Top 10 Hotels in Canary Wharf

Most Canary Wharf hotels are geared to the business traveller, offering the usual amenities expected of big-name city centre hotels and cheap weekend rates.

The best of the bunch is the London Marriott West India Quay, though Novotel is providing it with some serious competition. But there are a number of good alternatives, including serviced apartments, the innovative Point A Hotel (budget prices and tiny but perfectly formed rooms), and the characterful Lansbury Heritage Hotel (a 13-minute walk away, in a Grade II listed building). Here's our selection of the best 10 places to stay.

If money is no object ...

(1) London Marriott West India Quay ($$$$$) Housed in a 30-storey sleek glass building, Marriott's 5-star Canary Wharf offering blends sophistication and service. The spotless rooms come with 300 thread-count cotton and stunning views over One Canada Square and the West India Quay Marina; the public areas include a slick reception desk, the rated G&Tea bar (where head bartender Pasquale Parascandolo serves 150 different gins) and the Manhattan Grill (for everything steak); and the hotel has a great fitness centre and executive apartments with kitchens for longer stays. Room rates are around £450-500 during the week and around £100-150 during the weekend. The Marriott West India Quay is the best joint in Canary Wharf.

A selection of other good business hotels

(2) Novotel Canary Wharf ($$$$) This new, 39-storey, hotel is found a seven minute walk from Canary Wharf's tube station. Offering 313 rooms (including 26 suites), a fully equipped gym and pool, coffee shop and the BOKAN bar and restaurant on its 37th to 39th floors it has everything the business traveller might want. A particular highlight is the 360 panoramic view from the 39th floor roof terrace. Reviews are very positive and comment on the slick interior decor and welcoming service. Rooms at the Novotel are available for about £300-350 midweek and £150 on weekends.

(3) Hilton London Canary Wharf ($$$$) Located just to the south of the Canary Wharf complex, Hilton's Canary Wharf offering gets superb reviews. The most frequent comments concern the clean and spacious rooms and the hotel's friendly and efficient staff. This place may not offer a 39th floor roof terrace, but it is a solid option with the usual amenities that you'd expect from an up-market business brand. Rooms at the Hilton cost around £300 a night during the week and £150 a night at weekends.

(4) Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel ($$$$) This independently-owned hotel was formerly part of the Four Seasons chain. Built in Egyptian style, with a distinctive copper roof, the Riverside offers 132 rooms and suites, restaurants and bars and a health suite and spa. The main selling point is its proximity to the Thames, so guests can watch the ever-changing river from river view rooms, public areas and the superb swimming pool. Service is also highly rated. On the downside, a number of reviewers comment on the somewhat dated decor: be sure to ask for one of the hotel's newly renovated rooms when you book. Room rates range from £300-£350 (£200-£250 on weekends).

(5) ibis London Docklands Canary Wharf ($$) For a budget business option, go for the 87-room Ibis Canary Wharf. Found a 10-15 minute walk from Canary Wharf's tube station, this hotel is located on a busy road. But its small rooms are impeccably clean, it offers flatscreen tvs, power showers and hearty breakfasts, and it is on top of Blackwall DLR station (making it 3 stops from the Excel exhibition centre). Room rates range from £73-170 per room per night.

Serviced apartments

(6) Fraser Place Canary Wharf ($$) Located beside the Blackwall Basin, a 10-minute walk from Canary Wharf tube station, the Fraser Place apartments provide a spacious alternative to hotel living. With studio, 2-bed and penthouse apartments (that sleep up to 6), Fraser Place offers its guests free wifi, an on-site cafe and a gym. The rooms are clean, modern, brightly coloured and have well equipped kitchens and washer-dryers (though there's no AC). Reviewers are pretty positive about this place: comments include "impeccably clean", "in great condition" and "great views". That said, there are a few negative gripes about rude staff. But at £250 per apartment per night during the week and £150 at weekends, don't let this put you off too much!

Something different ...

(7) Point A Hotel ($) Point A Hotelis a small chain of modern budget hotels. The rooms are small but perfectly formed: they have comfortable Hypnos beds, power showers, 40-inch smart TVs and great 'mood' lighting. Located close to the Museum of London: Docklands, just to the north of the One Canada Square tower, this hotel has a raft of bars and restaurants on its doorstep (Note: there's no bar or restaurant on-site). Prices are extremely competitive, starting at £65 per night. Sign up to the newsletter on the hotel's website to get a 10% discount.

(8) Lansbury Heritage Hotel ($$$) If you don't mind walking 10 minutes to the north of Canary Wharf, Lansbury Heritage Hotel may be the perfect option for you. Housed in a Grade 2 listed building, surrounded by leafy parks and quiet residential streets, the Lansbury has a range of rooms (including mezzanine and octagonal tower suites) and has a small bar and spa. Reviewers comment on the "comfortable" and "fully kitted" rooms and friendly staff. Prices range from £140 to £175 per room per night (including breakfast).

(9) O2 Intercontinental Hotel ($$$$) OK. So this hotel isn't actually in Canary Wharf. But the views of Canary Wharf from the Intercontinental at the O2 are absolutely stunning, especially from the 18th floor bar. Plus this hotel has some of the best reviews in London. So if you don't mind getting the tube to Canary Wharf each day, this is definitely an option to consider! The average room rate is about £250 per night (though there are sometimes great midweek discounts).