You’ve finally bagged those tickets. Maybe it’s a sold-out night for Micky Flanagan, or perhaps you’re trekking to North Greenwich for a three-day corporate summit. Either way, the euphoria of the booking is usually followed by a frantic realization: finding hotels at the O2 that don't cost a literal fortune or require a midnight hike through an industrial estate is actually kind of a nightmare if you don't know the layout.
The Greenwich Peninsula is a weird place. It’s a thumb of land sticking into the Thames, and it’s governed by the laws of high demand.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is assuming "near the O2" means "within walking distance." London geography is deceptive. You see a hotel across the water and think, "Perfect!" Then you realize that to get across that water, you need a cable car, a boat, or a deep-dive into the Blackwall Tunnel. If you choose wrong, you're stuck in a forty-minute Uber queue while everyone else is already tucked into bed.
The Luxury Reality Check: InterContinental London - The O2
If you have the budget, the InterContinental is the undisputed heavyweight. It is the only hotel physically attached to the arena via a covered walkway. That’s the dream, right? No coat check, no rain, just a five-minute stroll from your seat to a king-sized bed.
But here is what they don't always tell you: on event nights, the 18th-floor Sky Bar—Eighteen—gets absolutely packed. The views are staggering. You can see the sweep of the river and the glittering teeth of Canary Wharf. It’s beautiful. Yet, the price tag reflects that convenience. You are paying for the privilege of not having to deal with the North Greenwich Jubilee line station, which, after a 20,000-person concert, looks like a scene from a disaster movie.
Some regulars actually prefer the rooms facing away from the river because they’re quieter. The Thames is a working river; tugboats and commuters aren't silent. If you’re a light sleeper, keep that in mind.
Budget Hacks and the "Canning Town" Secret
Most people search for hotels at the O2 and get discouraged by the £300-a-night price points. Here is the trick. Don’t just look at North Greenwich. Look at the Jubilee Line stops.
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Canning Town is just one stop away. One. It takes about three minutes on the train.
In Canning Town, you’ll find the ibis London Canning Town and the Holiday Inn Express. They are often half the price of the hotels on the actual Peninsula. You walk out of the arena, squeeze onto a train for sixty seconds, and you’re at your hotel while the crowds are still shoving each other at the bus stands. It’s the smartest move for anyone who actually wants to save money for the overpriced beer inside the venue.
There’s also the Radisson RED London Greenwich. It’s stylish, a bit "vibey," and technically on the Peninsula, but it’s a 15-to-20-minute walk. On a dry summer evening? Lovely. In a sideways London rainstorm in November? You’ll regret every life choice that led you there. They do have a shuttle, but don't bet your life on its timing when thousands of people are trying to leave at once.
The "Boat Access" Curveball
Have you considered staying in Canary Wharf? It sounds counterintuitive because it’s across the river. But the Uber Boat (Thames Clippers) is a legitimate transport method here.
The Hilton London Canary Wharf or the Novotel Canary Wharf are high-end options that feel much more "London" than the somewhat sterile environment of the Peninsula. You hop on the boat at North Greenwich Pier, and ten minutes later, you’re hopping off at Canary Wharf. It’s probably the most civilized way to end a concert night. No underground tunnels, just the cold river air and the city lights.
Just check the last boat times. They usually run late enough for most shows, but if the lead singer decides to do a three-hour encore of their B-sides, you might be taking the DLR instead.
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What about the Travelodge?
There is a Travelodge London Greenwich. People see the name and book it instantly.
Stop.
Check the map.
It is not "at" the O2. It’s about a two-mile trek. You aren't walking that after standing on your feet for a four-hour gig. If you book here, you’re committing to a bus journey (the 108 or 188) or a pricey short-distance Uber. It’s a fine hotel for the price, but the location name is a bit of a marketing stretch for O2 visitors.
The Reality of Staying in Greenwich Proper
Greenwich is one of the most beautiful parts of London. The Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, the markets—it’s fantastic.
Staying at the De Vere Devonport House or the DoubleTree by Hilton London Greenwich puts you in a historic, leafy neighborhood. It’s a totally different vibe from the glass-and-steel of the O2. However, getting from the O2 back to Greenwich town center at 11:00 PM is a slog. The buses are jammed. The walk is long and goes through some fairly uninspiring industrial stretches.
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If you’re making a weekend of it, stay in Greenwich. If you’re just there for the show and leaving the next morning, stay at the InterContinental or Canning Town. Convenience is king when the lights go down.
A Note on the "Aloft London Excel"
You might see the Aloft pop up in your search. It’s cool, techy, and modern. It is also near the Excel Centre, not the O2. To get between the two, you have to use the IFS Cloud Cable Car.
The cable car is a tourist attraction. It’s fun. It’s also terrifying if you hate heights. Most importantly: it closes. It often shuts down at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM in the winter, and slightly later in the summer. If your concert finishes at 10:30 PM, you cannot take the cable car back to your hotel at the Excel. You will have to take a very long, looping route via the DLR and Jubilee line. Don't fall into the cable car trap unless you've checked the seasonal operating hours on the TfL website.
Why the "Goodman’s Fields" Area is a Dark Horse
If you want to be closer to the city center but still have an easy commute, look near Tower Hill or Aldgate East. From there, you can catch the Jubilee Line from London Bridge or the DLR from Tower Gateway.
The Leman Locke or Hyatt Place London City East are great. You get to enjoy the restaurants of East London rather than being trapped in the "O2 bubble" where every restaurant is a massive chain like Nando’s or Five Guys. Sometimes it's nice to have a real sourdough pizza or a decent independent coffee the morning after a loud show.
Essential Logistics for Your Stay
The O2 isn't just an arena; it’s a shopping mall (Icon Outlet) and a cinema complex. This means the hotels get booked by shoppers and families, too.
- Book 4-6 months out: As soon as a major tour is announced (think Beyoncé or Taylor Swift), the surrounding hotels vanish.
- Check for "Event Rates": Some hotels hike prices specifically on concert nights. Use a comparison tool to see if the "one stop away" trick saves you more than £100. It usually does.
- The Bag Policy: This is huge. The O2 has a very strict bag policy (nothing larger than an A4 sheet of paper). If you’re checking out of your hotel in the morning and going to the show, you must leave your luggage at the hotel or use a service like Stasher. Do not turn up to the arena with a suitcase. You will be rejected.
Actionable Next Steps
Instead of just hitting "book" on the first thing you see, follow this flow:
- Check the Jubilee Line schedule: Make sure there aren't planned engineering works on your specific weekend. If the Jubilee is down, the Peninsula becomes an island.
- Verify the walk: Open Google Maps and use the "Street View" to see the path from the hotel to the North Greenwich station. If it looks like a dark, deserted road under a flyover, ask yourself if you want to walk it at midnight.
- Download the Uber Boat app: Even if you don't stay in Canary Wharf, the boat is a great backup plan if the Tube station is overwhelmed.
- Prioritize Canning Town for value: Look at the ibis or Moxy there first. They offer the best balance of "distance to bed" vs. "cost per night."
- Join the hotel's loyalty program: Even for a one-night stay at the InterContinental or Hilton, members often get free Wi-Fi or late checkout, which is a godsend after a late night.
The O2 is a fantastic venue, but the experience is 100% dictated by how you handle the "post-show crush." Pick a hotel that lets you escape the chaos, not sit in the middle of it. By focusing on the transport links rather than just physical proximity, you'll likely save money and get to sleep an hour earlier than everyone else.