My Booking Experience

I booked the Chilworth London Paddington through Booking.com and chose a Deluxe Single Room for 3 nights for a deal price of £313.53. This is the cheapest I’ve seen The Chilworth on a trip to London. I paid online to save time on my arrival. Being a Booking.com Genius Level 3 member, I also received £22 in credits to spend on my next booking. I had £26 left in credits from a previous booking which was put towards the cost of this one.

The Location

The Chilworth is located on Westbourne Terrace, less than a 5-minute walk away from both Paddington Railway station and Paddington tube station exits. It’s also only a short walk away from Edgeware Road tube station. There are many good restaurants and takeaways nearby and a variety of convenient shops in Paddington Station.

The hotel is near Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Bayswater, and Marble Arch. If you’re thinking of staying in central London before a flight. In that case, The Chilworth has convenient access to the Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line to travel to Heathrow Airport. It’s also just a short tube journey away from London St Pancras for the Eurostar services.

The Hotel

Check-In

I arrived at the hotel at 6:30 am, straight from The Night Riviera Sleeper train to drop off my luggage before travelling on the Eurostar for a day trip to Paris! The night staff were very welcoming and stored my luggage with no issues.

I returned to The Chilworth at 9:00 pm and was checked in efficiently after a very long day. Reception has a luxury and boutique feel with a small seating area and carefully designed decor. I was given my room card and luggage before being directed to the lift.

The Room

I booked a single deluxe room located a floor below the ground floor near the spa. Even though the room was on the basement floor, I still had a window with a view up to the front of the hotel.

The single room was small but no smaller than other London hotels I’ve stayed in. The room looked like it had been recently renovated, and there were many storage options. Being a highly-rated hotel, there were extra touches such as dimmable lighting, a sleep button which controlled the lighting and let the cleaning staff know when someone is sleeping, a notepad and pen and some snacks. 

The bathroom was very functional, with a large shower and a variety of complimentary toiletries.

Other Room Types at The Chilworth London Paddington

As well as Deluxe single, other room types at the Chilworth include:

• Compact Double
• Deluxe Double
• Deluxe Twin
• Club Double
• Club Twin
• Deluxe Triple

My room was not as photogenic as some of the more high-end rooms at the Chilworth. I asked to see one of the other rooms, and I was shown a ‘Club Room’, which had been prepped for a guest’s birthday, with a rose petal turndown and lots of extra touches.

The Spa

Unfortunately, during my 3 day stay, I only had time to use the spa once. It’s a very welcoming place to visit to prepare for the day or recover from a long day. The main part of the spa is a large jacuzzi, which has to be booked in advance. You can simply phone from your room, and there’s often availability straight away.

There’s also a steam room, complimentary towels and slippers and a variety of moisturisers and products to try. I liked the extra touch of free bottled water, which you can enjoy on a beanbag after the heat of the jacuzzi. A range of spa treatments are also bookable for an extra cost.

Spa packages can be booked via Treatwell. If you’re not staying at the Chilworth and you’re looking for a spa in the Paddington area, non-guests can also book the spa for a 30-minute slot, book a treatment or even have a spa day. Some packages even include afternoon tea.

Breakfast

I managed to get to breakfast one day. I was allowed in to get my breakfast just before it was cleared away. After an early start, I returned to The Chilworth just before breakfast finished.

The variety was not as big as some of the bigger brands like Novotel, Hilton and Hyatt, but everything I needed was there, including a range of hot options, pastries, juices and cheeses. My only recommendation would be to serve freshly prepared coffee rather than filter coffee.

Breakfast Opening Hours:

Mon – Fri: 7.00 am – 10.00 am
Sat & Sun: 7.30 am – 10.45 am

The Restaurant

There is 1 restaurant at The Chilworth Hotel – The Tumeric Kitchen with a wide range of dishes available. The hotel bar is also open throughout the day, and afternoon tea is served from 2:30 pm-5:30 pm:

Other Amenities

Vitamin C Infused Showers: I was surprised to find that the hotel offers vitamin C infused showers.

Vitamin C Infused Coffee Pods: The hotel bar also offers coffee pods infused with a variety of vitamins. 

