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The Thames Classic
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No. 01South Bank, London · Nightly from 14:00
Where the Thames keeps watch and the cards keep secrets.
A 1930s-inspired tower of 148 rooms above 48 live gaming tables. Check in at dusk, take your seat at midnight and wake to the river turning silver beneath your window.
- 148Rooms and suites, every one facing the water
- 48Live tables across three salons
- 16hFloor open daily, 14:00 to 06:00
- 9.8Guest Ledger score for 2026
Ch. IAbout Us
Built for long evenings and early river light.
UKHotelFinderBest began with one question: what if a hotel with tables felt less like a spectacle and more like a very good private club? We took a 1930s river tower, restored its brass and walnut, and filled it with the things that make an evening worth remembering: unhurried dealers, deep armchairs, proper card tables and a view that changes every hour.
Upstairs, 148 rooms and suites look straight onto the Thames. Downstairs, 48 live tables run from mid-afternoon until sunrise. In between you will find a spa, a library of strategy books, the Chart Room restaurant and a concierge who remembers how you like your eggs.
Eleanor VanceKeeper of the House
- I
Known by name
From your second visit, our hosts greet you by name and remember your favourite table.
- II
Dealt fairly
Every game is audited daily and licensed by the Gambling Commission. No shortcuts, ever.
- III
The view is standard
Every room faces the water, from the smallest to the penthouse. No courtyard rooms, no exceptions.
- IV
Limits come first
Tell a host your finishing time at the door. We will hold you to it, kindly and firmly.
Ch. IIRooms & Suites
Three ways to sleep above the river.
Every key opens a room with a Thames view, a writing desk, blackout curtains for late finishes and a card table in case the conversation continues.
No. 214The Riverside Room
A calm corner in ivory and walnut, made for one good night's sleep between two good nights out.
- Size32 m²
- BedKing
- ViewThames
Sleeps2guests
Enquire
No. 1107Thames View Suite
An arched window, a velvet throw and a chess table set for two. Most guests never draw the curtains.
- Size58 m²
- BedKing
- ViewWestminster
Sleeps2guests
Enquire
No. 2401Sovereign Penthouse
The top of the tower, with a private card room, a dedicated butler and a terrace that sees five bridges at once.
- Size140 m²
- BedSuper King
- ViewPanoramic
Sleeps4guests
EnquireCh. IIICasino Hotels
The Circuit: six sister houses across the kingdom.
One membership, seven cities, one standard. Collect a stamp at every house and your status travels with you, from the Royal Mile to Cardiff Bay.
- 7
- Houses
- 246
- Live tables
- 1,156
- Rooms
Heritage
4.9Guest score
Edinburgh · Royal Mile
The Sovereign Royal Mile
A Victorian merchants' exchange where the old stone strongroom is now a private poker salon, and the castle glows in every window.
- 148rooms
- 32tables
- 3salons
PokerBlackjackRoulette
Building from1874
Enquire
City
4.7Guest score
Liverpool · Pier Head
Mersey Crown
Dockside grandeur with a roulette floor that looks straight out over the ferries, and a croupier school that trains half the north west.
- 190rooms
- 40tables
- 2salons
RouletteBlackjackCraps
Building from1907
Enquire
Heritage
4.8Guest score
Bath · Lansdown
The Regency Crescent
Six Georgian townhouses joined into one discreet hotel, with a candlelit baccarat salon hidden beneath the crescent lawn.
- 96rooms
- 18tables
- 2salons
Punto BancoBlackjackPoker
Building from1789
Enquire
City
4.6Guest score
Manchester · Northern Quarter
Northern Quarter Grand
A converted cotton mill where the old loom hall now hosts the busiest poker room in the north, under iron beams and Edison light.
- 220rooms
- 52tables
- 4salons
PokerRouletteBlackjack
Building from1851
Enquire
Coastal
4.7Guest score
Brighton · Seafront
Pavilion Shore
Striped awnings, salt air and blackjack tables that stay open until the first sea swimmers wander past the windows.
- 130rooms
- 26tables
- 1salon
BlackjackRouletteThree Card Poker
Building from1823
Enquire
Coastal
4.6Guest score
Cardiff · Cardiff Bay
Bay Harbour Grand
Welsh slate, harbour glass and a craps table the locals cheerfully call the loudest seat in the bay.
