Residence Inn London Bridge With Kids: Honest Family Hotel Review
When I was planning our trip to London with my kids, I wasn’t looking for anything fancy. I just needed something that would make the trip feel manageable.
In a city like London, that’s harder than it sounds.
Between small hotel rooms, long days out, and the logistics of getting around with young kids, the place you stay can either make everything easier or add a lot more friction to your day.
Ultimately, I booked a one-bedroom suite at the Residence Inn London Bridge, and it ended up being one of the most practical hotel setups we’ve had while traveling with kids.
Having the extra space, a full kitchen, and a playground right across the street made a bigger difference than I expected. It gave us a way to slow down, reset when we needed to, and handle the day-to-day parts of travel without everything feeling rushed.
If you’re trying to figure out whether the Residence Inn London Bridge is a good fit for your trip, I’ll walk you through exactly what it’s like to stay here with kids, including what worked, what didn’t, and what I would think about before booking.
Is the Residence Inn London Bridge Worth It With Kids?
Yes, especially if you want a more practical, apartment-style stay that makes traveling with kids in London feel easier.
This hotel worked so well for us because it removed a lot of the friction that usually comes with city travel. Having a separate sleep space, a full kitchen, and space to spread out made a huge difference in how our days felt. We weren’t trying to cram everything into one small room or rush out the door every morning just to eat.
It’s a great fit if:
- You want more space than a typical London hotel room
- Having a kitchen for snacks, simple meals, or picky eaters would make your trip easier
- You like having a slower, more flexible start to your mornings
- You’re traveling with younger kids who still need downtime during the day
It might not be the best fit if:
- You want a more traditional hotel experience with on-site dining and amenities
- You plan to spend very little time in your room
- You prefer a more central, tourist-heavy location
For me, the extra space, flexibility, and calmer neighborhood made London feel much more manageable with kids. It’s not the most luxurious option, but it’s one of the most functional, and that ended up mattering more on this trip.
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Location: Central, Walkable, and Surprisingly Family-Friendly
The Residence Inn London Bridge is in Bermondsey, a quieter, more residential part of Southwark that ended up working really well for us with kids.
It felt close to everything without being in the middle of the chaos. We were within walking distance of places like Tower Bridge, The Shard, and Borough Market, but the immediate area around the hotel was calmer, which made a big difference at the beginning and end of the day.
One thing that stood out to me right away was how safe the area felt. I was traveling alone with my very young kids, and I never felt uncomfortable walking around the neighborhood or taking them to the playground across the street. That peace of mind made a huge difference, especially in a city that felt big and unfamiliar at first.
While not technically part of the hotel, the playground itself ended up being one of the biggest unexpected wins of our stay. It’s fully fenced in, and we used it almost every day. The kids could run around and burn off energy, and I could sit for a minute with a coffee and actually relax. In a city like London, having that kind of easy outdoor space right outside your hotel is rare.
Getting around the city was also very manageable from here. We used the London Underground to get everywhere, and it felt straightforward once we got the hang of it. The location made it easy to head out in the morning, come back mid-day for a break, and then go back out again later without it feeling like a big production.
That ability to reset during the day made a bigger difference than I expected, especially with younger kids who needed downtime.
The Room: More Space Than You’d Expect in London
One of the things I’m always thinking about when I book a hotel with kids is what the sleep setup is going to be like, especially in a big city.
We stayed in a One-Bedroom Open Plan suite, and it had way more space than I expected for London.
There was a double bed, a sofa bed (we paid £10 per day to use it for my toddler), and a full kitchen with a dining table, refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and oven. They even stocked it with plenty of coffee and tea.
The extra space made a bigger difference than I expected. Instead of trying to do everything in one small room, we had room to spread out, eat at the table, and settle in at the end of the day without feeling cramped.
I requested a crib in advance, and the hotel brought up the most padded, comfortable Pack ‘n Play I’ve ever seen. The room itself felt bright and open, with big windows and a layout that worked really well with kids. Everything was also very clean, which is always a relief when you’ve got toddlers crawling around on the floor.
That said, toddler-proofing took a little effort. There were quite a few things within reach when we first walked in, like a phone on a low shelf, sugar packets, decorative dishes, and even wall art my toddler could grab from the couch. Before I could fully relax, I had to move a few things out of the way.
The bathroom only had a shower, no tub. That wasn’t a dealbreaker for us on a short stay, but it’s something to think about if bathtime is part of your usual routine.