Yoga and Meditation: This wasn’t something I tried during my stay, but the hotel offers guided yoga sessions in the yoga lounge or even in the privacy of your room!

Room Service: The room service menu is just as extensive as the dinner menu. The food is delicious, and you can either put a card on your room on arrival or pay when the food arrives at your door. 

Free Umbrellas and Apples: I was impressed with the availability of free apples at the door and complimentary umbrellas, which were perfect for dealing with the British January weather in the afternoon when I set off in a rush to find torrential rain.

Check Out

The checkout process was very efficient. There was no queue, and I handed in my card and was asked how my stay was.

Loyalty

The Chilworth Hotel is part of the Montcalm group and part of the Montcalm Club loyalty program. You can save 10% off the booking price booking direct and earn points towards a free stay. 

The larger hotels are under ‘Montcalm’ and include The Montcalm Marble Arch, Montcalm Royal London House and Montcalm London City. The smaller, more boutique hotels are under ‘Montcalm Townhouse’ and include the Chilworth, The Marble Arch London, The Piccadilly West End and the Barbican rooms.

Being a member of the Montcalm Club, you can get a discount from a range of partners, including Virgin Wines, Heathrow Express, London Eye, Hamleys and Hackett.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I had a fantastic stay at The Chilworth. The hotel provided all the facilities and services I needed as well as being in the perfect location for my trip. It was lovely to be able to use the spa after a long day, and the delicious room service was a bonus too. I’ll definitely be checking the rates on future trips to London.

You can check prices and availability here.

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You may have to slightly sacrifice location to get the price you want, but when you could save hundreds of pounds and often get a nicer hotel. I think even with the odd Uber cost thrown in, it’s worth it.

One of the best examples is the hotels along Park Lane. Both the Intercontinental and Hilton are very underwhelming for what you pay unless you use points. I recently stayed at the Intercontinental on points, but the room would have cost £525 for the lowest category room in a very dated hotel with few facilities. If you compare that to staying somewhere like the Pan Pacific, it’s like chalk and cheese. 

I’ve chosen hotels that are 5* with a luxurious feel rather than a standard 4* hotel which there are plenty of. These hotels are generally well under £500 a night, but you get a lot more for your money than some other luxury hotels. 

Here are my top picks:

Pan Pacific

This would be my top pick of all the luxury hotels under £400 a night. If you love Asia and Singapore, this gives you a real flavour of that in an elegant and understated way. It’s one of my favourite hotels in London. 

Afternoon tea

The pastry chef is TV celebrity chef Cherish Finden who was formally at the Langham. Her Singapore-style afternoon tea was an absolute triumph, but they also offer a more traditional option. 

The hotel has lots of facilities including a pool, gym, spa and yoga/meditation space. 

It is very close to Liverpool Street station so easy to get around. However, there is plenty to do nearby to with places like Eataly, Brick Lane and Borough Market not far away. You are close to the Thames, St Paul’s, The Tower of London and the Shard too.

In the hotel is a casual restaurant which focuses on Asian favourites but has international choices as well. The atmospheric bar offers some great cocktails and an outdoor terrace. 

Ginger Lily bar

You can read my full review here. 

Prices start from £369 on Booking.com but if you book through our partners, GTC, you can get a number of extra perks:

• $100 USD Hotel Credit to be used once during the stay (exclusions apply)
• Complimentary full breakfast for two daily
• Early check-in and late check-out upon availability
• Property will offer upgrade at time of check-in – subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Welcome Amenity: Seasonal amenity by executive chef Lorraine Sinclair and our world-renowned executive pastry chef Cherish Finden

The Westin London City

Only a couple of minutes’ walk from the river, this is not the greatest location for public transport as the nearest tube is a good few minutes away. It’s situated in the middle of Monument, Bank and Blackfriars with all a similar 10 minute walk away. However, it’s a very new hotel with a great spa and pool and a really good lounge too.

Westin The City’s beautiful indoor pool

It is 7 minutes walk from St Paul’s Cathedral and overlooks Shakespeare’s Globe and the striking Tate Modern. The wine bar, Hithe and Seek, has fantastic views and a wonderful selection of wines and small plates. There’s also a champagne bar in the lobby within the main restaurant. 

