Best Hotel Chain for Families in London 2025: Marriott, Hilton, Accor & IHG Compared

London is home to hundreds of hotels across every major chain, but which hotel group is genuinely the best for families? We've compared the four biggest chains operating in London — Marriott, Hilton, Accor, and IHG — across the categories that matter most to travelling families.

Overview: The Four Chains

Chain	London Hotels	Key Family Brands	Price Range
Marriott	30+	JW Marriott, Westin, Autograph Collection	£££–££££
Hilton	25+	Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, DoubleTree	££–££££
Accor	20+	Sofitel, Novotel, Raffles	££–££££
IHG	20+	InterContinental, Kimpton, Holiday Inn	£–££££

Best for Luxury Families

Winner: Marriott (JW Marriott Grosvenor House)

For families who want the ultimate London luxury experience, JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane is hard to beat. Overlooking Hyde Park with palatial suites and a legendary concierge team, it's the gold standard for luxury family stays. Hilton's Conrad London St James and Accor's Raffles at The OWO are close contenders, but Grosvenor House's combination of space, location, and heritage gives it the edge.

Best for Budget Families

Winner: IHG (Holiday Inn)

IHG's Holiday Inn brand is purpose-built for families on a budget. Children eat free at Holiday Inn restaurants, family rooms are spacious, and the Holiday Inn London Kensington puts you on the doorstep of London's greatest free museums — the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A. No other chain matches this combination of value and location for families.

Best for Family Amenities

Winner: Accor (Novotel)

Accor's Novotel brand was designed with families in mind. Children under 16 stay free, there are dedicated kids' corners and play areas, and family rooms come with practical touches like extra storage and child-friendly layouts. Novotel London Canary Wharf and Novotel London West (which has a swimming pool) are standout family properties.

Best for Location Variety

Winner: Hilton

Hilton offers the most diverse range of London locations for families. From the theatrical heart of the West End (Waldorf Hilton) to the cultural South Bank (Hilton Bankside), the historic City (DoubleTree Tower of London), and transport-connected Paddington (Hilton London Paddington), families can choose a neighbourhood that suits their interests and itinerary.

Loyalty Programmes Compared

Marriott Bonvoy

The world's largest hotel loyalty programme. Excellent for frequent travellers with aspirational redemption options. Elite members get late checkout and room upgrades — both invaluable for families.

Hilton Honors

Generous points earning with frequent promotions. Gold and Diamond members get complimentary breakfast — saving families significant money on London's expensive hotel breakfasts.

ALL – Accor Live Limitless

A lifestyle-focused programme with hotel, dining, and experience rewards. Less valuable than Bonvoy or Honors for pure hotel stays, but the breadth of Accor's portfolio (from Novotel to Raffles) offers flexibility.

IHG One Rewards

Strong earning rates and regular promotions. The 'fourth night free' reward on points stays is excellent value for family holidays. Milestone rewards add up over multiple stays.

Best for families: Hilton Honors (breakfast perks) or Marriott Bonvoy (global reach).

Babysitting & Childcare at Every Chain

Regardless of which hotel chain you choose, Stays provides professional, DBS-checked babysitters at every Marriott, Hilton, Accor, and IHG property in London.

Our service is identical across all chains:

• Enhanced DBS background checks on every sitter
• Face-to-face interviews and double reference verification
• First-aid certified and fully insured
• Hotel-specialist experience across all four chains
• Pet sitting and elderly care also available

This means your choice of hotel chain should be based on rooms, location, and amenities — not on childcare availability. We've got every property covered.

Our Overall Recommendation

• Best overall for families: Hilton — the best balance of location variety, loyalty perks, and family-friendly properties
• Best for luxury: Marriott — JW Marriott and Westin set the standard
• Best for value: IHG — Holiday Inn's free kids' meals and affordable rates are unmatched
• Best for young families: Accor — Novotel's purpose-built family amenities are genuinely helpful

Whichever chain you choose, make the most of your London stay by booking a trusted babysitter through Stays. Visit our dedicated chain pages for property-specific information:

• Marriott Hotels London
• Hilton Hotels London
• Accor Hotels London
• IHG Hotels London

Or book a babysitter now at any London hotel.