Hotel in London for solo break?

[Alarae]

For my birthday this year I've been given the gift of silence- essentially two nights away on my own (I love DH and DD, but I've only had one night on my own since she was born three years ago).

I was thinking of staying in a niceish hotel in London, as given I will be going in November I want somewhere nice to be able to retreat to if there is awful weather. Not too fussed on location as long as it has easy access to the tube for me to hop around. Thinking of going to a couple of theatre shows while there and general wanderings (if anyone has any suggestions, then let me know!).

Budget is around £500 for two nights, but I'm happy to top that up a bit for a good deal. If it includes breakfast, then fab, but not too fussed as I can always grab stuff out and about.

Was hoping the hotel would have either additional facilities (like a pool, spa or fitness centre) that I can have access to. Came across the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Tower Bridge which seemed nice! One massive love would be a great bath in the room as I love a long soak. Not a dealbreaker though if the room is nice and I can just mootch.

Also- would love recommendations for a nice dinner where I wouldn't look out of place as a solo diner! I was toying with the idea of going to a Gordon Ramsey restaurant for a beef wellington but at some point I'm going to have to reign my hypothetical budget in.

Final also- I have always wanted to have a nosy around jewellery in pawn shops. Not the ridiculous range mind, but was hoping to maybe get a nice half eternity ring for cheaper if possible! So if anyone knows of any that would be good to visit, then let me know (unless Hatton Garden is the best place?)

Sounds like a lovely trip!

With your budget, some hotels I’d look at:

Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green
St Pancras Renaissance, St Pancras
Pestana Chelsea Bridge, Battersea

Middle Eight is wonderful and close to Covent Garden. It has a female only travellers floor and I’ve gone there solo.

If you're there on a Monday or Thursday morning, visit Covent Garden or Spitalfields for their antique markets. Portobello market on a Saturday for similar. There's some wonderful jewellery there.

Soho Hotel
Ace Hotel Shoreditch
Shoreditch House

The Hoxton - Holborn, Southwark or Shoreditch

Came on to say The Hoxton too. We stayed at the Southwark one recently.
2 nights was around your budget.

Thank you for all the suggestions- I'm going to have a look through and see what the rooms/facilities are like.

As an aside, I'm not entirely bothered about a hotel 'look'- I know there are a lot dotted around London which have very stunning visual appeal due to the construction of the building but then it seems like that's what you pay for and then the room facilities are a bit lacking.

I am very much going for internal comforts- lovely bed, (hopefully lovely bath), with extra hotel facilities I can dip into at my leisure.

Essentially, if the hotel looks fab from the outside but is basically a Premier Inn on the inside, I would rather save the money and stay in a Premier Inn

The Blakemore Hyde Park is 5 minutes from Bayswater and Queensway tube stations. My bathroom had a TV at the end of the bath - I spent ages in there watching trashy TV!

For £500 in november you can do 3/4 nights in spain- all inclusive

@Nightmanagerfan @augustusglupe I've had the Hoxton recommended to me by my SIL/BIL but when I looked at them I can't say there was anything massively appealing about them unless you wanted to lounge around in the communal areas?

Not sure if I've missed anything with them, but it didn't seem like they offered anything additional (pool/spa/fitness stuff) for the price? I appreciate they have a modern/contemporary feel/look so perhaps that's the reason?

I'm a bit of a chicken I'm afraid and going abroad seems a step too far for me on my own. London is familiar so I am comfortable wandering around (even if I am going to places I haven't visited). Plus it is a 45min train journey back home should anything happen to DD, so would prefer to stay close by for my own comfort.

@Alarae I really like the Hoxton but essentially yes you’re paying for the locations and a nice contemporary decor and bar- the rooms themselves are on the smaller side.

For central London though that’s sort of what you get with a reasonable budget as most people are out and about so don’t want tonnes of facilities … would you consider an out of London option like a spa hotel where you could have tonnes of facilities?

Either way it sounds dreamy!

If you can afford it The Ned is the best hotel in London!

Hi OP Yes I agree re the Hoxton. It suited us. We'd gone down to see DD and we were all going to see Depeche Mode at Twickenham, so we weren't bothered about Spa/pool etc
Our room was great though, spotless and fab toiletries. Nice restaurant for brunch on the Sunday and lovely staff.

Yes, my DD lives in London and her favourite hotel is The Ned

Just looked at The Ned and I can certainly see the appeal! While I could stretch to it I almost feel like I wouldn't 'fit in' if that's a silly thing to say? It seems to give off a young socialite kind of vibe (I don't mean any offence by that statement) and I feel like I would stick out like a sore thumb. I'm not exactly over the hill (early 30s) but I am certainly wobbly and very, very average.

Perhaps I should just hide in a Premier Inn!

I've done last minute hotels at that time of year, and always bagged a bargain. The so called "secret" hotels can be very good but I've always managed to "crack" the code and known where I was off too. Bargains are to be had in the autumn.

Strand Palace on the Strand is lovely and right in the centre of Covent Garden. I also really like the Hotel Indigo chain, there are a few around London.

Perhaps this is something I should do- I'm planning on going midweek (Weds-Fri) so presumably not sought after dates and hopefully I can get a good bargain.

I did have a nosy on Secret Escapes earlier but there didn't seem to be much for advance bookings at the moment.

I’d say the bath might be the problem. I’ve stayed in some lovely expensive hotels in central London for work but the basic rooms usually have showers. As soon as you start climbing the room types the costs can mount. I usually end up booking a Premier Inn for this reason! I’d also say that I think you probably need a more expensive room for it to feel more exciting than just a nice bed and toiletries.

I live in London but like to treat myself to a night in a hotel every so often. I actually really like the Intercontinental Park Lane. It's busy enough that you don't feel like you stand out but the service is exemplary (doorman always remembers my name). I happily sit in the bar and have a glass of wine or two before retiring to my room for a room service dinner (great food - they have a fabulous Theo Randall restautant) and a long bath with their Byredo toiletries. They have a gym (with Peloton bikes) but no spa at present. I normally stay on a Sat night in December so I can do some afternoon shopping in Fortnums or Harrods Food Hall (for gifts) before my wine drinking starts. ;-)

I also like the Kimpton near Russell Square but I don't think it fits your pampering criteria, although it is very handy for theatres.

Sadly I suspect they're both out of your budget as hotel prices in London are through the roof this year. Make sure you book as early as you can as prices will only increase nearer the time. Have a look at the Mondrian Shoreditch and Sea Containers. They both have spas and aren't too pricey (it's all relative though!)

@HundredMilesAnHour my word you’ve really sold that to me, what a dreamy way to spend a solo day in December

Seacontainers?

@RosaSkye it's absolute bliss! Last time I walked back from Harrods via Hyde Park just as it was getting dark and Winter Wonderland was lit up (I actually hate Winter Winterland as I've been far too many times with my family who love it) but it looked beautiful and there was such a buzz in the air. Walking through the crowds arriving made me so happy to get to my lovely hotel and be waited on with my one of my favourite wines (Urlar Sauvignon Blanc) and of course a lovely silver dish with nuts & snacks. And then an evening of lovely food and slathering on of Byredo's Bal d'Afrique followed by a comfy hotel bed made me very happy indeed. It feels very decadent but I can't recommend it highly enough!!

The Apex hotels are nice. I've definitely had a bath at the Temple Court location, and the onsite restaurant is really good. Very central too.