You can read my full review here. You can check prices and find more information on the official site. Or if you book with our partner GTC you get the following benefits:

• Early check in/late check out, based on availability
• Complimentary breakfast for 2, per room
• $100 Credit (for select hotels)

Prices start from around £305. 

Hilton London Bankside

Entrance to Hilton Bankside

A glass of Prosecco welcomes you to what I think is the best Hilton in London in terms of value for money and facilities. The large pool is perfect for relaxing and if you want to indulge there is a spa as well. 

Hilton London Bankside pool 

The lounge here is beautifully done with helpful staff and a good selection of drinks and canapes. If you don’t have access, I also like the bar for a late night tipple or to start your evening off. 

Living room of 1 bedroom suite  at Hilton Bankside London

Rooms are very modern and well equipped if a little dark. 

Executive lounge

The hotel is situated within walking distance of Waterloo and around 5 minutes walk to Southwark tube. It’s handy for Shakespear’s Globe Theatre, the Shard, Tate Modern and Borough Market. 

You can read our most recent review here.

Prices start from around £225. You can find out more information and prices here.

Sheraton Grand Park Lane

Sheraton Grand Park Lane standard room

Generally, most of the hotels on Park Lane are old-fashioned and overpriced. The one that has impressed me the most but is just on Picaddily rather than Park Lane is the Sheraton. 

Suite lounge area with views of Green Park

The hotel has a real sense of its 1920s grandeur as you enter, and staff are generally excellent. It doesn’t have a pool or spa, but you are right opposite Green Park if you want a stroll! There is, of course, also a gym.

The location has many of the top hotels, restaurants and shops within a short distance, and the nearest tube station is Green Park. 

Palm Court

I particularly like the Palm Court where you can have afternoon tea or a drink. 

As a Marriott Platinum, I have received a good upgrade both times I have stayed at the hotel. I’ve yet to experience the lounge yet as it wasn’t open the first time I went, and I didn’t have time on my second visit, but it does have one! I popped my head in last time and it looked elegant.

Sheraton Grand lounge

You can read my full review here.

Prices start from £350 You can check prices and book on the official site here.

The post What are the best value luxury hotels in London at the moment? appeared first on Turning left for less.

After having walked past the magnificent entrance many times and visited the bar, the newest Four Seasons Hotel London was firmly on my bucket list. I decided to give it a try when in London celebrating my birthday. (I highly recommend the Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental for brunch, by the way. A generous set menu of sharing options with an individual main course and free flow champagne, rosé or sake alongside  exceptional staff made it a wonderful celebration). 

Booking and pricing

Prices for the ultra-luxury hotels in London at the moment are frankly, ridiculous. Before Covid, I’d expect to pay around £350 for something like the Intercontinental and £500 upwards for an ultra-luxury property like Corinthia or a Four Seasons. Now prices start at around £500 for the Intercontinental and £750 for top properties if you are really lucky. Basic rooms at many of them start at £1000! I’d love to know who would pay that for a tiny basic room. I will shortly be doing an article on the best value luxury hotels in London as there are still some decent deals around. 

I booked through Luxury Escapes. Not only do they offer special deals which are timed but they also offer a range of luxury properties which can be slightly cheaper than booking direct. I also had credit to spend with Luxury Escapes, which made it a no-brainer. 

If you don’t want to use Luxury Escapes or are likely to spend money in the hotel, then I would recommend looking at our partners GTC as they offer extra benefits on Four Seasons properties which could work out much cheaper:

• USD100 food and beverage (city hotels) or USD100 Spa credit (leisure hotels) but can vary
• Upgrade subject to availability at check-in
• Early check-in/late check out subject to availability
• Welcome note from Agent/General manager
• Wi-fi

Location

Four Seasons Hotel London is set in a Grade II* listed building overlooking the River Thames at Tower Hill. It is built in the Beaux Arts style and is the former headquarters of the Port of London Authority.

It has a good location right by the Tower of London and a couple of minutes’ walk from Tower Hill Tube station. It’s also close to Tower Bridge and St Katherine’s Dock, so plenty is nearby to see. 

