An honest review of Pan Pacific London hotel

Room rates from £372 | Check availability

Our rating:

Pros

Infinity pool with family swim hours
Kids aged six and under eat free at Straits Kitchen (50% off for 7 to 12s)
Pop-up teepees in the family rooms
Family afternoon tea with biscuit decorating
24-hour gym
Jo Loves toiletries and Dyson hairdryers in the rooms
Dog-friendly

Cons

Very expensive
Spa treatments are pricey
Family-friendly but primarily a business hotel
East London location means you’re away from classic tourist sights

Key specs

Price: From £372 per night | Location: 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB | Nearest train station: Liverpool Street Station (two-minute walk) | Facilities: Infinity pool, spa, 24-hour gym, Straits Kitchen restaurant, bars, family rooms and suites

Our verdict

Accommodation:

Activities:

Food and drink:

Location:

Liverpool Street isn’t the first place that springs to mind for a wholesome family escape in London. It’s all suits, corporate chat and high-rise blocks. But step inside Pan Pacific London and the chaos soon disappears. Within minutes of entering, my kids were clutching cute lion plushies from the dedicated Cub Club check-in desk and chatting away to staff who made a genuine fuss of them.

It’s incredibly slick and luxurious and the crowd is very international. But it wasn’t intimidating with kids in tow and we were made to feel as welcome as any suited business traveller.

The family rooms are beautifully done with enormous beds, curved furniture and fun amenities for both children (in-room teepees, mini dressing gowns) and adults (Dyson hairdryers, Jo Loves toiletries).

And then there’s the pool. The 18.5-metre infinity pool is framed by floor-to-ceiling windows with city views and dotted with tropical plants. During family swim time it had a fun and relaxed feel. After children’s hours, I can imagine it feels completely serene. Either way, it’s a standout feature in this part of London.

It’s very expensive. And you’re a tube or taxi ride away from blockbuster sights like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. But if you want a luxurious base with impressive family credentials and a wellness offering that rivals London’s best, Pan Pacific is an excellent choice.

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How we reviewed

I stayed with my husband and our two children, aged six and nine. We used the pool during family swim hours, had dinner and breakfast at Straits Kitchen and explored the surrounding area on foot. We travelled via the Northern Line to Moorgate Station, about a 10-minute walk away.

What are the rooms like?

Rooms are light, bright and blissfully calm, with soft neutrals and subtle Asian touches that nod to the hotel’s Singapore roots.

Our family room (a Deluxe Double Double with two queen beds) had a curved sofa, wide-screen TV and plenty of space to spread out. Plenty big enough for a pop-up teepee in fact - a playful feature that provided a cosy nook for bedtime stories. Easily my kids’ favourite room amenity to date.

The huge beds are supremely comfortable. And we all appreciated the remote-controlled blackout curtains to shut out the city skyline and set us up for an excellent night’s sleep.

Bathrooms are generously sized and marble heavy - ours featured a deep bathtub, walk-in shower and Jo Loves Mango Thai Lime toiletries. Children get fluffy dressing gowns and some extremely cute silk-style slippers.

The Dyson hairdryer and clever straightener shelf positioned next to a full-length mirror were particular highlights for me (and my hair).

Interconnecting rooms are available for added space or if you're travelling with teens seeking privacy.

Read next: The best family hotels in the UK

What’s the pool like?

The infinity pool is a showstopper. At 18.5 metres, it’s long enough for proper lengths, and the water temperature is spot on. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame city views - a fascinating mix of old and new in this part of town. Just opposite sits the charming St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate church which rubs shoulders with shiny skyscrapers and ever-present cranes.

Children’s swimming times are clearly set out: weekdays 9am to 11am and 3pm to 5pm, weekends 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm. It works well and keeps everyone happy.

A lantern-lit walkway leads to the pool area, which adds a sense of occasion. The surrounding loungers, oversized plant pots and palm fronds give it a subtle tropical feel in the middle of the Square Mile.

The spa also offers treatments for children aged six to 16 in collaboration with Bonpoint, though prices are firmly in the luxury territory.

Read next: The best UK city breaks

What are the food options?

Straits Kitchen is the main event. Accessed via a sweeping curved staircase from the lobby, it serves Asian-inspired dishes made with British ingredients like Hereford beef and Cornish crab.

We sampled the five-plate Experience Menu for dinner and while my son was keen to branch out and loved experimenting with new flavours, my daughter played it safe with fish and chips from the kids’ menu. The crab pappardelle with laksa emulsion was a standout dish and we all loved the ice-cream sandwich to finish. Kids aged six and under eat free, and those aged seven to 12 get 50% off the à la carte dinner menu, which softens the blow of London dining prices.

Breakfast was excellent. Tropical fruit, pastries and a generous buffet sit alongside à la carte options like eggs, avocado on sourdough and pancakes. I'd recommend heading down after 9am to swerve the business breakfast crowd.

Children's afternoon tea at Pan Pacific London

There’s also a family afternoon tea served in the lobby bar, where children can decorate cupcakes and biscuits, sip hot chocolate and tackle London-themed colouring sheets. It’s a great way to bring a bit of fun to the formality of afternoon tea.

Read next: The best holiday parks UK

What is there to do nearby?

You’re in the heart of the Square Mile, directly opposite Liverpool Street Station. Spitalfields Market - with its stalls selling artwork, clothes and street food - is a short stroll away, as are Shoreditch and Brick Lane for street art, curry and bagels.

Horizon 22, London’s highest free viewing platform, is nearby for skyline views (book in advance). Spitalfields City Farm and Whitechapel Gallery are easy wins with kids. You can also walk to Sky Garden for food and epic views or head down towards the river Thames. It’s not classic postcard London, but it’s buzzy, interesting and well connected.

About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.

About Mumsnet hotel reviews

All Mumsnet hotel reviews are written by real people after extensive hands-on testing. We travel with children to test out how each property caters to families and assess whether it's genuinely geared up for kids. We test the beds, amenities and food, and explore the local area to highlight stand-out features and address any concerns. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. We may be hosted on a complimentary basis and sometimes we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage and we will only ever publish an honest review.