Premier Inn London Woolwich Royal Arsenal Hotel

Let’s talk about the Premier Inn in Woolwich. Not just any Premier Inn. This one has cannons in the car park. Yes, really. It’s like sleeping in a museum, but with a fluffy duvet and a bar.

You’re in London, but not the touristy bit. Woolwich is proper London. It’s gritty, historic, and full of surprises. This hotel sits right on the Royal Arsenal site, where they made weapons for centuries. Bang.

Why it’s weirder than you think

The car park is actually a parade ground. Imagine parking your Ford Fiesta where soldiers once drilled for battle. The building itself used to be army accommodation. You’re literally sleeping in a soldier’s old bedroom. Spooky.

Outside, there’s a giant cannon pointing at the river. Perfect for Instagram. Just don’t try to fire it. The receptionist will frown at you.

Inside the fortress of sleep

The rooms are standard Premier Inn: beige, clean, and boringly comfortable. That’s the magic. After a day of exploring gunpowder history, you need pure, dull peace. The bed is a cloud. The pillow is a marshmallow. Zzz.

But here’s the kicker: the view. Some rooms overlook the Thames and the O2 arena. Others face a building that once stored 10,000 barrels of gunpowder. Choose wisely. Or don’t. Both are fascinating.

Food with a side of history

The on-site restaurant, Thyme, serves decent pub grub. Fish and chips. Burgers. The usual. But the real treat is the history. You’re eating where workers once assembled rifles. Chuckle at that over your bangers and mash.

Breakfast is a Premier Inn classic. Unlimited bacon, sausages, and those little hash browns. It’s a carb festival. Fuel up before exploring the Arsenal’s tunnels. You’ll need the energy.

What to do after you wake up

Walk five minutes to the Royal Arsenal heritage centre. It’s free. You’ll see giant shells, old cannons, and a tunnel that runs for miles. Bring a torch. And a brave face. It’s dark down there.

Fancy a drink? The Dial Arch pub is inside the Arsenal walls. It used to be a testing bay for guns. Now it sells artisan gin. History has a sense of humour.

Take the cable car across the Thames. It’s bouncy. You’ll see the hotel from above, looking like a giant Lego block. Wheee.

The quirky bits you’ll love

There’s a giant anchor outside the hotel. It’s from a real warship. Touch it. Feel the rust. Imagine sailors crying on it. Too far? Fine.

The hotel’s postcode is SE18. That’s the same as the famous Woolwich ferry. Yes, there’s a free ferry. No, it’s not exciting. But it’s free.

Look out for the ghost stories. Locals claim the Arsenal is haunted by a soldier who lost his head. Literally. Don’t open your curtains at 3am. Seriously.

Why you should just book it

It’s cheap. It’s central to nothing touristy. And it’s weird. You can say you slept in an ammunition factory. That’s a party story.

The staff are lovely. They’ll joke about the cannons. Ask them where the secret tunnel is. They might wink. They might not. Thrilling.

You get free WiFi. So you can Google “Woolwich gunpowder explosion 1880” while lying in bed. History porn at its finest.

The verdict

This Premier Inn is not posh. It’s not trendy. But it’s fun. It’s like staying at a friendly history teacher’s house. Except the teacher has a bar and a massive cannon collection.

Bring a camera. Bring a sense of humour. Leave your expectation of “normal London” at the door. The Arsenal is a playground for grown-ups who like explosions and comfy pillows.

Go for the cannon selfie. Stay for the unlimited breakfast. Leave dreaming of gunpowder. You’ll wake up smiling. Promise.