Check-in

Prior to check-in I had struggled to get a spa appointment online so I emailed the hotel as I was pretty sure that kept some back for guests. I had a reply back from the spa pretty quickly and organised an appointment for the treatment I wanted at the exact time I wanted, which was great. Unfortunately, the other questions in the email were ignored.

I also received an email before check-in as you do in most 5* hotels, and this time my requests were replied to quickly and with an apology for not replying to them previously. I did mention that it was my birthday as they had asked if I was celebrating (always interesting to see what hotels do for a special occasion. You can do online check-in if you wish and they will email you when the room is ready. 

The doormen were really fantastic at Four Seasons Hotel London, and it is probably the greatest hotel entrance I have been through with its red carpet and towering columns flagging the entrance. I felt I probably should have worn a ballgown to turn up in! They immediately jumped to attention to help me out of the car and take my bag as soon as my Uber pulled up. 

The Four Seasons Hotel London entrance hall and reception is equally impressive with its high ceilings, beautiful orchids and chandeliers.

The Four Seasons Hotel London check-in experience itself was pretty impressive apart from the rude guest that pushed in front of me at reception! Just because you have already checked-in doesn’t mean there is a special queue for you now!

Once I started the check-in process, the front desk were also great and the whole front of house experience while I was there was excellent. They all remembered my name and were friendly and not at all stiff. 

The receptionist was chatting to me about my birthday plans and whether he could wish me happy birthday early as it was not my birthday until two days later. He also remembered when I checked out and wished me a happy birthday celebration. You definitely feel like you are a valued customer which is what Four Seasons usually prides itself on. I also got a one category upgrade, presumably as it was my birthday. 

After I had checked in, the doorman showed me to my room and mentioned a few points about the hotel. When I popped done later that day to find the spa, he remembered my name and escorted me personally to the spa lift, again, excellent personal service. 

The room

The Four Seasons Hotel London has a slightly strange layout with some rooms seemingly added on to the main building. You take a glass lift up which has a beautiful effect through the glass roof. 

The Four Seasons Hotel London room itself was modern but with a nod to a classic style with a hint of art deco and a warm colour palette. The lowest category room is the Superior room which only has a shower. Next comes the Deluxe room which has a larger bathroom with a bath. The Premier room that I had comes with an even larger bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe area. 

The bed was very comfortable and almost on a par with my gold standard for London, the Corinthia. The bed linen felt lovely and soft with great quality. The Four Seasons Bed is customisable with your choice of plush, signature or firm mattress topper, but I was happy with the standard topper. You could also request various pillows but I found the ones provided just the right level of softness versus support. 

There was a large desk area, but it was lacking in somewhere to sit and do make-up or hair, although a magnifying mirror was provided in the bathroom and there was a mirror with a socket in the dressing area. 

A well sized TV had a number of features that allowed you to connect your device to it, but I admit I tried several options and failed with all of them with my iPhone. You could also plug in a laptop via various sockets. 

There were plenty of sockets around the room with double sockets with USBs by the bed and at the desk. The lighting controls had several options and also housed the curtain controls – I do like a remote control curtain – the ultimate in laziness! You could have the lights on several different settings to set the mood but it was hard to see the controls with the white against the gold when the lights were on. In the dark they were very clear. 

There was a Bose Bluetooth speaker but also a number of things you could request such as Apple TV, game consoles and a laptop or printer. 

Naturally, there was a Nespresso machine and some beautifully presented high-quality teas. It was nice to see a proper bottle of milk, albeit long life. The minibar was in a drawer rather than a standard fridge, but I was glad that it wasn’t one of the annoying pressure-sensitive ones. Two bottles of still water were provided for free. 

In the huge walk-in closet, there was no iron and ironing board, a quirk of high-end hotels that really annoys me. Presumably, if you pay this sort of money, you are too posh to do your own ironing! Often for me is about time as I don’t have time to wait for someone to iron things even if I wanted to. I decided to try the chat function since this time it wasn’t overly urgent. It took them around 10 minutes to reply, and then the iron appeared around 5 minutes later, which I was happy with. Obviously, if you call them would probably be quicker. 

At these prices and level of hotel, I’d be expecting a Dyson hairdryer, but this was just a standard one. However, it was a very generous space for storage and dressing. 

