The Ned

“Great Location in the City!”

Good location, great dining choices- such as busy atrium area with about 8 different restaurants. Room was fine- period style/ old fashioned though a little on the small side. Great buzzy gym.

“Old London experience...”

This hotel is housed in the Midland Bank's old HQ, and one is taken back in time when wandering the wood panelled corridors and rooms - unique and interesting. The central location in The City district near Monument is great. The room styled in a bygone era was comfortable and clean, but just a li… more

This hotel is housed in the Midland Bank's old HQ, and one is taken back in time when wandering the wood panelled corridors and rooms - unique and interesting. The central location in The City district near Monument is great. The room styled in a bygone era was comfortable and clean, but just a little dark. Service from reception to luggage storage was excellent and friendly. A problem with my toilet (which happens) was sorted within the hour. Unfortunately, there is no dining room or breakfast buffet. Meals have to be taken a la carte in one of several restaurants occupying the vast ground floor / lobby. This lobby gets extremely busy from lunch until late but generates good energy and an exciting London vibe. All meals taken were delicious and nicely presented. Overall, a comfortable and interesting stay.

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“Lovely but very superficial and excessive costs!”

We stayed at The Ned for two nights over the April bank holiday. The location is lovely—slightly quieter than central London but still within easy walking distance to places like Borough Market, which we really enjoyed strolling to. The bank holiday did mean quite a few places nearby were closed, w… more

We stayed at The Ned for two nights over the April bank holiday. The location is lovely—slightly quieter than central London but still within easy walking distance to places like Borough Market, which we really enjoyed strolling to. The bank holiday did mean quite a few places nearby were closed, which was a little disappointing, but of course that’s not the hotel’s fault. The hotel itself is undeniably stunning. The building’s history as a former bank really comes through—it feels grand, elegant, and full of character. There’s a fantastic selection of restaurants, and the overall layout is impressive, especially with the live music that creates such a vibrant atmosphere. However, despite all the positives, we probably wouldn’t choose to stay here again. While the live music is a highlight (and one of the reasons we booked), it is constant. On our second night, we just wanted a quieter space to sit and have a coffee, but there didn’t seem to be any dedicated area away from the music. Even late in the evening, it was very loud, with people still dancing. It would make a huge difference if there were a calm, relaxed lounge area for hotel guests to unwind. We also found it difficult to find seating as residents. The main areas were often full of non-guests, and there didn’t seem to be any reserved seating for those actually staying at the hotel. Considering the price point, this felt like something that should be prioritised. Service was mixed. Some staff were genuinely lovely, but there were multiple occasions where we felt slightly judged or unwelcome, which took away from the overall experience. For example, when we went for a late coffee, we were questioned about whether we were staying at the hotel in a way that didn’t feel particularly warm. Similarly, at the Electric Bar, we felt an odd atmosphere when we only ordered drinks rather than food. We also briefly went upstairs to explore what appeared to be the rooftop/terrace area (which we later understood may be members-only, although this wasn’t clearly communicated to us). When we arrived, the staff member at the desk didn’t acknowledge us at all—not even a glance or greeting—which came across as extremely rude and unprofessional. In a hotel of this standard, you would expect at the very least to be acknowledged, even if simply redirected. It added to an overall impression at times of a slightly pretentious and unwelcoming atmosphere. To be fair, there were also some genuinely friendly and helpful staff—the barman, our waiter at Cecconi’s, the luggage team, and the front desk on arrival were all welcoming. But overall, service felt inconsistent, which is disappointing for a five-star hotel. The room itself was nice, and the shower was excellent—definitely a highlight. The bed was comfortable, although the duvet was very thin and the pillows quite flat, which affected our sleep (though this may come down to personal preference). The room also felt quite dark with limited natural light. The pool area was really lovely and larger than expected, especially compared to some reviews we had seen. However, due to how busy it was (likely because of the bank holiday weekend), there were not enough loungers. We went down three times one afternoon and still couldn’t get a space. In the end, we had to wait for someone to leave and share a bed. It felt quite chaotic—almost like you had to “compete” for a space—which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to relax. A booking system or better management of loungers would really improve the experience. One of the biggest downsides was the cost structure. While we expected premium pricing, the number of additional and unclear service charges felt excessive. We noticed multiple service charges added to bills, which weren’t always clearly explained. At one point, we ordered a very simple room service—one main each, a dessert, and a bottle of water—which came to around £75, which felt very high for what it was. Our Sunday lunch at Cecconi’s was delicious, with a fantastic selection of food, and we did enjoy the experience. However, we had booked online at £120 per person and were told on arrival we would receive a complimentary prosecco. Unfortunately, this was later added to our bill, which felt misleading and disappointing. After additional service charges, the total for lunch came to over £300 for two people. While it was a nice experience, the pricing felt excessive for what you realistically consume. Overall, The Ned is a beautiful, lively, and unique hotel with a great atmosphere and excellent food options. It’s a fantastic place to visit for drinks, music, or a special occasion meal. However, as a hotel stay, it didn’t quite meet expectations for comfort, service consistency, or value for money. The experience at times felt quite impersonal and lacking that “looked after” feeling you expect from a five-star hotel—more focused on turnover than customer experience. We’re glad we experienced it—but next time, we’d likely return just for drinks and the music rather than staying overnight

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