I have stayed at The Dixon at least half a dozen times for work. When I land in London I need three things: a hotel close to the office, a Marriott, and a room that costs what a work trip should cost. The Dixon checks all three, and it has a story the other hotels around Tower Bridge can’t match. Here is exactly what the Superior King room gives you, why I keep coming back, and the one thing families need to know before they book it.
Why I keep picking The Dixon
The Dixon is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Marriott’s group of one of a kind hotels. That means you still earn and use your Bonvoy points here, which matters when most of your nights are work nights.
I also stay at the Montcalm East, the citizenM by the Tower of London and the Residence Inn by Marriott London Tower Bridge. The Montcalm East and the citizenM are both on the channel. To me, The Dixon feels more spacious and a little more luxurious than citizenM, and more classic than the Montcalm East, which is a lot more modern. That’s my take after staying at all of them, not a ranking.
The building used to be a courthouse
Here is what surprised me the first time. This building used to be the Tower Bridge Magistrates Court and Police Station. The hotel is named after the architect who designed it, John Dixon Butler, and the bar sits in the old courtroom. You feel the history the moment you walk up the grand staircase in the lobby.
Inside the Superior King room
On the booking it’s called the Superior Guest Room with one king bed. The bed is good. I sleep well here, and that matters when the next morning is meetings.
Here is what you get in the main room:
- A king bed across from the TV
- A coffee maker and a tea kettle, with tea and coffee provided
- A corkscrew, glasses and a small mini fridge (and I mean small)
- One armchair and a footstool by the window, with a little side table
- An ironing board between the bed and the bathroom
- A small wardrobe behind the bathroom door where you can hang up your clothes, with the safe at the bottom and a drawer with the hair dryer
There is one armchair by the window, so this is a room for sleeping and getting ready, not for spreading out.
The bathroom
You have your sink, toilet and a walk-in shower, and it’s a nice one. You can use the rain shower on top or the handheld. There is no bathtub in this room. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash are on the wall, towels sit under the sink, there is a plug for your shaver, and you get hand soap and lotion at the sink. The room was clean every time I stayed.
Pro tip: ask for a higher floor
Ask for a higher floor in the tower. I’ve sometimes had a partial view of Tower Bridge, just the tops of its towers peeking out over the rooftops. It depends on the room and the floor, so it’s never a promise, but asking costs you nothing.
The bar, the restaurant and the gym
The cocktails are served in the old courtroom, and the atmosphere is one of a kind. Honestly, I think the cocktails used to be a little better, but I still enjoy coming down here at the end of the day.
When Vika and the kids were in London with me, we stayed at a different hotel near London Bridge. We still walked over here just for the bar and to take some photos by Tower Bridge.
The restaurant and the gym are right here too. Full disclosure, I haven’t eaten at the restaurant or used the gym, so I’m showing them to you, not reviewing them.
The location
It’s convenient and close to everything in central London. You are literally a two minute walk from Tower Bridge and from the Tower of London. You’re also about a 12 to 15 minute walk from Borough Market, so you can easily walk over there, grab some food and grab some groceries.
Is the Superior King right for a family?
I’ve stayed in different variations of this same room. It might have been a different floor, and the layout may have been slightly different. I can honestly tell you this room would not work for more than two people. There’s no extra sleeping space in the Superior King. If you’re two adults and two kids, this isn’t the room for you.
For families, The Dixon offers two other options: a Family Guest Room with a king in one bedroom and two twin beds in a second bedroom, and the Orwell Suite. I haven’t stayed in either one, so I can’t tell you how they work, but those are the two to look at.
Next on the channel is the Executive room, the one with the bathtub, and what changes when you step up to it.
My verdict
It’s clean, the bed is good, the shower is nice, and for one or two people it’s plenty of room. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple and you want to be right by Tower Bridge at a reasonable price, this is where I’d stay, and it’s where I’d bring Vika.
What it costs
I book The Dixon because it costs what a work trip should cost. Rates move with the dates, so check your exact nights on the Marriott Bonvoy app, and remember you can pay with Bonvoy points here too.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Superior King room at The Dixon have a bathtub?
No. The Superior King has a walk-in shower with a rain head and a handheld. The bathtub is in the Executive room.
Can a family of four stay in the Superior King room?
Not comfortably. There is no extra sleeping space, so it works for one or two people. Families should look at the Family Guest Room or the Orwell Suite.
Is The Dixon a Marriott hotel?
Yes. The Dixon is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, so you earn and use Marriott Bonvoy points.
How far is The Dixon from Tower Bridge?
About a two minute walk, and about the same to the Tower of London. Borough Market is about 12 to 15 minutes on foot.
What was The Dixon before it was a hotel?
It was the Tower Bridge Magistrates Court and Police Station. The bar now sits in the old courtroom.