When I arrived back from the spa, I was delighted to find a gorgeously delicate cake designed like a peach and filled with a light mousse. This was accompanied by a card wishing me happy birthday. 

The bathroom was the highlight for me with its decadent marble, mosaic and gold. The huge bathtub was just the right size for a long soak. However, I would have preferred to have the controls in the centre as they were too far to reach if you lay at the opposite end and were not tall. 

The bathroom had several other high points including a Japanese toilet with a cosy heated seat and a lovely warm floor thanks to the underfloor heating. Of course, there were good quality robes and slippers, but they could have been more generous in size for the bathrobes.

A large marble shower had plenty of shelves for storing your own toiletries and a choice of rainhead or normal shower. Is there anything nicer than a great hotel shower followed by wrapping yourself in a fluffy oversized super absorbent towel?

The toiletries were by Lorenzo Villoresi, an Italian brand I know nothing about. I could tell they were decent quality, but I found the scent very non-descript and definitely not ones that would fall into my suitcase!

I found it slightly odd that by 9.30 pm, when I went to put out my room service trolley, there was still no turndown. I don’t think I have ever had turndown later than around 8.30-9 pm before. As I was in the corridor, one of the housekeepers spotted me and offered to do it then. At this point, I was just about to hop in the bath, so I just asked for some more water which was delivered in a large bottle promptly. 

The spa and gym

This was a big reason for choosing the hotel as there are only a small number of hotels in London that have a decent hydrotherapy pool as well as a swimming pool. Again my gold standard is the Corinthia which has a stunning sense of tranquil drama with its fireplaces and black marble. 

The mood at the Four Seasons was more classic with the majority of the spa in muted neutral tones. The staff were very helpful and showed me to a locker with slippers and a robe. I had booked a massage and eye treatment but went to use the facilities first.

When I arrived, the spa was almost empty apart from one group of young men. I had the pool to myself initially. It could have been a little warmer, but I don’t mind too much when there is a separate pool you can relax in like here. The hydrotherapy had a good number of stations such as bubble beds, whirlpool and overhead waterfalls.

Unfortunately, despite the signs saying no under 16s there was a large family group with three children who were very definitely under 16 who took over almost all of this hydrotherapy pool and making quite a racket. The spa attendants came in several times but completely ignored them. I decided to pop into the steam room for some peace and quiet. There is also a sauna too and a relaxation corner as well as a number of loungers.

I returned to the hydrotherapy pool, and they were climbing over some of the hydrotherapy stations. At this point, a pointed death ray stare from me at the parents seemed to do the trick, and they all got out to my relief. There are specific times children are allowed to use the main pool, but they are forbidden from using the hydrotherapy pool at all times. 

My treatment got off to a slightly shaky start as she had got the time wrong and arrived 15 minutes early while I was still in the pool saying I needed to come now as she was going home after the treatment and I may not get the full time. I insisted she double-check as I knew when my time was and once she realised she spent the rest of the session apologizing for her mistake. I was glad I checked, as I didn’t want to be rushing into a treatment that is supposed to be relaxing.

The room and the treatment were both extremely good, as I would expect from a FS hotel. Afterwards, I was led to the relaxation area and offered tea or water and some dried fruit. Though I do think they could have stretched to a proper glass, even if it was plastic rather than an environmentally unfriendly paper cup. 

It wasn’t quite as good as the Corinthia as it was missing the multiple heated loungers that they have, and the relaxation areas were a bit lacking in comparison. But overall, it’s an excellent spa that I would visit again and definitely one of the top ones in London. 

The gym is modern and well equipped. It’s perfectly situated by the spa, so you can hop into the pool or steam room after your workout. 

Food and drink

The hotel is home to the Two Michelin star La Dame de Pic French restaurant by world-renowned chef  Anne-Sophie Pic. The signature dish sounds delicious – Pasta parcels with Brie de Meaux and pine nuts, wild mushrooms, watercress coulis and Douglas pine.

On this occasion, I did not get a chance to try it. I did try room service, and it came in around 30 minutes which was reasonable. During their hours of service, you can order selected items from Mei Ume, which is their Japanese and Chinese restaurant.

There was plenty to tempt you on the room service menu, from more basic dishes to Asian favourites. 

