London, UK — Hilton London Bankside has officially unveiled its striking new chapter, introducing 76 brand-new rooms and suites designed by interior architecture and design studio SpaceInvader for client Splendid Hospitality. Rooted deeply in the character, local heritage, and artistic pulse of the Southwark neighborhood, the expansive project weaves together the area’s free-thinking, rebellious history—historically known as “the other side of the Thames”—with contemporary influences drawn from local art, architecture, and world-class theatre.
The completion of the new extension brings the hotel’s total offering to 368 rooms, establishing twelve new room categories and featuring four distinct room designs with carefully curated color palettes. Architecture for the development was led by Studio Moren, introducing a vibrant new ninth floor complete with sweeping views across Bankside and the broader London skyline, alongside meticulously updated rooms and corridors across the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors.
The resulting scheme balances uncompromising luxury with a non-generic aesthetic, while fully integrating the sustainable approach that defines SpaceInvader’s portfolio. Eco-friendly materials feature heavily throughout the interiors, including Silestone tabletops manufactured with a minimum of 20 percent recycled materials using 100 percent certified renewable energy and 99 percent recycled water. Additionally, the project incorporates cradle-to-cradle bronze certified carpets and mural wallpapers utilizing BIOVYN™, a material produced entirely from 100 percent bio-sourced ethylene.
A Design Approach Anchored in Local Storytelling
According to SpaceInvader Founder and Director John Williams, the overarching philosophy for the expansion was driven entirely by narrative.
“Our approach to the Hilton London Bankside expansion was rooted in storytelling,” Williams commented. “As well as research into local history, we walked endlessly round the area to absorb its heritage and character in order to infuse every aspect of the design—from colour, textures and materials right down to the shape of bespoke furniture and fringing and piping details—with a sense of place, referencing the Thames and Tate Modern as well as Shakespeare’s Globe and the area’s theatrical heritage.”
The new range of guestrooms and suites has been carefully designed to cater to an ever-evolving profile of visitors, bridging the gap between corporate business travelers and those seeking a luxury residential “dream apartment” experience. While certain accommodations offer kitchenettes, spacious lounges, walk-in showers, or private mini-gyms, every single space maintains a deeply rooted dialogue with its physical location.
SpaceInvader Senior Interior Designer Shreena Patel noted that the bold transformation resonated immediately with the client. “Our ideas and storytelling design approach were very well received by the client from the get-go,” Patel said, adding that despite the fresh creative departure, the team took care to maintain subtle material connections to the hotel’s existing rooms, such as the continued use of oak laminate and black, marble-effect tiles within the shower areas.
Drawing inspiration from local theatre, architectural variety, the nearby river, and the people of Bankside, the design team utilized clever architectural cues. Piping-edged chaises longues and arch-shaped joinery forms pay direct homage to local railway viaducts. This theatrical motif is perhaps best exemplified by the rooms’ bespoke sculptural headboards, which sweep dynamically across the wall and fold around at the corners like theatrical screens, cocooning the bed in a warm embrace.
This focal role of the headboard dovetails seamlessly with a deliberate shift in art placement. Rather than traditional positioning above the bed, artworks are strategically located along secondary walls or around corners, successfully replicating the experience of exploring the Bankside neighborhood and stumbling upon unexpected creative expression at every turn.
Collaborating closely with art consultants Studio Graphite, the team established a gallery approach within the rooms. Multiple artworks across various media reflect movement and tactility to mirror the bustling district and the flowing river nearby. One playful exception nods to the hotel’s own history: a recurring three-dimensional fox motif appears as a subtle tribute to an authentic local legend concerning a mischievous vulpine visitor when the original building occupied the site.
Imogen Woodage, SpaceInvader Associate Director and studio hospitality specialist, explained that this art-inspired philosophy extended downward into flooring and wallcoverings. Certain carpets echo expressive artist brushstrokes, while select wallpapers depict abstract human-form silhouettes in celebration of Bankside’s creative thinkers.
“We wanted to bring people into the design,” Woodage noted, “whether through cut-outs in the corridors, or miniature sculptures on LED-lit shelves. It’s about creating that personal element.”
