When you go to an event such as C2C Festival and it runs over the course of a few days, the one thing you want is to be staying as close as you possibly can. When C2C first started, there was no hotel located at the actual O2 Arena so there was always a short commute to the nearest hotel.

The Intercontinental – London O2 opened its doors at the O2 Arena in 2016 and has been fully booked during C2C ever since.

With the hotel being a short, sheltered walk to the main doors of the arena entrance it is absolutely ideal and with C2C Festival having events and signings throughout the day from early morning then it is an absolute godsend.

This is the second year running that I have stayed at The Intercontinental – London O2 and each time it just becomes more and more enjoyable. This year has exceeded expectations for me and in one aspect that I will never ever forget.

The Arrival at The Intercontinental – London O2 is always very pleasant. I arrived to a short queue but was instantly greeted and asked if I needed help by the concierge. The reception is manned by three or four staff who work quick and efficiently to meet their guests needs.

With a warm welcome, check in ran smoothly and it wasn’t long before I was in my room which was handy as I was in a hurry to get to dinner plans. The room was to exceptional standards. A corner room with two big windows covering the entire corner walls, the views were spectacular facing the Thames and all the stunning lights of the buildings across the river.

The room was wonderfully clean with a large, comfortable bed with many soft soft pillows that are so comfy you sink in them. There is a lot of space, a desk and chair to get ready at, a lounging chair, tea, coffee, all the essentials and more. The coffee machine is like a Tassimo so it is nice to have a variety of coffee to hand.

The bathroom is always impressive with a bath and a walk in shower that has a large over head. The bathroom is designed almost like a wet room so there is no shower tray just a simple walk in shower.

Each room has a mini bar, a hairdryer, ironing board and iron, a safe a large flat screen television, a phone and more.

If C2C is your annual holiday then I highly recommend spending that bit extra for the comfort, the closeness and also the breakfast. The breakfast is a buffet and something I very much look forward to every morning. Once you are taken to your table you are offered tea and coffee and then free to help yourself to the fine selection of food available to you. The breakfast ranges from all sorts. You have full english, omelettes made to order, fruits, yogurts, pastries and muffins, cereals, pancakes, cold meats and cheeses, smoothies, fruit juices, everything you could think of, you never want to leave and wish you had a big enough appetite to eat it all.

Staff are friendly and helpful everywhere, you feel welcomed, you feel you belong and you feel comfortable which is essentially important.

For me, this hotel is ideal as I managed to pop back now and again throughout the day to get changed, drop things off, have a cup of tea, charge my phone and more.

The Eighteen Sky Bar on the eighteenth floor is a delightful place to socialise. The views are breathtaking, the seats are comfortable and the service is excellent. On the Thursday night we spent a couple of hours in the company of The Shires and Kip Moore which was lovely.

I mentioned earlier that there was a moment that I will never forget. The hotel offer additional services such as a bouquet of flowers, champagne, chocolates, kids menu and so on. The Sunday of C2C Festival this year landed on Mothers Day and whilst there was a menu to order flowers and such, my husband, unknown to me had emailed the hotel and asked for a special requirement that was NOT on the menu. He tells me they replied right away and obliged no problem.

So on the Sunday afternoon, my husband and my two year old son travel to The Intercontinental to meet me for Mothers Day. I walk into my room which is now all made up and on the bed lay hundreds of rose petals that surround the bed and also some that spell out Happy Mothers Day.

As I mentioned, this is something that was not on the menu and something my husband asked the hotel to do and they did and it was absolutely beautiful, I didn’t want to move it. As if that wasn’t enough, minutes later there is a knock at the door. I open it and a room service gentleman hands me a plate of small desserts with chocolate spelling out Happy Mothers Day. My husband swears he had nothing to do with this and this was simply an incredibly kind complimentary gift from the hotel. This year is only my third mothers day and will go down as one of the most special mothers days ever.

With all the treats and generosity it didn’t even stop there. Going to reception with my son just for a query, the wonderful reception staff give our two year old a complimentary teddy (which he called bear ha) and he was absolutely delighted and takes it everywhere with him.

Whilst I was off doing the C2C festivities my husband and son were thoroughly entertained by the Clipper Bar and Eighteen Sky Bar both of whom’s staff were more than accommodating and entertaining my child. My husband describes the staff as being happy to have a child around rather than annoyed and were all taken by him.

The hotel also offers a wonderful spa which has an amazing scent and offers a great deal of packages including afternoon tea and treatments. The Spa also has a gym and a swimming pool, sauna and steam room.

Due to time constraints I sadly couldn’t squeeze in any treatments but do recommend them as I had planned to do some Monday before having work commitments across the other side of London. However, we did manage to take my son swimming which he hadn’t done much of before and he had the best time. The pool was the perfect size and all one level, no deep end. The pool was surrounded by loungers and towels and ice at your disposal for comfort and refreshments. We didn’t want to leave but of course had to eventually. The changing rooms feel like a spa themselves with towels and toiletries at your disposal and loungers to chill and relax on.

Another thing worth mentioning is the restaurant and café. The food outlets in the O2 always get so busy that you barely get a chance to eat. The hotel offer excellent set menus in the Peninsula Restaurant and Market Brasserie and light lunches and cakes at the Meridian Lounge where the quality of cakes are scrumptious especially the macaroons.

The Intercontinental – London O2 were a large part of making my weekend spectacular and their services, kindness and generosity exceeded my expectations beyond imagination and I am incredibly grateful to my husband and the staff working so well together to give me the best mothers day possible, especially during such a busy time with a fully booked hotel which kept their staff busy but still found the time to go above and beyond.

Thank you, I will stay again and will never forget this particular stay.

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