InterContinental London — The O2, Greenwich, London

The InterContinental London — The O2 occupies a purpose-built position on the Greenwich Peninsula that makes it one of the most practically useful five-star hotels in London for a specific type of guest: anyone attending an event at The O2 Arena. A private corridor connects the hotel directly to Gate H of the venue, meaning guests can walk from their room to a concert or show without stepping outside, and return afterwards without queuing in the cold. That single feature explains a high proportion of the hotel’s bookings and generates the most consistently enthusiastic reviews it receives.

The hotel is more than an arena adjunct, however. The 453-room property sits alongside the Thames on the western side of The O2, with floor-to-ceiling windows in every room framing views across the river to Canary Wharf and the City. The spa — with a 17-metre indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room — is one of the most complete hotel leisure facilities in London. Kinaara, the Indian fine dining restaurant, holds two AA Rosettes and has developed a following well beyond the hotel’s own guests. And Eighteen Sky Bar on the 18th floor is one of the better-situated cocktail bars in the city, with 180-degree panoramic views of the Thames that justify the premium pricing.

The hotel’s 4.6 TripAdvisor score from over 9,500 reviews reflects genuine breadth of satisfaction. The main caveats are value perception at rack rate for guests not using the full range of facilities, limited and unreliable on-site parking, and noise from event nights filtering into the lower floors. For IHG One Rewards members — and particularly for Ambassador members, for whom this is one of London’s most rewarding InterContinental properties — it offers a strong combination of Diamond Elite benefits, a full-service Club lounge, and the kind of facilities that are absent from most central London hotels at any price.

Location and Getting There

The Greenwich Peninsula location is the hotel’s most divisive characteristic. For guests attending The O2, it is unequivocally the best-positioned hotel in London — the private corridor to Gate H means no queues, no weather, and a two-minute walk from room to seat. For guests visiting London more broadly, it requires more thought. North Greenwich station is a five-minute walk and sits on the Jubilee line, which runs directly to Canary Wharf (one stop, two minutes), London Bridge, Waterloo, Westminster and Bond Street. Journey times to central London are 20–30 minutes. The Jubilee line is one of the more reliable Underground lines, and the connection to the Elizabeth line at Bond Street extends the hotel’s practical reach considerably.

The Thames Clipper river bus service also operates from Greenwich Peninsula, providing a scenic alternative route into central London that many guests find preferable for leisure travel. By car, the hotel is outside the Congestion Charge Zone, which reduces the cost of driving stays relative to central London properties — though the severely limited on-site parking (see below) is a real operational weakness that has generated a significant volume of negative feedback.

Rooms

Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows and is designed around the view — either across the Thames to Canary Wharf and the City skyline, or looking towards The O2 dome. Both orientations are well regarded; the Thames views are considered the premium option and are worth requesting or booking directly. Rooms are generously sized by London standards, with a sitting area in most categories, and are fitted with Hypnos beds, Byredo toiletries, Nespresso machines, pillow menus and 24-hour room service. The bathrooms draw consistently positive comment for the quality of the rainwater showers.

Suites are available in several categories, including corner suites combining river and O2 views, and the Presidential Suite. Entry-level standard rooms are notably larger than their equivalents at comparable-rate central London hotels, which is one of the hotel’s genuine selling points for value-conscious guests who spend time in their rooms. The main room-related complaint across reviews relates to minibar charges appearing on bills unexpectedly, and tea and coffee provisions in some rooms being insufficient for multi-day stays — both noted and being addressed by management.

Spa and Leisure

The spa is one of the most complete hotel leisure facilities in London and a significant draw for both hotel guests and day visitors. The 17-metre indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and 24-hour Technogym fitness centre represent a package that most five-star hotels in central London cannot match — the majority of Park Lane and Mayfair hotels either have no pool or a very small one. The spa décor — gold gilt, blue pearl granite and heavy timbers — has drawn attention in its own right, and the staff consistently receive positive mentions across reviews. Spa day packages are available for non-residents and are a popular weekend product.

