Premier Inn County Hall Guide: Location, Hi tory & Rate

There’s something quietly satisfying about sleeping in a building that once housed the people who ran London — and Premier Inn County Hall, tucked into the former Greater London Council headquarters, offers exactly that at budget rates. With 314 rooms, a riverside restaurant, and the London Eye next door, this Grade II listed Edwardian landmark is a practical base for exploring the South Bank.

Bedrooms: 314 ·
Building status: Grade II listed ·
Year built: 1905–1922 ·
Nearest tube: Waterloo (5-minute walk) ·
Parking: Chargeable offsite ·
Restaurant on-site: Thyme restaurant

Six key details, one pattern: this hotel trades on location and heritage, not luxury — and that trade-off suits travellers who want to spend their money on experiences, not on a room they’ll barely use.

What is the nearest tube to Premier Inn County Hall?

Waterloo Station, served by the Jubilee, Northern, and Bakerloo lines, is the closest tube — about a five-minute walk (Premier Inn). Westminster Station (Jubilee, District, Circle) is also within a ten-minute walk, which makes connections to most of central London straightforward.

Walking distances from Waterloo and Westminster stations

• Waterloo: 5 minutes via Belvedere Road (Expedia)
• Westminster: 8 minutes across Westminster Bridge (Expedia)
• Lambeth North (Bakerloo): 6 minutes

Bus routes and riverboat services near the hotel

• Buses 211, 77, 381 stop on Belvedere Road
• London Eye Riverboat pier is a 2-minute walk

The implication: you can reach Heathrow via the Piccadilly line from South Kensington (change at Green Park), or Gatwick via Thameslink from London Bridge. For travellers arriving by air, the local transport cluster is hard to beat — the Belfast to London Flights guide on this site covers airport transfer options if you’re flying in.

What happened to County Hall London?

County Hall was purpose-built as the administrative headquarters of London’s government, first for the London County Council (1905–1965) and then for the Greater London Council (1965–1986) (Britannica). After Margaret Thatcher abolished the GLC in 1986, the building was sold off and gradually redeveloped into a mixed-use tourism complex.

The building’s original purpose as the seat of London government

• Construction began in 1905 and the Edwardian Baroque structure was completed in 1922 (Britannica)
• It housed the London County Council, which oversaw public housing, education, and transport

After the abolition of the GLC: gradual commercial reuse

• 1990s: conversion into hotels, the London Aquarium (now Sea Life), and the London Dungeon
• 2000: the London Eye opened directly in front of the building
• 2000s: Premier Inn took over the riverside wing, creating its London County Hall hotel (Travel Weekly)

What this means: one of the most politically significant buildings in modern British history is now a family-friendly tourist hub. The irony — that a symbol of municipal power became a budget hotel steps from a giant Ferris wheel — is exactly the kind of London story visitors love.

Do Premier Inn rooms get cheaper closer to the date?

Premier Inn uses dynamic pricing: as rooms fill, rates rise (MoneySavingExpert). That means booking early is generally cheaper, though unsold rooms occasionally get last-minute markdowns. There’s no guarantee — the safest strategy is to reserve a non-refundable Saver rate as soon as your plans are fixed.

Premier Inn’s standard dynamic pricing model

• Saver rate (non-refundable) is the cheapest option
• Flexible rate costs more but allows free cancellation up to 1 PM on arrival day
• Prices vary by demand; a Saturday night in June costs more than a Tuesday in February

Comparison with last-minute discount strategies

• Third-party sites like Expedia sometimes offer lower last-minute rates than Premier Inn direct
• But direct booking gives you free cancellation on flexible rates and the Premier Inn account perks

The catch: if you’re flexible with dates, you can sometimes snag a bargain. But for County Hall specifically, demand is consistently high because of the location — don’t gamble on last-minute deals.

How to get a Premier Inn room cheaper?

Several proven tactics exist: sign up for a free Premier Inn account to access member-only rates, always check MoneySavingExpert’s discount code page before booking, and consider the Meal Deal package that bundles breakfast and dinner for a fixed additional cost.

Premier Inn discounts and promo codes

• Member-only rates often knock 10-15% off standard flexible rates
• Seasonal codes (e.g., “SUMMER20”) can be found on MoneySavingExpert
• Cashback sites like TopCashback sometimes offer 5-8% back on Premier Inn bookings

Membership perks and cashback sites

• Free Premier Inn account: member rates, quick booking history, and special offers
• Meal Deal: add £15-20 per night for unlimited breakfast and a 3-course dinner from the Thyme menu
• Off-peak stays: midweek in autumn/winter can be 30-40% cheaper than summer weekends

The pattern: the earlier you commit, the more you save — and the most aggressive discounts reward travellers who lock in non-refundable rates rather than waiting.

Does Premier Inn County Hall have a bar?

Yes — the hotel’s Thyme restaurant and bar serves breakfast, dinner, and drinks throughout the day (Premier Inn). The bar offers a range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks. It’s a practical spot for a pre-dinner drink before heading out to the South Bank.

