| Holiday Inn Express London Excel is a practical 3-star hotel located at 1 Silvertown Way in London's Docklands area, directly adjacent to the ExCeL London exhibition center and a 5-minute walk from the Royal Victoria DLR station.
This 180-room property offers the brand's standard Express rooms with power showers, work desks, and blackout curtains, plus a complimentary breakfast buffet featuring scrambled eggs, sausages, and baked beans.
The hotel's Great Room serves light meals like fish and chips, while the 24-hour lobby bar stocks London craft beers.
Business travelers benefit from two meeting rooms with natural light, and all guests get free WiFi throughout.
Its prime location makes it ideal for ExCeL event attendees, with the Custom House Elizabeth line station just 8 minutes away providing rapid access to central London.
For dining options nearby, The Fox at Connaught pub serves classic Sunday roasts with Yorkshire puddings alongside a selection of local ales, while Taste of India on Albert Road offers authentic Punjabi dishes like butter chicken cooked in a tandoor oven.
Craft London at North Greenwich presents modern British tasting menus with Thames views, accessible via the nearby Emirates Air Line cable car.
Budget-friendly choices include The Breakfast Club's all-day American pancakes in Canning Town and G Kelly's traditional pie-and-mash shop in Barking Road.
The Queen's Market in Upton Park sells Caribbean jerk chicken and West African ingredients, reflecting East London's multicultural fabric.
Docklands' attractions begin with the Museum of London Docklands at West India Quay, housed in an 1802 sugar warehouse detailing the area's maritime history through interactive exhibits about the slave trade and WWII bombings.
The Thames Barrier Park features futuristic gardens designed to frame views of the flood defense mechanism, while the Royal Docks Adventure offers kayaking through the historic docks.
Aviation enthusiasts visit the London City Airport viewing gallery to watch takeoffs over the water, and the SS Robin—the world's oldest complete steamship—moors at Royal Victoria Dock as a museum.
For contemporary art, The Silo in Millennium Mills hosts rotating installations amidst the abandoned flour mill's brutalist architecture.
Business and official institutions include HMRC's Stratford Office at Endeavour Square handling tax affairs and the London Borough of Newham's headquarters at Building 1000 near the hotel.
Major employers nearby include Canary Wharf Group's offices overseeing the Docklands regeneration and Vodafone's innovation center at The Here East campus in Olympic Park.
Educational facilities include University of East London's Docklands Campus with its striking library suspended over the water and Newham College of Further Education providing vocational courses in electrical engineering near Prince Regent Lane.
Recreational facilities feature Everyone Active at the nearby ExCeL with a 25m pool and climbing wall, while Tobacco Dock hosts boutique fitness classes in its vaulted warehouses.
Cyclists use the Thames Path National Trail along the riverbank, passing the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre where windsurfing lessons are available.
The Terry MacAlmon Recreation Ground offers basketball courts and outdoor gym equipment, and the London Aquatics Centre in Olympic Park provides Olympic-sized swimming pools 15 minutes away by DLR.
Transportation to the hotel is well-served by the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) at Royal Victoria station, connecting to Bank in 20 minutes and Stratford International in 10. The Elizabeth line at Custom House reaches Tottenham Court Road in 15 minutes, while London City Airport is just one DLR stop away (4 minutes).
The Emirates Air Line cable car crosses to the O2 Arena in 5 minutes, offering panoramic views.
River buses from Royal Wharf Pier go to central London piers, and Santander Cycles are available at ExCeL's docking stations.
Drivers can use the hotel's limited parking (£25/day) with advance booking required.
Budget accommodation alternatives include Ibis London Excel Docklands with compact rooms starting at £65 near the DLR tracks, and Travelodge London Docklands offering basic family rooms opposite the ExCeL's south entrance.
Good Hotel London, a floating boutique hostel on the Royal Victoria Dock, provides shared cabins with water views, while St Christopher's Inn at Greenwich has dorm beds near the Cutty Sark.
For longer stays, StayCity Aparthotels in West India Quay feature kitchenettes and laundry facilities.
Guest reviews consistently praise the hotel's proximity to ExCeL events, with many noting the soundproofed windows effectively block aircraft noise from nearby London City Airport.
The complimentary breakfast receives positive marks for its consistent quality, though some mention crowded periods during major exhibitions.
Business travelers appreciate the reliable WiFi and work desks, while families value the free stay for children under 18. Recent complaints focus on the £10 fee for early check-in before 2 PM and occasional slow elevator service during peak times.
The hotel maintains a 4.1/5 average on Google, with most criticism relating to the industrial views from some rooms rather than service quality.
Evening entertainment options range from The Space arts venue in West India Quay hosting indie theater to The Spotted Dog pub in Upton Park featuring live reggae nights.
The O2 Arena across the river presents major concerts (reachable via the cable car), while The House of Dreams museum in nearby Surrey Quays offers quirky evening tours of its outsider art collection.
Seasonal highlights include the London Boat Show at ExCeL every January and the Docklands Christmas Ice Rink at Canary Wharf with views of skyscrapers.
In summary, Holiday Inn Express London Excel delivers functional comfort in a location perfectly tailored for business travelers attending ExCeL events while still providing access to East London's cultural highlights.
The area's regeneration—from the ongoing Royal Docks Enterprise Zone development to the proposed MSG Sphere venue—ensures ongoing transformation.
While the immediate surroundings feel corporate, the hotel's transport links unlock everything from the maritime history at Greenwich to the street art of Shoreditch within 30 minutes.
Budget-conscious travelers might prefer nearby alternatives, but few can match this property's combination of exhibition center access, reliable amenities, and seamless connections to both London City Airport and the Elizabeth line's rapid routes into the West End. | 
