StayAreasIs Royal Docks a good place to stay in London?
Yes, if you're going to ExCeL or flying from London City Airport. The hotels are next to the exhibition halls and the Elizabeth line runs straight to the West End, though evenings are quiet.
Stay here if
- Visitors to exhibitions and conferences at ExCeL
- Anyone flying from London City Airport
- Business travellers working in east London or Canary Wharf
Look elsewhere if
- You want to walk to the classic sights
- You want restaurants and pubs outside your hotel
- You're visiting during a big exhibition and want low prices
Is it safe?
Less street crime than the London average.
Source: data.police.ukHotels in Royal Docks
All Royal Docks hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Sep 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Royal Docks
The Royal Docks are the obvious place to stay if you're going to ExCeL London or flying from London City Airport. The hotels sit along Royal Victoria Dock, next to the exhibition halls, and Custom House station has the Elizabeth line straight to Canary Wharf and the West End. It suits exhibition visitors, business travellers and anyone with an early City Airport flight.
The area is wide, open and modern. Royal Victoria Dock is a long stretch of water lined with hotels, flats and paths, and on calm days you'll see people on paddleboards and open-water swimmers. The cable car swings across the Thames to Greenwich Peninsula, and Thames Barrier Park has gardens looking out over the river barrier.
The downside is that there's not much life when ExCeL is quiet. Restaurants are mostly in the hotels and inside the exhibition centre, evenings are very calm, and the classic sights are a train ride away. During big exhibitions, hotel prices rise and the stations get busy.
What makes the Royal Docks worth considering is how easy they make a work trip. You can walk from your room to the exhibition halls, reach the West End without changing trains, and end the day by the water instead of on a busy main road.
Getting around
- Borough Market36
- Tower of London38
- London Eye39
- Big Ben41
- St Paul's Cathedral41
- Tate Modern42
- Heathrow75
- Gatwick74
- Stansted98
- Luton82
- London City Airport17
- Eurostar (St Pancras)42
Royal Docks questions
Is Royal Docks a good area to stay in London?
Yes, if you're going to ExCeL or flying from London City Airport. The hotels are next to the exhibition halls and the Elizabeth line runs straight to the West End, though evenings are quiet. It suits visitors to exhibitions and conferences at ExCeL, anyone flying from London City Airport and business travellers working in east London or Canary Wharf.
Is Royal Docks safe?
Street crime in Royal Docks is below the city average for London, based on data.police.uk.
How much does a hotel in Royal Docks cost?
A typical double is around $145 a night at a budget hotel, $240 mid-range and $320 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Heathrow to Royal Docks?
About 75 minutes door to door: Elizabeth line from Custom House.
How far is Royal Docks from the main sights?
Door to door from Royal Docks: Borough Market 36 minutes, Tower of London 38 minutes, London Eye 39 minutes and Big Ben 41 minutes.