to what was here previously. I really like what the hotel has done with these spaces.
One of the most impressive spaces in the hotel is Bow Bar, located near reception. It has an upmarket boutique-style feel, with a dramatic circular central bar, sleek copper menus and warm lighting creating an inviting atmosphere.
Although we didn’t use it ourselves as we had access to the executive lounge, it looked like a great place to relax with drinks after a busy day in London
Close to the lifts leading to our room was Tyburn Market, a casual café-style area offering quick breakfast options, coffee and grab-and-go snacks. This would be perfect if you’re heading out early for sightseeing.
Before our trip I had heard great things about the dining here and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Both breakfast and dinner during our stay were excellent.
The hotel’s flagship restaurant Tyburn Kitchen is also located on the ground floor and, like the rest of the hotel, has been completely transformed. It now feels modern and stylish while still maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, and really family friendly.
After a long day exploring London, we decided to stay in and have dinner at Tyburn Kitchen rather than heading out again.
The restaurant continues the hotel’s sophisticated yet relaxed vibe and felt like a lovely place to unwind after a busy day in the city. The staff were exceptionally welcoming and attentive from the moment we arrived.
The menu is family friendly but still refined, with a strong focus on fresh British ingredients sourced within around 100 miles of the hotel.
We skipped starters and went straight for mains. I opted for the short rib beef with hasselback potato, while my husband and daughter went for the ribeye steak with triple-cooked chips, which was cooked perfectly and beautifully presented. From the children’s menu, our other daughter enjoyed tomato pasta with fries. All of the mains were as good as they looked and the portions were generous.
For dessert, we indulged a little. We shared the vegan dark chocolate cake. white chocolate cheesecake and the bramley apple and plum crumble with ice cream, a great way to end our meal.
Breakfast
One thing we always look forward to when staying at a Hilton hotel is the breakfast buffet, and the Hilton London Metropole didn’t disappoint.
Before heading out we enjoyed breakfast at Tyburn Kitchen. Breakfast is served buffet style with both full English and continental choices, and a chef is on hand in the open kitchen to prepare omelettes or other egg dishes to order.
There was everything you would expect from a hotel breakfast including cereals, yoghurt, pastries, fruit and all the ingredients for a traditional full English breakfast.
For Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members, breakfast is complimentary and the wide selection means there’s something for every taste whether you’re after a healthy start, a cooked breakfast or something sweet to begin the day.
For guests with access to the executive lounge, there’s also a calmer breakfast option available there, which was actually our preference.
Facilities
While the hotel no longer has a swimming pool, it does offer a well equipped fitness centre located near the Executive Lounge.
The gym includes modern Life Fitness equipment and Peloton bikes, making it easy to maintain a workout routine while travelling.
Families with younger children will also enjoy the hotel’s mascot Hugo the Hedgehog, who features in the “Hugo Hotel Hunt” a fun activity where children search around the hotel for clues.
Location
Location is often one of the most important factors when choosing a hotel in London, and if you’re arriving from Wales or the West of England by train then the Hilton London Metropole is a particularly convenient option.
The hotel is on Edgware Road, a busy street just north of Paddington Station.
From the hotel it’s only a short walk to Edgware Road Underground Station, which serves underground lines including the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Bakerloo lines.
This makes getting around London incredibly easy, although walking down to Paddington was our preference. Within minutes you can be travelling towards the West End for theatres, Oxford Street for shopping, or South Kensington for museums.
As an alternative to the tube, one of the things we particularly enjoyed during this trip was exploring London by bus rather than the underground. The number 6 bus stops close to the hotel and took us directly to Selfridges on Oxford Street in around 15 minutes.
Travelling on London’s iconic red double decker buses gives you a completely different perspective of the city compared to the tube and thanks to the daily fare cap set by TfL it’s also very affordable. The hotel is also within walking distance of Hyde Park.
Because we arrived into Paddington by train, the hotel’s proximity to the station was especially convenient. The walk took us less than ten minutes and meant we didn’t need to worry about taxis or navigating the Underground with luggage.
Paddington is also where travellers arriving from Heathrow on the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth Line will arrive, making the Hilton London Metropole particularly attractive for international visitors.
Edgware Road itself is an interesting area of London. If I’m being honest, it’s not one of my favourite neighbourhoods and the immediate surroundings feel more functional than picturesque. However there are some convenient amenities nearby. A Marks & Spencer is located directly opposite the hotel which proved useful for snacks and essentials during our stay.
Just a short walk away is Paddington Basin, a modern waterside development that offers cafés, restaurants and pleasant waterside walks. From here you can follow Regent’s Canal towards Little Venice, one of London’s most picturesque hidden gems.
Another new addition nearby is Paddington Square, a recently opened retail and dining destination located just outside Paddington Station.
Is Hilton London Metropole Good for Families?
Based on our experience travelling with two teenagers, the Hilton London Metropole works very well as a family hotel in London.
One of the biggest advantages are the two queen bed rooms, which are surprisingly spacious compared to many central London hotels. Being able to comfortably sleep four people in one room makes the hotel particularly good value for families, during a short city break.
The Executive Lounge is also a great perk if you have access, offering a relaxed place to return to during the day for drinks and snacks.
Combined with its convenient location near London Paddington station, it’s a practical choice for families arriving by train or for travelling around the city.
Overall
Would we recommend staying at the Hilton London Metropole? Absolutely.
While the exterior may not be the most glamorous, the extensive refurbishment has transformed the property into a modern and comfortable base for exploring London.
The combination of large family-friendly rooms, excellent transport links and a fantastic Executive Lounge makes it particularly appealing for families visiting the capital.
If you’re looking for a well-connected London hotel close to Paddington with spacious rooms and good facilities, the Hilton London Metropole is definitely worth considering.
Ready to book?
Two Queen Beds Superior rooms at the Hilton London Metropole start from around £158, with the Two Queen Beds Premium Room starting from around £266 per night or 163,000 Hilton Honors points.
For more information or to book, visit the Hilton London Metropole website