- 160rooms
- 30tables
- 2salons
CrapsRoulettePunto Banco
Building from1898
EnquireCh. IVCasino Experience
A night on the floor, hour by hour.
- 0Live tables
- 0Croupiers
- 0Private salons
The lesson tables open
Croupiers teach blackjack and roulette with practice chips. No pressure, practice chips only and every question welcome.
Tournament registration
Hold'em players gather in the Card Room. Seats are drawn at 19:55 and capped to keep every table friendly.
The Grand Salon fills
Roulette wheels spin beneath the brass sunburst while river boats slide past the tall windows.
Salon Privé opens
Members move to three private rooms for quiet rounds of baccarat and blackjack, each with its own host and dealer.
Supper at the Chart Room
Steak sandwiches, hot chocolate and fresh fruit until three, for players who fancy a pause between shoes.
The floor rests
Tables close as the sun climbs over Tower Bridge. Your room, and a breakfast tray, are already waiting.
Ch. VTable Games
Six games, one house style.
Every table has a printed guide on the rail, a croupier happy to explain and the house rules shown before you sit down.
Blackjack
Beat the dealer to twenty-one without going over. Six-deck shoe, and the dealer stands on every seventeen.
Always split aces and eights.
Punto Banco
The elegant game of baccarat. Back the player, the banker or a tie, then let the cards do the rest.
The banker bet has the lowest house edge.
Single-zero Roulette
Thirty-seven pockets, one ivory ball and a wheel turned by hand. Choose a number, a colour or a column.
One zero means better odds than two.
Craps
The liveliest table in the house. One roll of two dice and the whole rail cheers together, win or lose.
Start on the pass line, it is the simplest bet.
Texas Hold'em
Two cards in your hand, five on the felt and a table full of decisions. Ring games daily, tournaments nightly.
Position matters more than your cards.
Three Card Poker
Poker at its quickest. Three cards each, one decision and a hand settled in under a minute.
Play any hand of queen, six, four or better.
Ch. VI2026 Rankings
The Guest Ledger: Britain's gaming hotels, ranked by those who stayed.
No favours and no panels of experts. Just thousands of guests scoring their rooms, tables, service and views the morning after.
Based on 14,200 verified reviews, January to September 2026.
Sort by
UKHotelFinderBest Editors' Choice
South Bank, London
9.8Exceptional
The Mayfair Ace Most Exclusive
Mayfair, London
9.5Superb
Clyde Royale Best for Poker
Glasgow, Scotland
9.3Superb
Quayside Crown Best Views
Newcastle upon Tyne
9.1Excellent
Minster Gate House Hidden Gem
York, North Yorkshire
8.9Excellent
Rooms
Comfort, quiet and the view, scored the morning after check-out.
Tables
Game variety, dealer skill and fair limits right across the floor.
Service
How well the house knew your name, and respected your limits.
Views
Windows, terraces and how the city looks at closing time.
Ch. VIIBeginner's Guide
Never played before? Perfect.
Nearly half our guests had never placed a chip before their first visit. Here is exactly how your first evening on the floor will go.
- 01
Show your ID
Bring a passport or photo driving licence. We check everyone on every visit, however grown up you look.
- 02
Read the rail
Every table has a printed guide on the rail. Read it, watch a hand or two, then sit down when you feel ready.
- 03
Take a lesson
Join a lesson table at 18:30. Twenty minutes with a croupier and you will know every move.
- 04
Set a limit
Decide your finishing time before you play and take regular breaks. Tell a host and we will help you keep to it.
Lessons, every evening at 18:30
Blackjack on Mondays and Thursdays, roulette on Tuesdays and Fridays, poker at the weekend. Practice chips only, purely for learning.
Ch. VIIIStay & Play
Packages written like a good evening's plan.
Each includes breakfast on the river terrace, late check-out and a seat at the lesson tables. Every package is for two guests.
