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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for central London hotel recommendations?

64 replies

Peachyqueen · 05/01/2022 21:13

Staying in February as a treat after a long 2 years. Going to see a show near Covent Garden, but don't want to stay there as we worry about noise! Can anyone please recommend a clean, modern hotel with nice views? Budget is up to £200.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Saracen · 05/01/2022 22:21

Covent Garden Travelodge, but to be sure of getting the better of the two buildings you need a family room. You can be sure of securing one if you book a fictitious child in with you. The views aren't special but it's quiet.

kpfragglesrock · 05/01/2022 22:24

Another vote for Strand Palace hotel. We always stay here when we do theatre breaks. Just round the corner from Covent Garden.

Lushers · 05/01/2022 22:29

The Henrietta on Henrietta street. bijou and gorgeous !! Happy memories ❤️

FloofersGonnaFloof · 05/01/2022 22:29

Highly recommend The Montague By the Gardens in Bloomsbury - got a deal including breakfast for £206 last summer.

Also, The Resident, Victoria. It's in a very quiet location, opposite the rear of Buckingham Palace, but only a 5 minute walk to various restaurants, and a lovely 30 minute walk through St James's Park and Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden.

WhatsitWiggle · 05/01/2022 22:30

Strand Palace for the location - don't book a "cosy" room, they really are (double bed pushed against the wall). Finished a major refurb just before Covid hit. I work for a travel company selecting hotels in London to work with, and it was our best selling London hotel last year.

The Tower Hotel for views of the Thames / Tower Bridge. Will have good deals on Secret Escapes or Travelzoo.

Doubletree by Hilton Tower of London - again for the views, is usually quite pricey but without business travel it needs guests!

Clermont Charing Cross - really good Trip reviews, fairly recent refurb. Great location, fab service.

Resident Soho or Resident Covent Garden - seconding Hermione's recommendation. Larger than your average London hotel room, there's a cupboard with a kitchenette so you have a drinking water tap, fridge, microwave, kettle, nespresso machine. Iron and ironing board under the bed. Covent Garden is no 1 on Trip but they all get good ratings. They don't have hotel facilities ie no bar / restaurant but they give you a discount book for money off local places and the front desk staff give recommendations, book for you. Definitely book direct with these guys for the best price, they don't do discount websites.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge for views of the river and Big Ben. The studio rooms are a really good size and I like how it feels more like a junior suite as the wardrobe splits the sleeping area from the rest of the room.

Those are all 4* and very likely to come in under budget for February.

A 5* I'd recommend is Sea Containers. On the South Bank, views of St Pauls. It's modern, quirky, fab cocktails. Not horrifically expensive like the luxury hotels so may come out on budget for your dates, worth a look.

TheHoptimist · 05/01/2022 23:11

Hilton Bankside should fall within the budget- not got views really but clean and nice

RHM000 · 05/01/2022 23:51

Another vote for Hilton Bankside. Stunning five-star hotel with lovely rooms, fantastic staff and amazing breakfast. I love the South Bank location. Nice glass of prosecco on check-in as well!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 06/01/2022 07:23

@superram

I second royal horseguards. Great location, walkable to cg and great views over the river.
I put my dates into this one for the period I’m going to London for and the same four nights were going to cost me over £1000 compared to just over £300 for my Premier Inn. I’d rather have the £700 to spend on eating out, theatre tickets, shopping!
alexdgr8 · 06/01/2022 07:36

holiday inn welbeck street corner wigmore street, near oxford circus, behind what used to be debenhams.
chemists croyde bell on corner. v near wigmore hall.

Peachyqueen · 06/01/2022 11:20

Wow so many lovely recommendations! Thank you all so much, DH will have a look at them all this evening.

So nice to have recommendations from those who have actually stayed in the hotels, I hate picking "blind" and reviews are useless these days.

OP posts:
herewegoagainst · 06/01/2022 11:25

We recently stayed in the nhow on Old Street, it was lovely and just over £100 a night I think, very clean and modern with a great bar and breakfast.
I also love the Angel Hilton and Hard Rock Hotel but its slightly over your budget!
Also if your treat is for a birthday/anniversary etc don't forget to mention it in the additional info box because most hotels will give you a card and some sort of treat like drinks vouchers, a bottle of wine, or chocolates etc.

PegasusReturns · 06/01/2022 11:29

HamYard is lovely but several times over budget.

I second Montague on the Gardens - rooms are beautifully quirky and although the bar is not much fun the breakfast is great.

