The hotel benefits from proximity to Waterloo's then Eurostar terminal, trains from Paris coming in past the hotel and giving passengers glimpses of the London Eye, the Thames and other landmarks. Now they creep in though London’s backside to Kings’ Cross - what a shame too that French and Belgians no longer arrive at Waterloo, a name that is so familiar to them. Was the move an example of timidity and political correctness? Given that Kings Cross cannot cope with passenger numbers wasn’t the move premature - especially given that the Eurostar terminal at Waterloo remains empty, our transport planners having intelligently decided not to use it for a year or so (whilst stations in London are closed on safety grounds because they cannot cope with passenger numbers - perhaps we should let the French run our railway system?). No matter, the hotel has not suffered a decline in numbers as a result of the change.

The hotel boasts of much repeat business, and its position is so high profile that it would be suprising if it wasn't busy - the corollary of being able to see all the tourist views is that the hotel can be seen from all those places making it an attractive place for tourists, parliamentarians and others to stay.

It is a shame that having made so much of the view, the hotel puts its restaurant in the underground part of the hotel, and turns the one public space with wonderful views into a function room. The designers originally intended that this function room be the bar and restaurant and in my view the hotel is missing out not only on providing its guests with another compelling reason to come back, but also missing out on all the Londoners who would come to dine here to enjoy the outlook. Quite what the commercial rationale was behind this change I do not understand, as the shortage of function rooms in London ensures a steady use regardless of position (as is the case with the main function rooms here, which are in the basement).

All the suites have the views and until the new Park Plaza on the roundabout at the end of Westminster Bridge is completed (giving the group over 950 additional rooms) these are perhaps the best views to be had of the River and Parliament.

Design is mainstream, and of high quality. Curiously, and perhaps another indicator of a late change of mind on how the hotel should operate, whilst the lift and lobby are of very high quality the same cannot be said of the treatment of the corridors. The absence of mouldings and poor maintenance combine to provide a fairly utilitarian approach for a five star. No moulding on the skirting boards, just a simple rectangular finish which may in itself not be poor quality but when joints gape open and the 'protector' on the wall corners look robust enough to protect from a charging buffalo, the visual effect is of something less than top quality. In addition the plain carpet is showing the track of anything rolled over it, and is badly marked. Broken skirting edges, broken flooring in the lift and a broken mirror behind the reception desk together also betray poor maintenance standards at odds with the standards set within the suites.