The Royal Foundation of St Katharine

Hotels
9.2 (2765 reviews)
2 Butcher Row , London , gb

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Children allowed

Facilities

Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Fax/photocopying
Facilities for disabled guests
Chapel/shrine
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Excellent breakfast
Clean facilities
Cons:
Noisy rooms
Late check-in time
Parking policy unclear

Categories

Cleanliness
9.01
Clean and well-maintained rooms reported, though some noise issues noted.
Service
9.48
Staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly throughout the stay.
Location
9.52
Conveniently located near transport with easy access to central attractions.
Room Quality
8.47
Rooms described as clean but some noise complaints from traffic.
Amenities
9
Great amenities including breakfast options and a café on site.
Value for Money
8.96
Good pricing noted but earlier check-in fee considered expensive.
Food and Beverage
9.51
Breakfast and food quality highly praised by multiple reviews.
Overall Experience
9.68
Overall positive experiences reported by guests, with minor criticisms.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-12 13:37

Property Description

Charming Historic Hotel in Limehouse, London

Tranquil Gardens and Modern Amenities
Set in peaceful gardens, The Royal Foundation of St Katharine offers bright rooms with private bathrooms and tea/coffee facilities. Guests can enjoy the serene surroundings and work desk in each room, with some overlooking the leafy grounds.

Delicious Continental Breakfast and On-Site Cafe
Start your day with a traditional continental breakfast in the spacious dining room, including fresh fruit salad, croissants, and European meats and cheeses. For daytime snacks, visit the on-site cafe for a quick bite.

Rich History and Convenient Location
Established in 1147 by Queen Matilda, this historic hotel is one of the oldest charitable foundations in Great Britain. Explore nearby attractions like Canary Wharf and Tower Hill, both within walking distance.

Book now to experience a peaceful stay at The Royal Foundation of St Katharine!

Important information:

Please note that due to the peaceful environment of the hotel, TVs are not available in the rooms.

For bookings of 5 rooms or more, different terms and conditions may apply.

On-site parking is available and managed by YourParkingSpace company.This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LCY

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible on site (reservation is not possible) and costs GBP 20 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.2
Based on 2765 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.01
Service: 9.48
Location: 9.52
Room Quality: 8.47
Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 8.96
Food and Beverage: 9.51
Overall Experience: 9.68
D
Dimple • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Excellent location for Troxy

Cons:

Its a Christian retreat so you have to be quiet after 8pm! Don't stay hear if you can't ve quiet.

2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • gb
8
Quiet and peaceful location with friendly staff mage for a good visit.
Pros:

Perfect location near to the Troxy venue where I was attending a show

Cons:

Nothing that I didn’t like.

2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
B
Brayn • solo_traveller • nl
7
2026-05-15 • via Nuitee
K
Katy • solo_traveller • gb
1
Sadly a theft from my room spoiled an otherwise lovely stay
Pros:

Beautiful, special place that normally would get a five-star review from me - especially the beautiful chapel - but…

Cons:

My Kindle was stolen from my room during my stay - it and its cover will cost me nearly £200 to replace. I realise this can happen in the best of hotels but in all honesty I can't ignore this in a review. I think the (excellent) Foundation needs to look hard at how they vet their staff or the security of access to door-cards.
The nearby yurt cafe was fabulous, but the community garden right next to the hotel hosted quite a few dodgy-looking guys smoking weed.

2026-05-14 • via Nuitee
M
Massimiliano • couple • it
6
2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • gb
9
Calm oasis
Pros:

Such a calm oasis in a bustling city, so peaceful and relaxing. Incredibly friendly and helpful staff

2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
G
Gonçalo • couple • pt
10
Perfect!
Pros:

Alojamento excepcional, ambiente muito calmo e tranquilo. Um refúgio no centro de Londres!
Excelente localização, exemplar serviço ao cliente, pequeno almoço maravilhoso.

2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
瀬戸 • solo_traveller • fr
8
良かった
Pros:

スタッフが親切で朝食も美味しかった。

Cons:

電車や車の音がちょっとうるさい。

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
J
Janet • couple • gb
10
Peaceful, delightful, green in the heart of London
Pros:

So surprising - a pocket of serenity in busy London. This place has a long history of spirituality and hospitality and I came across it quite by chance. It is so unusual. A beautiful green garden, a room overlooking a stunning chapel, wonderful staff, a peaceful atmosphere, very nice bedroom, tasty breakfast - and a one minute walk to Limehouse DLR and close to the Thames. Go - it is special.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
P
Pepe • solo_traveller • it
9
Pros:

Briliant location, super breakfast, quite rooms to recharge, the garden is a precious gem in central London location. Special mention to Zack in reception for helping me with charger🫶

Cons:

Soft mattress but I survived🙂

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
L
Liam • solo_traveller • gb
4
Small beds
Pros:

Location, bathroom, period style building, outdoor seating, green space

Cons:

I booked a single bed room and the bed is very narrow. Smaller than a standard single bed. The width is around 1 or 2 I ches either side of the pillow

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
M
Martijn • family_with_children • nl
8
2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
A
aussieontheroad • solo_traveller • es
9
An oasis of tranquillity
Pros:

The Royal Foundation is an oasis of peace and tranquillity in an excellent location - located close to Limehouse Station as well as Canary Wharf and its ferry options. The grounds are immaculately maintained, the attached Yurt Cafe offers a good cup of coffee, and the staff are excellent.

This was my second time staying at the property for a retreat, and the quality of the catered lunch and dinner were both of an exceptional standard.

Cons:

The breakfast buffet is of a lower standard than the hot meals, with the same options pedalled out every day. As a diabetic, I did not find much that was both low-carb and palatable. It felt very either/or.

The lack of fridges in even the largest rooms is a bit disappointing, especially given that the on-site restaurant does not offer à la carte dining, as far as I'm aware.

Lastly, my room's bathroom was not as clean as it should have been, with the soap dispenser and the wall around it covered in dried soap.

2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
O
Omar • couple • gb
5
2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
A
Anna • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
J
Jacki • solo_traveller • gb
10
I enjoyed the calm and peaceful space, the garden where I could hear the birds and enjoy the trees etc The staff were ca
Pros:

The tranquility, space and garden

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
S
Shinichi • solo_traveller • jp
9
2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
B
bernd • solo_traveller • de
10
2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
P
Phil • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-05-04 • via Nuitee
F
FREDERIC • couple • fr
6
Bruit urbain
Cons:

Nous sommes des clients fidèles depuis 15 ans et, à chaque fois, on nous attribue une chambre côté extérieur, avec le bruit du métro et de la circulation. On ne nous a jamais proposé de supplément pour une chambre côté intérieur, plus calme, afin de récompenser notre fidélité.

2026-05-04 • via Nuitee