IHG is bringing not one but two new hotels to central London, and they’re stacking them side by side just a stone’s throw from Waterloo.
Set your GPS for the corner of Kennington Road and Lambeth Road right across from the Imperial War Museum, where IHG Hotels & Resorts is building a dual-branded bonanza: voco London – Waterloo and Hotel Indigo & Suites London – Waterloo. That’s 354 new rooms coming to the capital, opening just in time for your 2028 loyalty night redemption.
In This Post
What’s Going Up?
The site, currently home to the former Waterloo Hub Hotel, is getting a serious upgrade. The revamp includes a refurbished main building and a brand-new 14-storey tower. Think modern, sustainable, and very skyline-friendly.
The two hotels will share:
- Cafes, bars, and restaurants
- A business centre
- Fitness facilities
- BREEAM “Excellent” sustainability ambitions, powered by solar panels and air source heat pumps
Basically, it’s giving eco-conscious meets city-slicker chic.
voco London – Waterloo
This marks IHG’s second voco hotel in London, following voco Marylebone (which opened in late 2024 after a Signature Hotels takeover). If you’re unfamiliar with voco, picture relaxed premium. It’s what happens when a hotel wears trainers with a blazer and somehow makes it work.
Expect a colourful design, friendly service, and enough quirks to keep it from feeling corporate.
Hotel Indigo & Suites London – Waterloo
Now, here’s where it gets interesting: this will be the first “& Suites” branded Indigo in Europe. That means you’ll get all the usual boutique flair that Indigo is known for, but with an extended-stay twist, more space, more flexibility, and more reasons to check in and actually unpack.
It joins a blossoming UK lineup that includes:
- Hotel Indigo Bath
- Hotel Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station
- Hotel Indigo Chester
- And the soon-to-open Hotel Indigo Leeds
Who’s Pulling the Strings?
Developer Palm Holdings is leading the charge, and they’re clearly loving life under IHG. They’re also behind the upcoming Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh. IHG’s midscale and boutique brands are a big part of its expansion strategy, and this deal proves it’s doubling down.
IHG’s Willemijn Geels, VP of Development for Europe, said:
Our dual-branded property marks a significant milestone… and introduces an exciting new offering to Europe with Hotel Indigo & Suites.
Translation: “We’re bringing the vibes, the variety, and probably quite a few IHG One Rewards promos.”
Bigger Picture: IHG in the UK
Here’s some extra context for the loyalty nerds among us:
- IHG has 363 hotels open across the UK and Ireland, with 33 more in the pipeline.
- The UK remains IHG’s biggest market in Europe, so expect more signings, conversions, and maybe another voco popping up in a rebranded Holiday Inn near you soon.
- These two new openings cement IHG’s grip on central London’s premium lifestyle hotel scene, especially as they battle Marriott, Accor, and Hilton for inner-city territory.
Why Dual-Branded Hotels Are a Thing
You’re not imagining it; dual-branded hotels are trending. Why?
- They share back-of-house operations (cheaper for owners)
- They let brands target different traveller types (leisure, business, long-stay…)
- And they make better use of pricey city plots.
In a place like Waterloo, walkable to Westminster, South Bank, and Lambeth, that’s prime real estate efficiency.
AvGeek Angle: “Is It Near the Airport?”
Not quite. But in WingTips style, here’s the scoop:
- ~30 minutes by taxi from Heathrow (depending on how much your driver hates the M4)
- ~50 mins on the Tube via the Piccadilly and Northern lines
- ~15 mins from London City Airport by DLR + Underground if you’re feeling fancy
It is not airport-adjacent but very much central, ideal for stopovers, conferences, or just crashing after a full-day Tube crawl.
Location Lowdown
Bang opposite the Imperial War Museum, minutes from Lambeth North station and a 10-minute stroll to Waterloo station. Southbank? 15 minutes. Westminster? Walkable. London Eye? Almost staring at you from the window.
If you’re visiting London without wanting to stay in the tourist circus, this location is a winner.
Final Approach
With Voco and Hotel Indigo & Suites Waterloo set to open by 2028, IHG is clearly making a big bet on the capital. One for the loyalty diaries, TikTok reels, and WingTips Wallet Watch: we’ll be watching how the suites are priced, whether the elite perks stack and what kind of welcome cocktail you get at Voco.
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