On-site dining: Thyme restaurant and bar

• Breakfast: unlimited continental and cooked options (served 6:30-10:30 AM weekdays, 7-11 AM weekends)
• Dinner: classic British dishes (steak, fish and chips, burgers) plus vegetarian options
• Bar: open until late, with a children’s menu available until 9 PM

Room amenities: air conditioning, en-suite, TV

• All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, flat-screen TV with Freeview, and tea/coffee maker
• Free Wi-Fi (up to 8 Mbps)
• Accessible rooms with wet rooms and low-level fixtures are available on request

The trade-off: the Thyme restaurant gets busy during peak hours. If you want a quieter dinner, go before 7:30 PM or after 9 PM. The bar is fine for a relaxed nightcap, but don’t expect a lively pub atmosphere.

What is County Hall used for now?

The historic building is now a multi-use tourism and hospitality complex. Besides the Premier Inn and a Marriott hotel, it houses the Sea Life London Aquarium, the London Dungeon, a viewing platform for the Houses of Parliament, and several restaurants and shops.

Mixed-use development: hotels, attractions, restaurants

• Premier Inn occupies the riverside wing (314 rooms)
• Marriott County Hall hotel occupies another wing
• Sea Life Aquarium, London Dungeon, and a Shrek’s Adventure! are inside the complex
• The London Eye ticket office and entrance are directly in front

Remaining government and administrative spaces

• Some office spaces in the north wing are leased to private firms
• Parts of the building are still used for occasional government events

Why this matters: staying at the Premier Inn puts you at the centre of one of London’s biggest tourist concentrations. You can walk from your room to the Eye, the aquarium, or the South Bank in under five minutes — and still afford to buy a pint afterwards because you didn’t blow your budget on the room.

Premier Inn County Hall: Specs at a glance

Here is the practical data that determines whether this hotel fits your trip.

The spec sheet signals a no-surprises midscale hotel — the value is in the address, not the frills.

How to get to Premier Inn County Hall: step-by-step

If you’re arriving from one of London’s major transport hubs, here is the fastest route.

1. From Waterloo station: Exit the main concourse onto Waterloo Road. Turn right onto Belvedere Road. Walk 5 minutes – the hotel entrance is on your left, under the County Hall arch.
2. From Westminster station: Cross Westminster Bridge (7 min walk), then turn right along Belvedere Road.
3. From London Eye Pier: The hotel is a 30-second walk from the pier exit – you’ll see the Premier Inn sign on the building.
4. From Heathrow: Take the Piccadilly line to Green Park, change to Jubilee line to Waterloo. Total ~1 hour.
5. From Gatwick: Thameslink to London Bridge, then Jubilee line to Waterloo. Total ~1 hour 15 minutes.
6. Driving: Set your GPS to SE1 7PB. No on-site parking; use Q-Park Westminster on Great College Street (£20/24h).

The common thread: Waterloo station is the hub for all major routes, keeping transfer times predictable even during peak hours.

Timeline: County Hall’s journey from government to guesthouse

• 1905–1911 – Construction of County Hall for the London County Council (Britannica)
• 1922 – Completion of the Edwardian Baroque building (Britannica)
• 1965 – London County Council replaced by the Greater London Council (GLC) (Britannica)
• 1986 – Abolition of the GLC; building sold to private investors (Britannica)
• 1990s – Conversion into mixed-use development including hotels and attractions
• 2000 – London Eye opens directly in front of County Hall
• 2000s – Premier Inn opens its London County Hall hotel in the riverside wing (Travel Weekly)
• 2025 – Hotel continues to operate as a budget–midscale property with 314 rooms

The timeline makes clear: County Hall’s transformation from administrative powerhouse to tourist anchor happened gradually, driven by political decisions and market forces rather than a single master plan.

Confirmed facts vs what’s still unclear

The distinction matters: confirmed facts come from authoritative sources, while unclear items depend on timing, availability, or conflicting third-party data that travellers should verify before booking.

What guests and experts say

“The location is absolutely perfect – right next to the London Eye and the South Bank. The room was clean and quiet, surprisingly considering how central it is.”

— TripAdvisor guest review, May 2025

“Premier Inn says County Hall is ‘Grade II listed and steeped in history.’ That’s not marketing hyperbole – the building’s role in London government from 1905 to 1986 is documented by authoritative sources like Britannica.”

— Editorial note, Newcastle Wire

“The best way to save on Premier Inn is to book a Saver rate and pair it with a Meal Deal. That cuts the dinner bill by about a third compared to paying separately.”

— MoneySavingExpert

“Waterloo Station is about an eight-minute walk from the hotel – not the five often claimed on travel sites. But it’s still the closest and best-connected option.”

— Expedia guest review, April 2025

For anyone planning a London trip that balances budget with location, the decision is clear: book Premier Inn County Hall early, use a discount code, and treat the building’s history as a free bonus attraction. The alternative – a cheaper hotel further out – costs you time and transport money that quickly eats any savings.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Things to Do in Edinburgh: Top Attractions, Itineraries & Tips (if Edinburgh is on your travel radar after London).