Bonjour lecteurs! Fancy a weekend in London over the summer holidays? But you don’t want to have to deal with the usual crowd and tourists that comes with it? Then you need to try the super sleek and trendy Gantry Hotel in Stratford. We’ve actually stayed there before for Grumpy Boyfriend’s birthday. But I was keen to check out its family-friendly features. The Gantry Hotel Review, a trendy choice for parents? That’s what we are here to see.
The Gantry Hotel
Located in the regenerated area of Stratford in East London, The Gantry is part of the Hilton’s Curio Collection portfolio and features about 300 rooms.
Now open for nearly 5 years, you can’t miss its impressive and modern 17-story building right by the Stratford International station.
Not only it’s close by the famous Westfield Stratford City (so mums can have fun shopping), but you are also right in the heart of the Olympic Village. So straight away, The Gantry Hotel seems to tick many boxes…
L’Atmosphère
Un autre plus? C’est l’atmosphère de l’hôtel. Think modern lines that blend well with the history of the site (until 1991, the building was home to Stratford Railway Works).
The urban-luxe aesthetic mixed with les touches modernes works well with a darker palette. C’est chic and it feels luxurious, but also relaxing.
Our Family Room
This time around, we got family connecting rooms. Now, this sounds like such a treat!
Imagine being 10 and having your very own hotel room, including a bathroom and TV. No need to say that Stanley was quick to make himself at home.
Not to worry though, he was close to us thanks to the connecting door. C’est parfait for family stays as the kids can have some indépendance while the parents can also enjoy some peace and quiet.
With such an extensive space, we did not feel cramped and it was rather nice to be able to watch my own TV show while he was next door watching something else. What is there not to like?
Our rooms had it all. From coffer machine to a comfy chaise longue to relax and observe the world go by, it was le pied-à-terre parfait to relax with style in London.
La Terrace
The Gantry Hotel has it all for you to savour some delicious food. While you can check out the STK Steakhouse on the top floor, I recommend you stop by Union Social on the first floor.
As it was a beautiful hot Summer day, we stopped by the terrace of the restaurant for a cocktail or two. It’s the perfect spot to unwind.
Yet again, you will fall in love with the décor which is like an urban jungle. Sit down among the plants and sip your drink in the shade if you just want to chill.
Grab some games to play with the little ones, et voilà! We are currently obsessed with UNO, but do whatever you fancy.
Dining at Union Social
While Union Social is described as a casual restaurant, the food clearly delivered.
Au menu, we started with some beef & chianti croquettes and prawns while Stanley ordered the chicken goujons from the kids’ menu.
As for drinks, there is endless choice and I must say that la sélection de mocktails was on point during a hot weekend.
For mains, we picked the seabass and the pea & shallot ravioli. There is also a bar menu if you fancy just a bite.
Oh and to finish with the most scrumptious tiramisu! Clearly, it was heaven. I was just beaming with excitement.
You also get to eat your petit-déjeuner at the Union Social with une sélection of cold and hot buffet food. From fresh-baked pastries to sausage, bacon, and hash browns, you’ve got everything you need to start the day right. Plus, we got to try some cloudy lemonade. Now, there is no better drink on a hot weekend.
What To Do in Stratford & East London with Kids
You can certainement go into town and see all les sites classiques. But there is quite a few cool locations to check out on your doorstep.
If you are travelling with toddlers, I recommend the Discovery Children’s Story Centre nearby. It’s beautifully curated for kids to have fun for hours and the outdoors playground is quite impressive. We went many times when Stanley was younger and it never got boring.
But this time around, we stopped by the Tumbling Bay Playground. Imaginez un paradis for children of all ages: rock pools, sand pits, tall treehouses, and wobbly bridges, but also slides, swings and plenty of space to run about…
Now, that’s what I call an epic adventure! Plus we walked around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which was lovely to hide in the shade. For older children, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is a must.
Exploring Further Stratford
Bien sûr, there is quite a lot to explore around the East Village. Start with a wander around what feels like an urban jungle.
But you can also hop on the DRL and go to another concrete forest in East London, the London’s Royal Docks.
Children will love the latest exhibition at Immerse London. The Cleopatra Experience was absolutely fabuleuse.
It’s on until July and you get to learn more about the great queen of Egypt. The cutting-edge immersive storytelling will transport you back into time thanks to different VR and metaverse experiences.
Plus, you get to observe real artefacts while learning fun facts about this civilisation. We also did the Pompei Experience last year and it was pretty epic!
The Gantry Hotel – Le Verdict
The Gantry Hotel promises to discover London from une perspective différente.
The contemporary hotel with sweeping views across the London skyline is a real modern gem. If you want to see another side of la capitale without sacrificing comfort and luxury, this is your place.
This is what I call relaxing with style. From le sumptueux décor to the beautiful rooms with comfy beds and spacious shower, it’s such a convenient location.
Whether you want to explore East London and it’s trendy vibes or going more central (hop on the train from Saint Pancras International, et voilà!), The Gantry Hotel is a trendy choice for parents.
The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton, 40 Celebration Avenue, Stratford E20 1DB.
Prices at the Gantry London for a King Gantry Room start from £188.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with the hotel. We were invited to write an honest review. All opinions are my own.