This specific room officially sleeps three, but the Residence Inn London Bridge does offer larger setups that can sleep up to five, which is surprisingly hard to find in London.
Overall, having the extra space and kitchen made everything feel a lot more manageable with kids.
Want a closer look at our room? I filmed a quick tour so you can see exactly what to expect.
What It Actually Feels Like to Stay at Residence Inn London Bridge
This Residence Inn felt a little more modern and polished than others I’ve stayed at, but still very laid-back and family-friendly.
It never felt busy or overwhelming, which made a big difference traveling with kids in a city like London. Coming back at the end of the day, it felt calm, easy to navigate, and like a place we could actually settle into for a bit.
Everything was consistently clean, and the staff made us feel genuinely welcome from the moment we arrived. That kind of atmosphere matters more than you expect when you’re traveling with young kids and just trying to get through the day.
It also felt very safe. No matter what time we were coming or going, there was always someone at the front desk, and the building was well-lit and easy to move through. As someone traveling alone with kids, that peace of mind made a big difference.
Getting Around London With Kids From This Hotel
One of the things that made this stay work so well was how easy it was to get around the city from here.
We used a mix of the London Underground, taxis, and walking depending on the day, and all of it felt very doable with kids.
The Underground was easy to navigate once we got used to it, and the location made it simple to get almost anywhere in the city without too much backtracking. On days when I didn’t want to deal with stairs or just needed something quicker, taxis were easy to find and made things much simpler.
We also did a lot of walking. One day, we were dropped off near the Natural History Museum, spent the day making our way through places like Big Ben and Parliament, and eventually walked all the way back toward Borough Market for dinner before heading to the hotel. It was a lot of walking, but completely doable with our stroller and actually one of my favorite days of the trip.
Having those different options made it easier to adjust based on how the kids were doing, which helped take a lot of pressure off.
Amenities and Dining
There’s no full-service restaurant on-site, but the free hot breakfast each morning was honestly one of the best I’ve had at a Residence Inn.
The variety was great, the food was actually good, and having it included made a big difference in a city as expensive as London. We arrived early after an overnight flight, and they even invited us to eat breakfast before we were able to check in, which was such a kind gesture after a long travel day.
There are also plenty of places to eat nearby. One night we picked up food from All That Falafel, a small takeout spot down the block, and brought it back to the room to eat at the kitchen table. It ended up being one of the best meals of the trip, and exactly the kind of flexibility that made staying here so easy.
The free laundry room was another huge win. After a full week of travel with toddlers and just one carry-on, being able to wash everything without tracking down a laundromat made a big difference. I brought the kids with me in the stroller, kept them strapped in while I ran the machines, and even got a free detergent pod from the front desk. There was also a quiet bathroom right next door, which came in handy more than once.
The elevator in the lobby was small and sometimes a little slow, but it fit all of us, including the double stroller and our bags, without needing to fold anything down. In London, that alone felt like a win.
Staying at Residence Inn London Bridge With Kids: Pros and Cons
What I Loved:
- Having a quieter, residential location made it easier to unwind at the end of the day
- The room was extremely clean, which matters a lot with toddlers on the floor
- The Pack ‘n Play they provided was surprisingly comfortable and well-padded
- The sofa bed worked well for my older toddler
- The free breakfast had a great variety and plenty of toddler-friendly options
- The location made it easy to get to parks, transit, and major sights
- Having a playground right across the street gave us an easy way to burn off energy every day
- The extra space and full kitchen made meals and downtime much easier
- The hotel consistently felt safe and welcoming, which made a big difference traveling internationally with kids
- The free laundry and easy elevator setup made day-to-day logistics much smoother
What I Didn’t Love:
- The room wasn’t toddler-proof, so I had to move a few things out of reach before letting the kids explore
- There was only a shower, no bathtub, which made bath time a little trickier
Is the Residence Inn London Bridge Worth It With Kids?
Yes, especially if you’re looking for a stay that makes London feel easier to manage with kids.
For us, the extra space, full kitchen, and quieter neighborhood made a huge difference in how our days felt. We could take breaks, make simple meals, and stick to our own rhythm instead of constantly rushing from one thing to the next. The location was well-connected but still calm, the playground across the street gave us an easy outlet for energy, and I always felt comfortable being there on my own with the kids.
It’s not a luxury hotel, but it’s one of the most practical and family-friendly setups we’ve found in a city like London.
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