I had some sushi which was very good, and a steak which could have had more heat on the outside as it looked a little insipid for my taste, but it tasted good. I like my steak to have a good crust on the outside as that is where the flavour comes from.

The parmesan chips were amazing with a truffle mayo for dipping, and the richness of the roasted red onion was also a delight. 

Breakfast

Breakfast was not included in my rate, but I decided to pop down for something to line my stomach ahead of my birthday celebrations! The service was friendly but quite slow. 

Breakfast takes place in the impressive Rotunda which is used as a bar for the rest of the day and evening. It’s worth a visit if you are in the area as they often have someone playing on the grabnd piano which makes a lovely atmosphere. 

Here is the breakfast menu (don’t look at the calories!!)

I thought the prices for the a la carte were reasonable in comparison to the room prices. I just went for a coffee and the eggs royale. (I managed to steer myself away from my usual avocado toast, well, it was my birthday, after all!)

The eggs were a little undercooked with a slight jelly-like white, but this seems to be standard for all hotel poached eggs, sadly. The hollandaise was perfect, though, well balanced and a generous portion. I liked that it came with spinach and salmon, which helped counter the dish’s richness. 

I had a look at the Four Seasons Hotel London continental buffet on the way out, and it seemed to have a good choice and high-quality options. 

Check-out

I don’t normally mention check-out, but I spotted two things on the bill which really got my goat! Firstly (and I had heard something about it, so I was looking for it), a service charge for housekeeping of 5%. Given that all they had done on my one-night stay was hand me a bottle of water at 9.30pm I was blowed if I was giving a tip. The room I had been upgraded to cost £950 a night when I stayed. I’m sorry, but as I said to the receptionist (in a nice way) but if you can’t pay your staff enough at £950 a night to not to put a tip on every bill, then you need new management! The charge is not mandatory, so you can ask for it to be taken off. But if you didn’t notice or thought it was mandatory I think it’s very cheeky!

I was also charged for water at breakfast. I have never in any of my stays at luxury hotels recall being charged for water at breakfast, especially when they proactively offer it. I’m guessing again that they just assume you are so rich you don’t care. For me, it’s not about how much money you have, it’s about feeling like you are being taken for a ride, and I think this is very unnecessary. 

I did feed both of these back along with the other couple of niggles that I mentioned in the survey that I was sent. I got a personal reply from the management which I thought was an excellent way to handle this. However, it looks like neither of these is going to change anytime soon. Given the amount of competition in London at the high end of hotels, I’m surprised they would want to nickel and dime customers for the sake of it. The hotel appeared very quiet when I was there. 

Conclusion

Overall Four Seasons Hotel London is a stunning, very luxurious and comfortable hotel perfect for a special occasion. The front-of-house staff were really exceptional in making me feel welcome and not at all stuffy in such a grand setting. The spa is excellent, and assuming there are no children in the hydrotherapy pool, a great way to relax with a treatment or using the facilities. 

If it seems like I was being fussy, my view is that if I am paying this sort of money, I’m expecting perfection. Particularly when I compare it with other hotels like the Pan Pacific which are around half the price and still offer a fantastic 5* experience. 

I think if they could just start thinking in a more English way about tipping and charges, it would do them a lot of good. I understand they are a US brand, and tipping is how things work in the US. But don’t go bringing your excessive tipping culture over here! It generally does not play well with us Brits! Pay your staff a decent wage, and then tipping outside a restaurant or bar should be reserved for good service, not just turning up. 

You can find out more about the Four Seasons Trinity Square here. 

Like Our Four Seasons Hotel London review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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Today’s review is about Turing Locke aparthotel and Hyatt Centric hotel from Gus, our regular contributor. The author of this review stayed at both Turing Locke aparthotel and Hyatt Centric hotel in Cambridge as a guest of the hotels. All other costs, including food, drink and transport were paid for by the author.

Apart-hotel living

Despite laying my head fairly regularly on the pillows of hotels in the Marriott and Hilton chains, I am not that often in a Hyatt, and have never before been in a Locke. You may not have heard of Locke but there are two Locke’s in Munich, Schwan Locke in Theresienwiese and the most recent opening, WunderLocke, located in the up-and- coming neighbourhood of Sendling. 

