If you’ve spent any time wandering around the Tower of London or trying to find a decent pint near Fenchurch Street, you’ve probably walked past the massive glass-and-stone facade that used to be the Grange City Hotel UK. For years, it was a staple of the London skyline—a massive, 5-star beast of a building that felt like the center of the business travel universe. But honestly, if you try to book a room there today under that name, you’re going to run into a bit of a digital wall.
Things changed. Fast.
The hotel hasn't disappeared, but the brand basically did overnight. In 2019, one of the biggest deals in the London hospitality sector went down. Queensgate Investments put up roughly £1 billion to acquire the Grange Hotels portfolio, which included the City, St. Paul’s, Holborn, and Tower Bridge properties. It was a massive shakeup. If you were a regular at the Grange City Hotel UK, you might have noticed the signs changing to Leonardo Royal Hotel London City almost immediately. It wasn't just a name change; it was a total shift in how the property operated.
The Reality of Staying at the Former Grange City Hotel
It’s right on Cooper’s Row. You can literally see a preserved section of the Roman Wall from the site. That’s probably the coolest thing about the location, to be honest. You’re steps away from Tower Hill tube station. For a business traveler, it’s gold. For a tourist, it’s a bit corporate, but you can’t beat being that close to the Thames.
The rooms always had this specific "Old London" executive vibe. Think heavy wood, marble bathrooms, and those massive desks that take up half the floor space. Since the rebrand to Leonardo Royal, they’ve been slowly stripping away that slightly dated 90s luxury for something a bit more "Instagrammable" and sleek. But let’s be real—the bones of the building are still very much that classic Grange architecture. It's sprawling.
The spa was always the big draw.
Hidden in the basement is a 25-meter swimming pool, which is practically unheard of in central London unless you’re paying eye-watering prices at the Shard or the Savoy. It’s a proper lap pool. Usually, hotel pools are these tiny dipping troughs where you can’t even do a full stroke without hitting a wall. Not here. The gym and sauna facilities were a massive part of why the Grange City Hotel UK became such a hub for the City’s banking crowd who needed to sweat out a long day of meetings.
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Why the Grange Brand Fell Off the Map
The Grange brand was owned by the Matharu brothers. They were legendary in the London property game. They built an empire of high-end hotels that filled a very specific niche: luxury for people who didn't want the stuffiness of Mayfair but needed the efficiency of the City.
So why sell?
Market dynamics shifted. By 2019, the competition from brands like CitizenM or the Ned—which were cooler, younger, and more focused on "experience" than "marble lobbies"—meant the Grange model needed a massive capital injection to stay relevant. Queensgate saw the value in the real estate itself. By bringing in Fattal Hotel Group to manage the sites under the Leonardo Royal banner, they moved toward a more standardized, international style of service.
It’s sort of sad for those who liked the independent feel of the Grange. It had quirks. Sometimes the service was a bit hit-or-miss, but it felt like a London-grown institution. Now, it’s part of a global machine. It’s efficient. It’s clean. It’s predictable. But it’s definitely different.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
A lot of people think the hotel was failing. That’s not true. It was printing money.
The Grange City Hotel UK was consistently packed because of its proximity to the insurance district and Lloyd’s of London. The rebrand wasn't a rescue mission; it was a strategic pivot. If you're looking for the "Grange" experience now, you're mostly looking for the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City.
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Here is what you actually need to know if you're planning a visit:
- The Roman Wall: It’s still there. You can see it from the terrace. Don't pay for a tour; just walk through the courtyard.
- The Pool: Access is usually included for guests, but check your booking. Some "saver" rates at the new brand might try to charge extra for the "Leisure Club."
- The Breakfast: It's a massive buffet. It's fine. It's typical London hotel fare—soggy mushrooms, decent bacon, and coffee that does the job.
- The Rooms: Ask for a high-floor room facing south. If you're lucky, you get a sliver of a view of the Tower of London, though most rooms look into the surrounding office blocks or the central atrium.
Dealing with the "City" Location
Let's talk about the weekends.
The area around the old Grange City Hotel UK is a ghost town on Saturdays and Sundays. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s incredibly quiet. You can walk around the Tower of London without the usual roar of weekday traffic. On the other hand, finding a decent coffee shop or a grocery store that isn't closed can be a pain. Most of the pubs in the immediate vicinity—the ones that cater to the suit-and-tie crowd—shutter their doors on Friday night and don't open again until Monday morning.
If you're staying here for a weekend break, you’ve got to be prepared to walk toward St. Katharine Docks or Shoreditch to find some actual life.
The Business Facilities and the "New" Vibe
The meeting rooms were always the bread and butter of this property. The Grange City Hotel UK had some of the largest conference spaces in the square mile. We’re talking about massive ballrooms that can hold hundreds of people.
Under the new management, they’ve modernized the tech. The Wi-Fi doesn't drop out like it used to in the mid-2010s. They’ve added more "collaborative" spaces in the lobby. It’s basically turned into a high-end co-working space during the day. You’ll see people with MacBooks and lattes everywhere. It lacks the privacy of the old Grange days, but it’s arguably more functional for the modern worker.
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A Quick Reality Check on Pricing
Is it worth the money?
Prices fluctuate wildly. Because it's so tied to the business cycle, you can sometimes snag a room on a Sunday night for £150, while the same room on a Tuesday will set you back £450. If you are paying the latter, you really have to value the location. You’re paying for the convenience of being five minutes away from your 9:00 AM meeting. If you’re a tourist, there are arguably better-value boutique hotels in Southwark or Bloomsbury.
But you won't get that 25-meter pool anywhere else for that price. That’s the "hook" that keeps people coming back.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
If you’re planning to stay at what was the Grange City Hotel UK, don't just book the first price you see on a travel aggregator.
- Check the Leonardo Royal Site Directly: They often have "member" rates that beat Expedia or Booking.com by at least 10%.
- Specify Your Room Preference: The building has two distinct wings. One feels significantly more modern than the other. Ask for a "renovated" room at check-in.
- Use the "Secret" Entrance: There’s a side entrance near the Roman Wall that is often much faster to use if the main lobby is clogged with a tour group.
- Explore St. Katharine Docks: Instead of eating at the hotel restaurant, walk ten minutes to the docks. It’s much more atmospheric and has a better variety of food, from Turkish to classic pub grub.
- The Tower Hill Shortcut: If you're coming from the tube, don't follow the main road. Walk through the underpass toward the Tower of London and cut through the Trinity Square Gardens. It's much prettier.
The era of the Grange is over, but the hotel remains a powerhouse of the City. It’s a massive, functional, and slightly impersonal machine that serves a very specific purpose. It works. Just don't expect a cozy, boutique experience. It’s built for scale.