Luxury doesn't have to be complicated — that's the idea behind the charming Ruby Lucy Hotel London, part of the Ruby Hotels group. Located on the South Bank, it’s one of the newest hotels by Waterloo Station and a great addition to the area.
I got to test the Ruby Lucy during my most recent trip to London and can gladly report I'd love to stay here again.
Ruby Lucy Hotel London review
Rooms and amenities
The Ruby Lucy London features five different room types across 76 rooms in total, ranging from the smallest and most basic to the biggest and best-equipped:
- Nest
- Cosy
- Lovely
- Wow
- Loft
All of them accommodate up to two people and are equipped with a large double (and extra long!) bed, air conditioning, an ensuite bathroom, and free WiFi.
I stayed in a Lovely room, which, with its 18m², felt very spacious, especially for a hotel room in the center of London. The layout was such that there was ample space to move through the room, with the toilet and rain shower on the right side when entering, and a wardrobe and extended table top on the left side.
The table top was interesting as it served a double purpose: it was both a desk and a sink. I have to admit it did feel a bit weird opening up my laptop next to the sink but at the same time, I could see how much space this setup saved.
The bed was located in the back of the room, by the big window. The sheets were super comfi, the mattress a bit too soft for me. It also would have been nice to have pillows of a different thickness instead of four of the same ones.
Most hotels will give each side of the bed one thinner and one thicker pillow and then you can choose which one you prefer, or combine them.
The entire room had a modern look and feel to it and whilst it was pretty sleek, I very much appreciated the retro-looking Marshall speakers I could connect my phone to so I could dance to my Spotify music in my room.
You can also use the speakers to listen to the Ruby Hotel radio or… hire one of the guitars at the bar to jam away!
Another thing I loved was the big theater dressing room-style mirror surrounded by light bulbs.
Less unique but very much appreciated as well:
- the great range of high-quality toiletries
- the big towels and proper hairdryer
- the hypoallergenic sheets
and the fact that the room was soundproof.
Sounds good? Check prices and availability
The Ruby Hotel Bar
After a good night's sleep, you can enjoy the breakfast buffet in the cozy Ruby Hotel Bar. Consisting of a mish-mash of chairs and tables, this is also a nice place to come for a drink in the evening, enjoy an Italian-inspired bite, get some work done, or people-watch as the bar looks out onto Lower Marsh Street.
I thought this was a funny request.
Aside from the bar, each floor also had a coffee and tea station where you could get a hot drink to take away, drink in your room, or enjoy on the third-floor terrace with a view of the neighborhood. That means there was no kettle in the room, but I did have a nice welcome drink (gin + tonic) and snack (coated nuts) awaiting me in my room upon arrival.
The Staff
The Staff at the Ruby hotel was friendly and helpful. They gladly answered any questions I had and made me feel welcome.
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Location
While I've been to London plenty of times, I'd never stayed on the South Bank before and I'm glad my first time “on the other side” was at the Ruby Lucy.
Lower Marsh Street is a lovely car-free street lined with restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. It also has food stands during the day and a Boots, as well as supermarkets nearby.
Its proximity to Waterloo Station as well as Westminster Bridge makes it a great base to discover London from. The London Eye, the Florence Nightingale Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the 14th century Jewel Tower, the London Aquarium, Big Ben, and the Millennium Bridge are all within walking distance, and other sights are easy to reach by tube or bus.
If you're looking at hotels near Waterloo Station, definitely consider the Ruby Lucy.
How to get there
Thanks to how close it is to Waterloo Station, the Ruby Lucy is also easy to reach from any of the London airports.
From Heathrow Airport, take the Heathrow Express train from terminals 2 or 3 to Paddington station, and from there take the Bakerloo underground line to Lambeth North.
Or if you're arriving at Gatwick airport, take the Gatwick Express train to Victoria Station. And from there, take the 507 bus to Waterloo Station. From there, it's a short walk to the hotel.
I flew to Stansted Airport, from where you can take the Stansted Express to Stratford and then hop on the tube to Waterloo station. However, I decided to treat myself and booked an airport transfer that took me straight to the hotel.
Want to stay at the Ruby Lucy Hotel in London as well?
You can read more reviews and find more information about the different room types, as well as book your own stay here.
Don't forget travel insurance
Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Travel insurance has you covered in case (part of) your trip gets canceled, you get sick or hurt abroad, and sometimes even when your electronics break or get stolen. I always make sure I'm covered on every trip I go on.
Don't have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you're already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great and I can personally recommend them.
PIN FOR LATER
The Ruby Lucy Hotel London offered me three nights in exchange for this article. Note that the brand had no say in what I would write and that I always maintain full editorial freedom. Collaborations like this allow me to travel more… and thus gather more material for you to write about.