Perhaps that’s not so surprising given the Locke brand is still small, but I did want to share some reflections from my stay at both the Turing Locke ‘apart-hotel’ and its neighbouring hotel, the Hyatt Centric Cambridge, in Cambridge. The hotels are set around an attactive central courtyard. 

The first thing to say is that a lot of brands lay claim to be individualistic, but the Locke brand in particular plays on this very nicely, both in the way it shows up online and in the pre-stay experience, and also in the bricks and mortar physical stay experience. This is clearly intentional as Locke calls itself a group of “one-of-a-kind aparthotels” and it puts an emphasis on guests not actually being guests, but ‘residents’. This does help to make them stand out, and some of the things they do – such as allowing local businesses to use their co-working facilities for free – foster a feeling of personality, and even a little fun.

Locke Eddington Cambridge

Locke has dots on the map in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cambridge (obviously) and Dublin – and has recently opened up a site in Munich too. With this in mind, I ventured to Cambridge a couple of weeks ago and checked in at the Turing Locke Eddington residence, unsure of what to expect. First impressions were not what I expected, as the site was plonked down in the middle of a plethora of fairly new buildings a mile or two outside of central Cambridge, which has been designed to be “a whole new area of Cambridge, designed for twenty-first century sustainable living”.

While the new-ness did mean there was little of the charm of old town Cambridge, it was clean and smart, and the residence itself was inviting. I checked in smoothly and went to check out my room – a Terrace Suite, with single nights from around £225 (or £185 for members). This was one of the more expense rooms, as Studios are available from around £135 per night, and the longer you stay the more the discount.

Room and studio space

The room itself was tastefully designed and furnished, and it had a few touches that gave it that promised ‘personality’. For example, fun signage all over the place, some Japanese-style sliding partitions for the bedroom, motion-sensitive lights under the sink and even toilet roll from WhoGivesACrap. They’ve also ditched the in-room phone, and instead ask you to WhatsApp reception with any queries.

It was a really lovely space, with the bedroom being a little small but cosy, and a relaxing lounge-cum-kitchenette space. There were plenty of power points, and some books dotted around to break up the lines.

If you were planning on staying longer there was a well equipped kitchen, even with a washing machine which is very handy!

But the piece de resistance (for this room at least) was the terrace, which opened up with views of the main central courtyard area. The outside space too was compact, but it was lined with lovely plants, providing both atmosphere and privacy, and topped off with a couple of loungers and small coffee table.

I did find a couple of things that could have been better for me personally.  The first is that the toiletries were the wall-mounted ones (more sustainable, yes, but I’m personally not a fan of these), and the second is that 4G connectivity was poor. The in-room wifi was strong, but throughout the site, reception itself was noticeably not great (for my carrier at least).

There was also a gym – albeit pretty small and fairly simple in what it offered. That said I did have a really comfortable stay, and despite the hotel being pretty fully booked, it was quiet and restful.

Food and area

I had a very tasty burger in the main shared (more on this to follow) restaurant Kota, which was also where you go for breakfast.

Unlike most hotels, breakfast was a la carte only, which actually was fine as it had a good range of options, and service was attentive and swift.

The coffee was very good – smooth and not too strong – and the English breakfast I had the next morning was excellent, with the scrambled eggs and beans both having a tang of flavour that stood them out from the crowd.

After a trip into Cambridge itself (a 10 minute drive or cycle, but there’s also a Park & Ride plus walking routes) I was back to leave the Locke and try out my room in the Hyatt Centric. The main thing to mention here is that the Locke and Hyatt hotels operate as two separate sites, with two distinct entrances (and receptions), but they are all part of the same single rectangular building, which encloses the same shared courtyard area.

Hyatt Centric – Double the fun or double trouble?

They embrace this architectural set-up in a wry way, as you can actually walk all the way from one site to the next through the upstairs corridors – with the colour of the carpets and doors showing where the Locke stops and the Hyatt starts (and vice versa). So as it happened, I was able to wheel my bag from one floor to another part of the same building and check in to a ‘different’ hotel. I enjoyed that little bit of novelty, but soon found my game face and formally checked in. The team here were just as pleasant and helpful, and I was quickly back upstairs, and settling into my room in the Hyatt part of the building.

