Intercontinental London - The 02

The hotel was first opened in December 2015 and in the 6 years since it opened it remains with the crown for the UK’s largest pillar free ballroom in a hotel. Situated on a peninsula overlooking the magnificent Canary Wharf and right next door (literally) to The O2, you couldn’t have picked a more picture-perfect position. Stunning.

And as its only 20 minutes from central London on the underground, the 5-minute walk alongside the Thames from North Greenwich station is not only a nice walk but also very well signposted, and before you know it, you’re in the hotel. It’s worth pointing out that the area directly outside the front entrance to the hotel is covered, so perfect for loading your guests onto a coach in the wet UK weather. It’s all in the detail!

From the moment you enter the hotel via its own private and secure grounds, you know straight away that you’re in somewhere special. The concierge desk also has a lounge so you can relax and choose your next move in real comfort. We loved this.

The reception desk and lobby area are elegant and totally befitting in size and style for an elegant hotel of this size. Very tall ceilings so it feels light and airy as well. From the lobby you can access the Spa & gym, the Arora Ballroom, The O2, and the lovely Meridian Lounge.

After a lovely warm welcome from the reception team (none of your 5-star stuffiness here – which is a good thing!) we were blown away by the beautiful flowers in Meridian Lounge. Another demonstration of the luxury element here for your clients.

Parking: The hotel currently offers limited availability, on a first-come, first-serve basis with a daily fee of £35

Coach / Bus Pick-up Location at hotel: Coaches can also pick up directly outside the hotel and park on the ground too. The hotel is in its own grounds so access onto coaches for your guests can be done in total safety

Number of bedrooms: 453

There are multiple types of bedrooms in the hotel ranging from superior and deluxe to club rooms and suites. We stayed in a deluxe room, and it was lovely. Stylish, elegant, and super spacious. The smallest bedrooms in the hotel are 32 Sq. which, if you know your hotels, is huge. All bedrooms have their own separate shower and bath and are very well equipped. Our room was fantastic, with large flat screen TV, views over the Thames and one of the comfiest beds we’ve stayed in for a long time.

We visited one of the Presidential suites in the hotel (in the interest of research for you guys obviously!) and it was glorious. Amazing views, absolutely massive, two bedrooms, kitchenette, gloriously appointed lounge, dining table, you name it…wow!

Number of floors: 18

Business centre: Yes, on the first floor

Wi-fi: Yes, free and worked very well. There is also the opportunity to pay for faster connections should your event need it.

Fitness & Gym:
Located on the ground floor, the elegance of the Spa & Gym hits you as soon as you walk in. There is a very well-equipped gym with lots of Techno Gym cardio machines and equipment. A very decent size too, much larger than your average hotel gym.

The pool and spa area are lovely and very stylish. The large 17m pool is great for actual swimming and there is also a steam room, sauna and hydro pool complete with jacuzzi and water jets to soothe those aches and pains away. We didn’t want to leave and once lying on one of the day beds that surround the pool it was certainly a case of: Relaxation on. World off.

RESTAURANTS & BARS
There are 3 bars in the hotel and all of them had their own amazing charm and sophistication.

The Meridian Lounge with it’s amazing floral display, just off the main hotel lobby is a very welcoming hub with various snacks, drinks, coffees, and Afternoon Tea on offer. With wall to ceiling windows, you are constantly reminded of that fab view and it’s the ideal spot to catch up on a bit of work or to meet a colleague.

Then there’s the Clipper Bar on the first floor which was if I’d described it as stunning, it would be doing it a disservice. With its nautical theme and wall to wall windows overlooking Canary Wharf, this bar (which you can book for private hire and events) has just become one of our favourites in the whole of London. No other words needed, just check out the pictures.

Then there is the wonderful Sky Bar - the jewel in the crown (and re-opening in Spring 2022). Located on the 18^th floor, you know you’re in for something special and it did not disappoint. Stylish, elegant, funky, and classy – this had the lot. With space for 150 people, it’s large bar was super cool and the seating options are wonderful – especially with ‘those’ views over the Thames. It even has a small terrace in case of nice weather. This can be hired exclusively for your events, and I would recommend it as it’s stunning and your clients would love it. It has been closed for several months, however it will be re-opening to the public in the Spring of this year.

