Tower Hill / City

citizenM Tower of London

★★★★★

citizenM Tower of London offers one of the best views in the city for a mid-range price. The hotel stands at 40 Trinity Square, directly across from the Tower of London, and its design — playful, efficient and built around what travellers actually use — has made the citizenM brand a favourite among value-conscious visitors who still want style. It is now part of Marriott, and bookable through Marriott's systems, while keeping its distinctive personality. The 370 rooms are compact but cleverly planned: the bed is extra-wide and runs wall to wall beneath a large window, the bathroom pod has a powerful rain shower, and a tablet controls lighting, blinds, temperature, television and mood-lighting colours. Rooms facing the Tower look straight onto the medieval walls and the White Tower — a remarkable thing to wake up to. Downstairs, the open-plan living room replaces the traditional lobby, with design furniture, books, workspaces and a canteen-style bar and café serving food and drinks around the clock; check-in can be done at self-service kiosks with staff on hand to help, and the front desk is staffed twenty-four hours. On the ninth floor, the cloudM rooftop bar has a terrace with sweeping views of the Tower, Tower Bridge and the City's skyscrapers, and it is a great place for a drink even if you are not staying. The location suits sightseers perfectly: the Tower of London and Tower Bridge are across the road, Tower Hill station is beside the hotel, Tower Pier is a few minutes away for river boats, and St Katharine Docks, the Sky Garden and Borough Market are all walkable.

The citizenM concept started with a simple premise: strip away what guests rarely use — porters, room service menus, large desks — and invest in what matters, namely a great bed, a powerful shower, good design and a sociable public space. In London, the brand's properties have become popular with younger travellers, couples and city-breakers who are happy to trade square metres for location and value. The Tower of London property is one of the most popular, partly because of its view and partly because Tower Hill is such an efficient sightseeing base.

Living in it: rooms are small, so pack light and be realistic — two adults with large suitcases will find the space tight for a long stay, and the rooms do not suit families with children beyond infancy. But everything works, the bed is excellent and the soundproofing is good. Ask for a Tower-view room when booking; the difference is significant. The minimum check-in age is eighteen. The living room is lively in the evenings and the cloudM bar gets busy at sunset, so arrive early for a terrace seat.

Base math: Tower Hill station on the District and Circle lines runs west through Westminster and toward South Kensington, and Tower Gateway connects to the Docklands Light Railway for Greenwich. The Uber Boat from Tower Pier reaches Westminster, Greenwich and points between. On foot, the Tower, Tower Bridge, St Katharine Docks and the City are immediately at hand, with Borough Market and the South Bank across the river. Rates are mid-range and fluctuate with demand; book early for weekends. Book citizenM for couples and solo travellers who want a central, stylish and good-value base with a view money usually cannot buy.