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Looking for a hotel in Waterloo for Autumn 2026? Stow Away Waterloo is an award-winning eco aparthotel built from 26 repurposed shipping containers, just moments from the South Bank, the London Eye and Waterloo Station. Every studio is a serviced apartment with a kitchenette, super king-sized bed and marble bathroom, making it ideal for a weekend break or an extended stay hotel in London, where visitors can genuinely live in. This autumn, the area hosts the 70th BFI London Film Festival, the Southbank Centre's 75th-anniversary celebrations, the Dua Lipa-curated London Literature Festival, and the EFG London Jazz Festival, all within walking distance. Downstairs, UnWined, the much-loved wine bar near Waterloo, serves world wines and guest-chef menus, so your evening plans are sorted before you even leave the building.
London's cultural calendar has one clear winner this autumn, and it is right on our doorstep. The South Bank is throwing a season of landmark events. If you have been waiting for a reason to book a Waterloo hotel, this is it.
Here is what is happening, why it matters, and why Stow Away Waterloo is the smartest base for it all.
This year is a milestone year for our neighbourhood. The Southbank Centre is celebrating 75 years since the 1951 Festival of Britain, the event that transformed this stretch of the Thames into London's cultural heart. Expect major performances, free installations and big names across the Royal Festival Hall and its terraces all season.
Then comes the film. In October, the BFI London Film Festival returns for its 70th edition. For two weeks, red carpets roll out at the Royal Festival Hall, BFI Southbank and the BFI IMAX. Hundreds of screenings. Countless premieres. All is a ten-minute stroll from your room.
Bookworms are covered, too. The London Literature Festival runs from 20 October to 1 November 2026, and this year it is curated by global superstar Dua Lipa. Finally, from 13 to 22 November, the EFG London Jazz Festival fills the Southbank Centre with ten days of world-class live music.
No other part of London packs this much into one autumn. And no hotel Waterloo has to offer puts you closer to it than we do.
There are plenty of hotels around Waterloo. There is only one built from 26 recycled shipping containers.
Stow Away is an eco-aparthotel that Waterloo can genuinely call its own. Our building makes an architectural statement while keeping its footprint light. Solar panels on the roof feed excess energy back to the national grid. Smart heating and hot water systems recycle energy rather than waste it. If sustainable travel matters to you, this is Waterloo accommodation with real green credentials, not just a towel-reuse card.
Inside, every studio works harder than a standard hotel room. You get:
That kitchenette changes everything for longer trips. Our serviced apartments in Waterloo love to give you a room you want to live in, which is why we are a favourite extended-stay hotel for London visitors to return to. Stay longer, and you pay less, too.
After a premiere, a gig or a full day of festival-hopping, you will not need to go far to unwind. UnWined, our resident wine bar, sits on the ground floor of the building.
UnWined Waterloo pours an unusual, brilliant range of wines from around the world. The friendly team will happily guide you to a bottle that suits your palate. The food is just as good, with menus cooked by critically acclaimed guest chefs over lunch and dinner. It is the perfect end to a South Bank evening, and it is roughly twelve steps from your bed.
Beyond the festivals, the classics never stop. The London Eye, the National Theatre, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe and the BFI IMAX are all nearby. Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Covent Garden are a short walk or a quick TfL cycle away, and you can hire the bikes directly outside our building. Check the full local line-up on Visit London's South Bank guide.
The South Bank's autumn 2026 season will be busy, and the best dates will go fast. Whether you need a Waterloo hotel for one night of jazz or a serviced studio for a month of film, Stow Away Waterloo has you covered.
Book direct with Stow Away to get our best rates, then let the South Bank do the rest.