Moxy London Excel

The car park was my main frustration. It costs £15/day and is awkward to reach. It’s easy to turn into the Travelodge car park right next door by mistake. To get to the Moxy’s allocated parking, you need to drive further down past the Hampton by Hilton, then loop around behind the hotel. I spent two nights at the Moxy London Excel. It’s functional, with nothing particularly special, and my room was smaller than others I’ve had for a similar price, though it was okay. Breakfast had quite a few choices, but the scrambled eggs were a little overdone. Nothing major. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Excel to the hotel. Most people would probably take the DLR one stop from Prince Regent to Royal Albert, then walk a short distance. I’m not sure I’d stay again if I had a choice. I’d much rather be at the Holiday Inn next door, which was much nicer.

The restaurant food was unpleasant, with some strange tastes. We tried nachos, pizza, and garlic bread, but none of it was appetising. The cocktails were tasty, though, so I’d stick to drinks there and eat somewhere else next time. We once waited over an hour for a latte because the staff member who took the order had to be reminded three times, despite standing around doing nothing. Our room was clean and well maintained, but quite cold, and there was no way to turn up the thermostat. We were on the top floor, looking mostly at other hotels. The views weren’t great, but the location was very convenient, just a five-minute walk from Royal Albert DLR. My disabled mother and I managed that walk relatively easily. Hotel parking was also cheap and worked well for the duration of our stay.

At 19.58 on Sunday night, two friends and I went to the Moxy bar downstairs for food. They warned us there’d be a 45-minute to one-hour wait, which was fine, though the cashier seemed disappointed that we still wanted to order. I chose a breakfast flatbread with bacon, eggs, and cheese, plus an orange San Pellegrino. I was told to pick the drink from the shelf, but it wasn’t there. After half an hour, our dishes came out ten minutes apart, and mine arrived last. There was no bacon. I asked the waiter before she walked away and was told they’d run out. I’m glad I checked. I said I would have liked to know earlier so I could order something else. She just shrugged and left. They offered nothing to make up for the mistakes, not even an apology. It was deplorable service for a hotel brand. Moxy may not be high-class, but people should still be treated politely and decently.

The reception team were helpful and friendly, and check-in was easy. Our room was clean and comfortable, with a decent bathroom. Breakfast was included in our rate and was great. We liked the open seating and lounge areas for dining and breakfast, and there’s a bar serving drinks and snacks. It was an easy walk to the DLR and Elizabeth lines, and even to Royal Wharf for the Uber boat into the city. We’ll definitely stay again and can recommend it for a London visit.