The pool temperature is mentioned in a small but consistent proportion of reviews as running cooler than expected; the jacuzzi is universally praised as warmer and more satisfying. The sauna has generated some criticism for being too hot, though management responses suggest this is being monitored. These are marginal complaints relative to the overall quality of the facility, which is genuinely exceptional for a London hotel.

Dining

Kinaara is the hotel’s standout dining proposition. Located on the Executive Floor with views of Canary Wharf and the Thames, it holds two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence and serves contemporary Indian fine dining under Head Chef Imamuddin Khan — a à la carte menu alongside a degustation option and an Indian-inspired afternoon tea branded “Chai by the Shore”, created with the 2024 Bake Off: The Professionals winners. The restaurant has developed a strong independent following on TripAdvisor and is frequently ranked in the top tier of London Indian restaurants. There is an occasional note in reviews about inconsistent quality — particularly at the dinner service — that is worth knowing, but the consensus from recent reviews is strongly positive.

Market Brasserie on the first floor serves the hotel’s breakfast buffet — which receives detailed praise for variety, quality and gluten-free provision — and a European dinner menu. It is the venue where Diamond Elite breakfast benefits are consumed and is well-suited to that purpose. Eighteen Sky Bar on the 18th floor is the hotel’s most distinctive public space: a cocktail lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace producing panoramic Thames views that have made it a popular destination independently of the hotel. Post-concert waits for a table are common on event nights. Clipper Bar on the first floor is the more relaxed everyday drinks option — nautical-themed, all-day, with good views of the river.

IHG One Rewards — Earning on the Stay

Standard IHG One Rewards earning applies: 10 base points per US dollar on eligible room charges, with Diamond Elite earning 20 points per dollar in total. As with all IHG London properties, there is no UK credit card to accelerate earning and no Amex Membership Rewards transfer route. Point value at approximately 0.4p per point produces a modest return. Award rates at this property are dynamic and reflect the hotel’s positioning — event-night redemptions require significantly more points than off-peak stays, which can make midweek or Sunday-night award bookings the most efficient use of IHG points here.

Elite Benefits — What Diamond and Ambassador Get Here

Ambassador at This Hotel

The InterContinental London — The O2 is one of the stronger cases for IHG Ambassador membership in London. The guaranteed 4pm late checkout is a genuine operational benefit on concert nights when guests may want to stay until the evening, and the guaranteed one-category upgrade delivers river views or higher floor rooms that would otherwise be charged at a premium. The Club lounge access resolves the lounge inclusion question that complicates the stay for non-Club room Diamond Elite members. At £175 equivalent per year ($225), the Ambassador annual fee is returned in a single two-night stay through these benefits alone.

The $20 F&B credit per stay at InterContinental properties is modest but consistent — applicable at Market Brasserie, Kinaara or the bars, and useful for offsetting the cost of a drink or part of a dinner on each qualifying stay. Ambassador members receive a dedicated check-in desk at this property which has been specifically praised in reviews.

Practical Notes

Parking: The most consistently problematic aspect of the hotel for driving guests. On-site spaces are first come, first served, very limited, and genuinely unavailable on busy event weekends. Guests who have pre-confirmed parking and arrived to find no spaces have left the most negative reviews. The hotel’s guidance is to use North Greenwich station car park or The O2 car park as overflow. Book a train or take the Jubilee line if attending an event — the park-and-ride problem is real.

Event nights: The hotel’s event-night positioning is its greatest commercial asset but generates a small volume of noise complaints, mostly on lower floors. Upper floors and river-facing rooms are quieter. The Sky Bar queue and Market Brasserie post-concert demand are both real — pre-booking the Sky Bar on event nights is strongly advisable.

Deposit: A £100 damage deposit is required on arrival, collected by credit card and refunded within 14 days of checkout. A small number of reviews note delays with this refund. Keep the paperwork and follow up if it has not been returned within 14 days.