For first-time players
The Opening Hand
- The Riverside Room for one night
- Private blackjack and roulette lesson
- Three-course supper at the Chart Room
- Late check-out until 14:00
For tournament regulars
The Long Weekend
- Thames View Suite for two nights
- Priority seat at a weekend tournament
- Afternoon tea and the spa circuit
- Car from St Pancras or Heathrow
For celebrations
The Sovereign Night
- Sovereign Penthouse with butler
- Private salon for up to eight guests
- Your own host and dealer all evening
- Sunrise breakfast on the terrace
Packages cover rooms, dining, lessons and experiences. Play is always your own choice.
Ch. IXEvents & VIP
The winter programme.
Four evenings worth planning a trip around. Registration opens to Inner Circle members first, then to every guest.
-
14Nov
2026RegisterPoker · Main Event
The Thames Classic
Three days of No-Limit Hold'em ending at a final table above the river. The champion's name is engraved on the river trophy.
-
28Nov
2026RegisterBlackjack · Invitational
The Brass Shoe Invitational
Sixty-four players, one six-deck shoe per table and a brass trophy for the last player standing. Seats are limited.
-
12Dec
2026RegisterBaccarat · Members' Night
Salon Privé by Candlelight
An evening of Punto Banco in the private salons, with a string quartet and a members-only guest list.
-
31Dec
2026RegisterRoulette · New Year Gala
The Midnight Wheel
Black tie, live jazz, river fireworks from every window and a ceremonial first spin of 2027 on the stroke of twelve.
Ch. XMembership
The Inner Circle: three cards, one quiet nod at the door.
Membership is how we say thank you. Every tier works across all seven houses of the Circuit.
Ivory
Member since 2026
Open to all
- Lesson tables every evening
- Tournament alerts before general release
- Room preferences remembered
Brass
Member since 2026
By application
- Priority tournament seating
- Room upgrades across the Circuit
- A personal host on every visit
- Two Salon Privé evenings a year
Oxblood
By invitation
Invitation only
- Private salon on request
- Penthouse upgrades when available
- Car service from any London station
- A seat at every members' night
Ch. XIIGuest Book
Notes left on the bedside table.
Every room has a guest book. These are three of our favourite entries from this autumn, shared with permission.
“I came for the Thames Classic and stayed for the breakfast. Knocked out in the second hour and still had the best weekend of my year.”
“We had never played roulette. A croupier called Tomasz taught us in twenty minutes, then wished us luck like he really meant it.”
“The host asked my limit at the door and quietly reminded me when I reached it. That is exactly why I keep coming back.”
Ch. XIIIGetting Here
Ten minutes from everywhere that matters.
Step out of the revolving doors and the London Eye is on your left, Westminster across the water and Waterloo a short stroll behind you.
DestinationByTime
London EyeFoot04 min
Waterloo StationFoot07 min
WestminsterFoot10 min
Covent GardenFoot15 min
St PancrasTube18 min
Heathrow AirportRail45 min
Valet parking
River bus pier
Step-free entry
Ch. XIVFAQ
Asked at the door, answered here.
Something else on your mind? Write to [email protected] and we will reply within two hours.
Not at all. The gaming floor welcomes any adult aged 18 or over with valid photo ID. Hotel guests simply enjoy a shorter walk home.
Smart and comfortable. Jackets are welcome but never required, and trainers are fine before 21:00. Black tie applies only on gala nights.
A valid passport, photo driving licence or PASS-accredited proof of age card. We operate Challenge 25 at every entrance.
Of course. Every table welcomes spectators at the rail, and a host will happily explain the game while you watch.
Yes. Any host can arrange time reminders, play limits, breaks or self-exclusion on any visit. Read more on our Responsible Gaming page.
Yes, with an adult. Younger guests are welcome in the rooms, spa and Chart Room, but the gaming floor and salons are strictly 18+.
Ch. XVContact Us
Write to the house.
Rooms, tournament seats, private salons or a question about the rules. Choose the right desk and a real person replies within two hours, day or night.
- Gaming floor
Daily from 14:00 to 06:00
- Hotel
Open every hour of every day
To the desks of UKHotelFinderBest
Four desks, one house.
- Rooms & Suites[email protected]
- Tournaments & Events[email protected]
- Inner Circle Membership[email protected]
- Everything Else[email protected]
Answered by the concierge team, every hour of the night.