View of the Thames in old London City. Image Credit: The Westin London City
When The Westin London City was built beside the Thames, excavation for the spa uncovered Roman archaeology beneath the site, limiting how far crews could dig. It is a very London problem: even a brand-new hotel can run straight into nearly 2,000 years of history.
Outside, the Thames still slides past Queenhithe, a waterfront used for trade for more than a thousand years. Across the river sits Shakespeare’s Globe. Farther east, Tower Bridge rises above summer crowds, outdoor movies and music along the riverfront.
Few parts of London compress the city’s past and present so tightly. Along this part of the Thames, the old city keeps intruding on the new one, sometimes literally from underground.
A New Hotel in Old London
The City of London may be better known for bankers than bedtime stories, but The Westin has built a surprisingly strong family program around its riverside location.
“Because this is all purpose built, you have all of the modern amenities,” said Laura Rand, senior marketing executive at The Westin London City. That means larger bedrooms, proper air conditioning and fewer of the compromises that often come with staying in an older London building.
Families can book interconnecting rooms, residences with full kitchens or rooms furnished with two double beds, a configuration Rand noted is difficult to find in London.
“We have two double beds, which is very, very nice,” she said. “And so rare.”
Younger guests can borrow scooters and board games, keep track of their London adventures in a Westin Family Travel Journal and use the Heavenly Spa pool during designated family swim times. The hotel also has tipi setups and children’s cooking masterclasses for families who want to add something extra to the stay.
“Even though we have modern fixtures and modern facilities, we’re very steeped in history,” Rand said.
That is especially true at Queenhithe, just outside the hotel, where centuries of river trade once passed through the City. The Thames is never far away, from riverside running routes to the hotel’s south entrance facing the water.
The family programming sits inside Westin’s broader wellness philosophy, built around six pillars: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well. At The Westin London City, that philosophy appears in half- and full-portion Eat Well dishes, lavender balm and the Heavenly Bed for sleep, plus massage guns and yoga equipment in the fitness center.
RunWESTIN ambassador Charlie Watson, a nutritionist, NHS dietitian and 16-time marathon runner, leads guided runs from the hotel.
“True wellbeing isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about creating sustainable habits that support both body and mind,” Watson said. “What I love about The Westin London City is its holistic approach to wellness, where movement, nutrition, recovery and rest are all given equal importance.”
Breakfast at Mosaic is one of the standouts of the stay, thanks to a wide-ranging buffet of hot dishes, pastries, fruit, cereals and made-to-order options. Families can also order from the Westin Eat Well menu.
Summer Along the Thames
By late afternoon, the riverfront between London Bridge and Tower Bridge feels like a neighborhood gathering place. Summer by the River turns London Bridge City into a hub with outdoor films, live music, food and big-screen sporting events through September, all set against views of HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and the Thames.
Visitors can watch films such as The Karate Kid and The Italian Job outdoors at The Clubhouse, catch free lunchtime concerts in the Pocket Garden, and stop for pizza, ice cream or strawberries and cream. The Clubhouse screens major sporting events like Wimbledon, Formula 1, cricket, rugby and horse racing, and the Urban Spoon Riverside Lunch Market runs through Sept. 27.
Evening programming centers on the riverside pop-up. Tuesday film screenings start at 7 p.m. and Saturday DJ sets run from 6 to 8 p.m. Most visits do not require a reservation, which leaves room for spontaneity after a day of sightseeing.
That matters in London, where attraction costs add up quickly. Summer by the River allows for several hours in one of the city’s most recognizable settings at no charge.
London Bridge City stretches across roughly half a mile of riverfront between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, covering 21.5 acres that include More London, Hay’s Galleria, Cottons Centre and No. 1 London Bridge. Festival events are spread throughout the area, so moving between them also means passing HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge rather than disappearing into an enclosed venue.
London From the 35th Floor
About a 20-minute walk from The Westin London City, afternoon tea at TĪNG Restaurant & Lounge inside Shangri-La The Shard does double duty as a sightseeing stop.
By the time afternoon tea arrives on the 35th floor, the London you have been walking through all day is spread out below in one spectacular panorama. St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge line the view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the river threads through the city beneath them.
Staff described the experience as “sightseeing in the clouds,” an apt phrase once the landmarks start lining up from above. The summer 2026 tea is a collaboration with St-Germain, a French elderflower liqueur, reflected in an elderflower spritz and floral pastries. The concept changes quarterly, but the view remains constant.
That combination is what makes TĪNG useful in a family itinerary. Instead of choosing between a meal and another sightseeing stop, families get both in the same place, with enough time to sit down, eat and take in a part of London they have just spent the day exploring on foot.
A weekend along this stretch of the Thames can cover far more than the map suggests. Breakfast beside the water, a walk past centuries of London history, a free outdoor film, and afternoon tea high above the city all sit within a few miles.
That leaves more room for the part of family travel that often gets squeezed out: time to look around, linger over a meal and let London come to you.
The author traveled as a guest of The Westin London City which did not review or approve this article.