Elevating the interiors further, special details banish any sense of generic hospitality design. Contrasting piping and fringing on cushions, brightly patterned perch benches, and custom desks mimicking the headboard’s asymmetrical cantilever forms all contribute to the premium atmosphere. Fabricated from warm-grain stone with double bull-nose edges, these functional elements impart dramatic curves and a tactile finish.
Exploring the New Room Typologies
The extensive design scope encompasses four major room typologies: Standard rooms, Ninth Floor Executive rooms, General Suites across the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors, and two luxuriously scaled ninth-floor Penthouse Suites.
King Superior Room (Standard)
These rooms instantly introduce the statement headboards designed for theatrical scale and comforting seclusion. A bold, piped perch bench sits at the foot of the bed, accompanied by non-uniform bedside tables, including one featuring a distinct curved profile. Brassware light fittings add an opulent touch, complemented by layered sheer and blackout window treatments.
Wall mouldings align with the headboard formation and are overlaid with textured, tactile wallpaper. Window-side chaises longues adapt to individual room layouts, while long Silestone desks feature rounded double-edges and integrated cupboards, mini-fridges, and welcome-tray storage. The bathrooms boast brass-edged mirrors, concealed vanity lighting, tinted glass shower screens, and dramatic Travertine marble-effect tiling.
King Executive Premium Room
Maintaining the architectural forms of the superior rooms, this typology introduces distinct materiality and joinery. Blue velvet headboards, river-inspired abstract rugs, and coordinated artwork explicitly reference the Thames. A more premium atmosphere is achieved through a rippling wall light embedded within the television frame against a silky, hazy-patterned wallcovering by Arte, supported by luxury LVT plank flooring and rich walnut laminate.
General Suites
Offering extended floor plans, deeper jewel tones, and enhanced residential comfort, these suites feature loose L-shaped sleeper sofas and dining tables with sculptural bases lit by feature pendant lights and velvet-upholstered chairs set on brass frames. Timber wall panelling and unique circular patterned rugs elevate the interior. Bathrooms feature more concise, minimalist tiling schemes—some pairing freestanding baths with walk-in showers and black marble-effect wall finishes alongside expanded his-and-hers vanity units.
Ninth Floor Penthouse Suites
The pinnacle of the expansion includes the King One Bedroom City View Suite, the King One Bedroom Landmark View Suite, and the King Premier One Bedroom Suite. These top-tier accommodations feature kitchenettes with glass-fronted refrigerators, refined dining areas, and sensory walk-in showers equipped with body jets.
The City View Suite incorporates a sensor-lit walk-in wardrobe, while the Landmark View Suite offers a private mini-gym and wellness zone complete with personalized lighting, sound, and scent programs alongside an in-room fitness menu. Catering specifically to wellness-minded travelers, a dedicated Premium Peloton Room features a mirrored fitness alcove flooded with natural light for yoga and pilates, alongside an integrated Peloton Bike.
Penthouse interiors are distinguished by coffered ceilings with LED perimeter lighting, bronze-tinted organic pendant lights, and higher-specification furnishings, including upholstered armchairs and leather-lined credenza drawers. Television walls feature recessed shelving set within polished plaster, accompanied by quiet reading nooks.
Plush carpeting underscores the heightened luxury, anchored by extra-large beds framed in soft dark leather. Notably, one penthouse features a dedicated fifteen-square art wall with integrated track lighting, telling “The Fifteen Stories of Bankside” through uniquely curated artistic pieces.
Reflecting on the successful completion of the project, Chris Hale, Chief Marketing Officer of Splendid Hospitality, praised the collaborative partnership.
“This new chapter for Hilton Bankside perfectly reflects the character, creativity and energy of the Bankside area, whilst elevating the guest experience and strengthening the hotel’s differentiated brand and offer,” Hale said. “SpaceInvader truly understood both the brand ambition and the guest expectation, as well as the need to celebrate the hotel’s specific location. They also brought a thorough understanding of operational requirements to the project, as well as the need to create points of difference in the room designs so that they would appeal to target demographics and help drive increased revenue.”
