Things to do near LondonHouse Chicago: top riverfront and downtown activities
LondonHouse Chicago sits at 85 East Wacker Drive on the corner of Michigan Avenue beside the Chicago River, making it an easy base for riverfront walks, architecture boat tours, and downtown sightseeing. On-site dining includes Bridges Lobby Bar, LH on 21, and the tri-level LH Rooftop; nearby highlights within a short walk include Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, and the Chicago Riverwalk.
In this guide
Location & room options at LondonHouse Chicago
LondonHouse Chicago is located at 85 East Wacker Drive on the corner of East Wacker Drive and North Michigan Avenue beside the Chicago River. The hotel occupies the 1923 London Guarantee & Accident Building with an adjoining glass tower and has rooms across 23 floors.
Room types include Room, 1 King Bed; Room, 2 Double Beds; Room, River View; 1 Bedroom Suite; Suite, 1 Bedroom; Vista Room; Room, Bathtub; Suite; Presidential Suite; Studio, Corner; and Room (Hydrow Wellness Room). Many rooms and suites offer river or skyline views.
- Check-in begins at 4:00 PM; check-out is 12:00 PM (noon).
- A Daily Mandatory Destination Charge applies and includes premium internet, a $10 daily F&B credit, a $20 spa credit, two bottles of water daily, and a $15 laundry/dry-cleaning credit.
- Valet parking only (no self-parking on site).
- Minimum check-in age is 21; guests must present photo ID and a credit card.
| Sample Room Types | Bed Configurations |
|---|---|
| Room, 1 King Bed | 1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds |
| Room, River View | 1 King Bed |
| 1 Bedroom Suite | 1 King Bed |
Riverwalk, bridges and the Chicago River
The hotel sits directly above the north bank of the Chicago River and provides immediate access to the Chicago Riverwalk and the Michigan Avenue Bridge District. Walking the Riverwalk from the hotel is one of the easiest ways to experience downtown riverfront life.
For narrated history and architecture-focused sightseeing, Chicago River architecture boat tours depart near the Michigan Avenue bridges; ticketed cruise companies run regular departures during warmer months.
- Walk the Chicago Riverwalk just outside the hotel for riverside views and photo opportunities.
- Join a Chicago River architecture boat tour departing near Michigan Avenue for guided commentary on the city's bridges and high-rises.
- Use the Chicago Water Taxi from the nearby Michigan Avenue dock for point-to-point river transit.
| River Activity | Typical Departure Point | Useful For |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture boat tour | Near Michigan Avenue bridges | Skyline history and bridge engineering |
| Chicago Water Taxi | Michigan Avenue dock (Riverwalk) | Short hops across downtown and to transfer points |
| Leisure Riverwalk stroll | Directly outside hotel | Restaurants, photographic viewpoints, casual walking |
Dining and drinks at the hotel
LondonHouse Chicago has three on-site venues for meals and cocktails: Bridges Lobby Bar on the 2nd floor overlooking the river, LH on 21 (a Contemporary American restaurant on the 21st floor), and LH Rooftop, the hotel's tri-level rooftop bar and lounge.
Bridges Lobby Bar serves cocktails, small plates, and Afternoon Tea daily; LH on 21 offers contemporary American dishes for lunch and dinner and can validate valet parking for dining; LH Rooftop operates daily with an indoor lounge, outdoor terrace, and the Cupola.
- Bridges Lobby Bar: river-facing windows, Afternoon Tea daily (reservations recommended).
- LH on 21: Contemporary American menu; valet parking validation for dining is available.
- LH Rooftop: tri-level rooftop bar open daily 11:00 AM–12:00 AM (food until 11:00 PM); Smart Casual dress code and 21+ enforced for rooftop entry in evenings.
| Venue | Primary Offer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bridges Lobby Bar | Cocktails, small plates, Afternoon Tea | River views from the 2nd floor |
| LH on 21 | Contemporary American dining | 21st-floor restaurant; valet validation available |
| LH Rooftop | Rooftop cocktails & small bites | Tri-level rooftop with indoor/outdoor spaces; 11 AM–12 AM |
Spa, fitness and wellness
LH Spa by Windy City Massage is located on the 4th floor and offers massages, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures. Spa hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–8:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM–7:00 PM, and Sunday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM.
The hotel fitness center is open 24 hours and is equipped with TechnoGym treadmills, ellipticals, a row machine, a cardio bike, two spinning cycles, free weights, and a yoga station. Select rooms (King Peloton Wellness rooms) include in-room Peloton bikes.
- Spa services include Swedish massage, Chinese cupping therapy, Body Melt Therapy, the MyDraFacial, and manicure/pedicure stations.
- Guests receive a $20 spa credit as part of the Daily Mandatory Destination Charge.
- Fitness center provides around-the-clock access to cardio and strength equipment.
| Wellness Option | Location | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| LH Spa by Windy City Massage | 4th floor | Mon–Fri 8am–8pm; Sat 8am–7pm; Sun 8am–6pm |
| 24-hour Fitness Center | On-site | Open 24 hours |
| King Peloton Wellness rooms | In-room (select rooms) | Peloton bike available in-room |
Nearby downtown attractions you can walk to
Millennium Park (home of Cloud Gate, the 'Bean') is about a 5–10 minute walk from the hotel, making it an easy stop for photos and outdoor events. The Magnificent Mile shopping district is also within walking distance; one listing cites an 8-minute stroll to the Mag Mile.
Other walkable or short-transit attractions include the Art Institute of Chicago (under 15 minutes on foot), the Chicago Theatre District, and the Riverwalk's restaurants and viewpoints. Navy Pier, Willis Tower, and museum campus sites are reachable by short rideshare, CTA or water taxi connections.
- Millennium Park: ~5–10 minute walk from LondonHouse Chicago.
- Magnificent Mile: within a short walk for shopping and dining.
- Art Institute of Chicago: less than a 15-minute walk (depending on pace).
| Attraction | Approximate Access from Hotel |
|---|---|
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 5–10 minute walk |
| Magnificent Mile (shopping) | Short walk (about 8 minutes to parts of Oak Street/Mag Mile) |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Under 15-minute walk |
Meetings, events and wedding spaces
LondonHouse Chicago provides roughly 25,000 sq ft of flexible meeting and event space across ballrooms, meeting rooms, and terraces. Notable event spaces include the Juliette Grand Ballroom, the Whistler Ballroom, and Étoile terrace event space on the 21st floor.
Capacities vary by room; for example, the Juliette Grand Ballroom can host receptions of several hundred guests, while Étoile is suited to smaller receptions with terrace access. The hotel also offers pre-function areas and on-site event planning resources.
- Juliette Grand Ballroom: pillarless space with river and skyline views and multiple seating configurations.
- Whistler Ballroom and smaller meeting rooms (Guillory, Ambia, Tecumseh, etc.) provide flexible layouts for conferences and receptions.
- The rooftop Cupola and Étoile terrace can be used for intimate private events and skyline views.
| Event Space | Typical Use | Mentioned Capacity or Note |
|---|---|---|
| Juliette Grand Ballroom | Large weddings, receptions, conferences | Column-free ballroom with river views |
| Whistler Ballroom | Mid-size events and receptions | Flexible ballroom space |
| Étoile | Intimate terrace events | 21st-floor terrace with skyline views |