You can walk to Covent Garden easily. Avoid anywhere too far away or you’ll spend all your money/time in cabs/public transport.

rookiemere · 06/01/2022 11:30

Premier Inn Blackfriars isn't fancy but is an easy walk to Covent Garden and decent sized rooms for a central London budget hotel.

PegasusReturns · 06/01/2022 11:35

@WhatsitWiggle I had the misfortune of attending an event at the Park Plaza and can confidently say it is the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in!

The standard rooms have no external windows, the bar is like the worst kind of airport lounge, sticky tables, squeaky faux leather chairs and filthy and to top it off the cocktails were more expensive than pretty much anywhere I’ve ever drink in london. Without fail the staff were intolerably rude.

I feel so sad for people that stay there and that is their experience of london. Utterly miserable.

millymae · 06/01/2022 11:44

In the past we’ve stayed at the Zetter in Farringdon and somewhat cheaper the Blakemore near Kensington Gardens.
Stayed at both more than once. Last time we stayed at the Blakemore was just before lockdown last year and we used no public transport at all.

LittleGwyneth · 06/01/2022 12:21

There is some TERRIBLE travel advice on this thread! Look on Mr & Mrs Smith.

rookiemere · 06/01/2022 12:42

Which specific advice @LittleGwyneth ?

WhatsitWiggle · 06/01/2022 12:45

Look on Mr & Mrs Smith

Where you'll find lots of lovely boutique hotels all more expensive than OPs budget!

TheMagiciansNiece · 06/01/2022 12:47

Club Quarters in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Nice clean rooms, free coffee/tea/chocolate 24/7. Friendly staff and very quiet.

PegasusReturns · 06/01/2022 12:52

Look on Mr & Mrs Smith Hmm Hmm Hmm

That’s not going to help the OP with a budget of £200. FFS!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 06/01/2022 15:02

@TheHoptimist

Hilton Bankside should fall within the budget- not got views really but clean and nice
I think I must be doing it wrong. I’ve looked at so many of these hotels people have suggested and can’t find the rooms that are within budget. The best I could do at this hotel was nearly £300 per night 😬
SofiaSoFar · 06/01/2022 15:18

@TakeMe2Insanity

The Aldwych The Sofitel St James The Landmark
Absolutely love Sofitel St James. It's in such a great location, too.

Not sure you'd get a room for anywhere near to £200, but you've got me thinking about a trip to London now...

TheHoptimist · 06/01/2022 17:43

I think I must be doing it wrong. I’ve looked at so many of these hotels people have suggested and can’t find the rooms that are within budget. The best I could do at this hotel was nearly £300 per night

I usually pay about £110 there on Friday night and more on Saturday

Is it Valentines weekend you are trying to book?

Below all Sat 12th Feb
This one is a great location- some rooms have views over Trafalgar square £239 The Trafalgar St. James London, Curio Collection by Hilton. Rooftop views. fabulous breakfast (would be extra) Very good price- often £350

Canopy by Hilton London City £149- new hotel not stayed there . Review here www.headforpoints.com/2021/12/24/review-canopy-london-city-hotel/

Conrad London St. James £213. Bargain price- small rooms but a very nice hotel. Near Westminster Abbey 20 mins walk or short bus hop from Covent Garden. Opposite St James tube. Some have odd views over internal courtyard.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - Tower of London £126- a bit further out but next to tube and Tower of London. Some rooms have view of bridge and tower- rooftop bar has great views

The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton £139 No views but on river next to Tate Britain. 30 minute for 8 minutes by bus from trafalgar square/Covent Garden

Soffit · 06/01/2022 17:49

Central London is pretty soulless atm with all the restrictions but the Hard Rock Hotel is a good bet as suggested upthread. I am currently enjoying the Shoreditch area a lot more. The restaurants (Yuu Kitchen by ex Nobu chef, Boundary, Sushi Samba etc.) are way more interesting and lively all day long in a less cookie cutter way. I'd go for Mama Shelter and experience two different sides of London in one visit

Sleepyteach · 06/01/2022 18:01

I’ve stayed at the Hilton doubletree tower bridge and Hilton Tower of London recently and both were great. Depending on dates you could get a room with lounge access at tower bridge within budget. ME by Melia would be a fab location for you but a bit over budget, the hotel and the customer service there were amazing. Glad to be hearing good things about the hard rock hotel as we’re staying there in a few weeks!