--- title: "Royal Lancaster London vs Park Plaza County Hall London" description: "A five-star facing Hyde Park and a four-star on the South Bank — different star classes, different sides of the river, and the pair that turns up when a reader is choosing between quiet and central." url: "https://travelshifu.com/hotels/london/compare/royal-lancaster-london-vs-park-plaza-county-hall-london/" type: "hotel comparison" reviewed_on: "2026-08-06" source: "TravelShifu" --- # Royal Lancaster London vs Park Plaza County Hall London A five-star facing Hyde Park and a four-star on the South Bank — different star classes, different sides of the river, and the pair that turns up when a reader is choosing between quiet and central. ## Why this pair Both are Zone 1, both list family rooms, and both are shortlisted for a first London trip. One buys you a park and a quieter night; the other buys you the London Eye on the doorstep. That is a real decision, which is why the page exists. ## Verdict Royal Lancaster if you want a quieter five-star and can live without the South Bank on the doorstep; Park Plaza County Hall if the London Eye walk matters more than the cleanliness score — and inspect the room on arrival either way at County Hall. The star class and the guest sample both lean one way. The Royal Lancaster is a five-star scoring 10.0 out of 10 from 7,385 reviews; Park Plaza County Hall is a four-star at 9.0 from 15,906. The larger sample belongs to County Hall, but the higher score and the higher classification sit with the park hotel. Cleanliness is the sharpest gap on the board. our hotel data provider scores the Royal Lancaster 10.0 and County Hall 6.89 — the lowest single category figure we hold on any property — and County Hall carries a written cleanliness complaint alongside inconsistency in service and room assignment problems. The Royal Lancaster’s complaints are a limited gym and a breakfast menu guests wanted larger. Position is a genuine trade. The Royal Lancaster faces Hyde Park at 0.1 km, with Paddington 1.0 km for Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line arrivals. County Hall is 0.1 km from the London Eye, 0.6 km from the Houses of Parliament and 0.5 km from Waterloo — a first sightseeing week done almost entirely on foot. Both check in from 03:00 PM and out by 12:00 PM. County Hall does not publish a latest arrival time; the Royal Lancaster accepts check-in until midnight. Pets are allowed at both. **Best for:** - Choosing between a park-side five-star and a South Bank four-star - Families weighing a quiet base against a walkable sightseeing address **Not for:** - Anyone who has already decided they need the London Eye outside the window - Travellers who need a reliably spotless room and will not inspect on arrival at County Hall ## Head to head | Criterion | Royal Lancaster London | Park Plaza County Hall London | Edge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Official classification | 5-star | 4-star | Royal Lancaster London | | Position | Lancaster Terrace, facing Hyde Park. The park 0.1 km, Royal Albert Hall 0.8 km, Paddington 1.0 km. | 1 Addington Street. London Eye 0.1 km, Houses of Parliament 0.6 km, Waterloo 0.5 km. | tie | | Guest score (our hotel data provider, /10 — display only) | 10.0 from 7,385 reviews, as of 12 December 2025 | 9.0 from 15,906 reviews, as of 12 December 2025 | Royal Lancaster London | | Cleanliness (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 10.0, as of 12 December 2025 | 6.89, as of 12 December 2025 | Royal Lancaster London | | Location (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 10.0, as of 12 December 2025 | 9.9, as of 12 December 2025 | tie | | What guests complain about | Limited gym facilities; breakfast menu could be larger | Cleanliness issues; inconsistency in service; room assignment problems | Royal Lancaster London | | Check-in / check-out | From 03:00 PM (latest arrival 12:00 AM), out by 12:00 PM | From 03:00 PM (no latest arrival published), out by 12:00 PM | Royal Lancaster London | | Chain | Independent — our hotel data provider records no chain | Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts | tie | ## Which is better for a family, the Royal Lancaster or Park Plaza County Hall? Both list family rooms. County Hall wins if the trip is built around walking the South Bank — the London Eye is 0.1 km away and Waterloo is 0.5 km. The Royal Lancaster wins if you want a quieter five-star with Hyde Park across the road and a later latest check-in. County Hall’s 6.89 cleanliness score is a reason to inspect the room on arrival. ## Is the cleanliness gap between them as large as it looks? Yes, on our hotel data provider’s numbers: 10.0 out of 10 at the Royal Lancaster against 6.89 at Park Plaza County Hall, both as of 12 December 2025. County Hall also carries a written cleanliness complaint in the same analysis. The location and overall scores on County Hall are still high — this is a good address with a weak housekeeping record, not a bad hotel. --- Canonical HTML: https://travelshifu.com/hotels/london/compare/royal-lancaster-london-vs-park-plaza-county-hall-london/