Hilton London City
From India to Egypt, eco-friendly hotels are springing up, and the world’s best sustainable hotels evaluate everything from energy use to food waste. When a multinational hotel chain turns green, it may be tempting to cut corners on design and service in order to stay green. The recently opened Canopy by Hilton London City, located just a short walk from the Tower of London, on the other hand, strikes all the right notes, from its East London-inspired décor to the locally produced British food.
Review of Canopy by Hilton London City
It’s difficult to miss this hotel, which has a striking facade made up of 1,900 revolving aluminum fins and was repurposed from two prior structures on the site.
The interiors are a rich celebration of the textiles industry that was once integral to East London, from the golden lobby lifts, which are based on the Holy Trinity in Minories Church, which once stood on the site, to the cozy Retreat, which features an installation by ceramic artist Noe Kuremoto and designer Isabel Fletcher.
The bedrooms
The impact of Whitechapel’s modern art culture begins as soon as you exit the elevator, with the halls covered with colorful paintings depicting East London people. Canopy has 340 rooms, several of which are pet-friendly. We slept in a lovely Junior Suite, which had a king-sized bed, a sitting room, his and her showers, and a 55-inch TV.
The mattresses are constructed of recyclable steel and wood from sustainable forests, but our favorite element of this room was the Peloton that sat next to the bed, allowing you to work out without leaving the room. From the sustainably made products to the water from its refill stations, which is given in recycled glass bottles to reduce single-use plastics, there is an emphasis on the environment throughout.
In the morning, the handmade pink velvet sofa was the ideal location to sit and enjoy our view of the Gherkin and other major icons, complemented by a cup of fresh coffee from the Nespresso machine.
Consume and drink
The breakfast buffet at Canopy by Hilton London City was so large that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to eat everything, including the cute little croissants and cinnamon buns from artisanal bakeries, yogurt bar, freshly cooked English breakfast, and a variety of freshly squeezed juices. If you can’t make it downstairs, you may have breakfast brought to your room, which comes in a recyclable brown bag on which you can write your order.
St Clare’s Coffee & Bar has all the deep sofas and caffeinated beverages I could want for a late-night drink or a quiet place to work throughout the day.
We went to Penny Squares in the evening for some traditional British fare. The restaurant looks formal, with China plates and linen napkins, but this is done on purpose to decrease plastic consumption across the hotel. The cuisine, curated by Executive Chef Walid Farag, is centered on seasonal foods to prevent waste and is gathered from local vendors and community gardens. The slow-roasted Cotswold chicken, as well as the carrot and apple pie for dessert, were also outstanding.
Can’t make up your mind? The attentive crew serves you a line of five samples, all from local craft brewers, ensuring that you’ll find something to satiate your thirst.
The add-ons
Alternatively, while London was freezing when I walked to the streets, Canopy provides complimentary bike rental, making it an eco-friendly alternative to explore the surrounding neighborhood.
The hotel features its own green roof, which is built for passive heating and allows the building to consume less energy, adding to London’s natural areas. It also serves as insulation and a home for species such as bees and insects, and it houses the hotel’s primary energy source: solar panels.
From the minute you walk through the door, Canopy by Hilton London City blends excellent dining, outstanding décor, and unrivaled service. The brand is a fantastic example of sustainability done correctly, and we will be there when Canopy Cannes opens next spring.