The restaurants here are amazing too. During our stay, we ate at Market Brasserie for dinner and the food, the service, the vibe, the views - were all stunning. Like, seriously stunning. There is also the 2 AA rosette winning Peninsula restaurant – offering a premium dining experience complete with knockout views of Canary Wharf and the River Thames. It also has a private dining suite for up to 24 covers and is currently available for private bookings.

The InterContinental London – The O2 features over 4,500 square metres of purpose-built conference centre and meeting spaces, including the UK’s largest pillar-free ballroom, complemented with a further 19 meeting rooms, both alfresco and indoor, perfect for breakouts, pre-and-post-dinner drinks, and more intimate gatherings.

The dedicated conference centre and event floors have been designed to deliver the optimal meeting environment, combining state-of-the-art facilities, distinctive catering options, unrivalled service, and meeting spaces for events up to 3,000 guests. Social distancing and hybrid events.

Meeting Space Highlight: The Arora Ballroom

With its own separate entrance, the Arora Ballroom not only has its own huge, large reception area on the ground floor (perfect for event registration). Once up the escalators, lifts, or stairs to the first floor and inside the ballroom itself, you are immediately blown away by the sheer scale of the place. As the UK’s biggest pillar free hotel ballroom, there is quite simply multiple ways of configuring the space to suit your conference requirements – 14 different spaces to be precise. It really is fantastic and has been host to many high-profile events including those which require high security levels. It also offers a multitude of audio-visual equipment and lighting options as well as 7.2m high ceiling with plenty of rigging points. Directly outside the ballroom on the first floor is a fantastic pre-function space with knockout view of Canary Wharf & the Thames. An ideal place for coffee breaks, lunches, or drink receptions. Quite simply – wow! The Arora Ballroom is perfect for large dinners, award ceremonies, exhibitions and more – you NEED to check it out!

Size: 3,013 Sq.M
Reception: 3,100
Theatre: 3,100
Cabaret: 1,720
Dinner: 2,520
Location: 1^st floor of the conference centre
Natural light: No
AV Equipment included: Built in screens & projectors, lighting, PA and more upon request

Meeting Space Highlight: Riverview Rooms

Located on the 2^nd floor of the conference centre are the nine Riverview Rooms with their superb flexibility. The perfect place to have your own boardroom meeting or to use a few of them for breakout rooms etc. Once again, configuration is the name of the game with the ability to remove walls and connect them together or to simply open the space up to make the fantastic Riverview Foyer even bigger. There are so many ways to use this space – we loved the options it gives you.

Natural light: Yes
Size: Various from 316 to 570Sq.
Reception: 30-50 in each or can be combined
Theatre: 30-50 in each or can be combined
Cabaret: 16-24 in each or can be combined
Classroom: 12-27 in each or can be combined
Dinner: 20-30 in each or can be combined
Location: 2^nd floor of the conference centre
Private Hire: The space surrounding the suites with the floor to ceiling windows are often used for conferences or for filming
Banqueting set-up: Hot and Cold Buffet Food, as well as Champagne Receptions are easy to set-up here with the stunning back-drop
AV Equipment included: Screen & Projector

Meeting Space Highlight: Arcadia 1 & 2 – Greenwich Suites Conference Centre

Located in the hotel but connected directly just a few yards from the conference centre (via a corridor) are the Greenwich suites – and our favourite there is the Arcadia boardroom. Offering plenty of natural daylight, the whole room can host up to 220 theatre style, or if you split the room into its two sections of 96 cabaret style in each. This room is excellent for board meetings, press conferences, training sessions or as a breakout.

Natural light: Yes
Size: 240 Sq.M
Reception: 200
Theatre: 192
Cabaret: 96
Boardroom: 72
Dinner: 200
Location: 2^nd floor of the hotel
Banqueting Set-Up: Buffet set-up can be provided in the Greenwich Suites Foyer
AV Equipment included: Screen & projector

For meeting room capacities, layouts and further information please click here:
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