I had a Deluxe Courtyard View room (which costs from around £140 or 8,000 Hyatt Points), although there are also other categories of room available including Kings from around £108.

This did feel much more ‘hotel-y’ compared to the Locke studio apartment – for example, it was back to the land of robes, minibars and in-room – and it too was tastefully decorated and comfortable.

I did miss my Terrace that I’d been able to indulge in thanks to Locke, but it was another good stay.

It’s also worth noting that the Hyatt part boasted a rooftop terrace. It was a great big space, with loads of seating options, but it felt a bit exposed, and seemed to be unattended both times I popped up. It probably comes to its own for events, but I actually the preferred space for people to hang out in one of the different seating areas in the plant-lined courtyard area.

Final thoughts

Overall I really enjoyed both nights, and while initially, I was a little confused and even sceptical about the way the two hotels would complement one another, the execution is well done, and you can indeed have either a less guest ‘cookie cutter’ experience, or a regular hotel guest experience. The site makes the most of the fact it isn’t right in the centre of Cambridge, by providing a sense of community within the atrium of the building, and of course, it shows how a more sustainable approach to hospitality can be casually woven in without too much drama. Oh, and Cambridge ain’t that bad either…

Like our Cambridge – Turing Locke aparthotel and Hyatt Centric hotel reviews? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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The Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Hotel opened just before the pandemic and then became a quarantine hotel for quite a while. Since it has reopened to the public I have stayed twice and been impressed both times. This focuses mainly on my most recent visit this spring but I have used photos and references from both stays. 

Location 

The Courtyard is situated on Bath Road next to the Airport Bowl. It is most handy for terminals 2 and 3 since the bus stop is directly outside coming from the airport and only a short walk on the journey to the airport. For terminal 5 you would need the 423 bus which goes from by the Sheraton Skyline which is still only 5 minutes walk. An Uber or taxi to T5 costs from about £12-15. 

Check-in

On both occasions there was no queue and I found the check-in agents exceptionally friendly and helpful. They recognised my status as a Marriott Platinum and on both stays I got a decent upgrade. 

As there is no lounge you get a voucher for two drinks in the bar which I think is a nice touch given how cheap the hotel can be.

There is a large car park at the side of the hotel if you need it and it costs £15 which can be added to your room charge.

Next to reception is a stylish and comfortable seating area as well as a business centre with computers and printer.

Also in reception is a small shop with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and some snacks and essentials. This is open all the time as you pay at reception and it can also be added to your bill. Given that it’s a bit of a trek to the nearest shop, this is a great idea. 

The room

I was upgraded to a Premier room which felt a very generous size. I liked the neutral beige and blue decor which felt more upmarket than I would expect from a Courtyard. There was a decent size sofa, a large desk to work at and a very comfortable bed which was not too hard even for a princess like me! The rooms are slightly different even within the same category from what I could tell. 

I liked the table that went over the sofa so you could work there too if you wanted to be more relaxed or use it to eat also. 

Although it’s only across the road from Heathrow and by the Bath Road, the rooms are generally well soundproofed although you can hear the odd faint rumble from an aircraft occasionally. You get a good view of the runway from the higher floors which these rooms are on. 

I was surprised to find that there was a Nespresso maker as well as some nice biscuits and a kettle. Mineral water was provided too and there was an empty fridge. They had really thought of everything with both mugs and takeaway cups in the room. There were also proper glasses in the bathroom – one of my pet peeves since Covid is hotels that only give you disposable plastic or paper cups. 

Next to the bed, there was a double socket as well as two USB ports. Across the room by the desk, there were further sockets if you had a lot of tech to charge. As you’d expect there was an iron and ironing board provided. 

The bathroom had a large walk-in shower which was open halfway along but it did not mean that water got on the floor. It was a generous size room and had plenty of space around the basin for your own toiletries.

The hotel had a brand called Geneva Guild which I am not familiar with but it smelt refreshing and seemed reasonably good quality.

There was even a bathrobe provided in this room category. It did not feel like an airport Courtyard hotel, it felt much more luxurious in this room type. 

Here is the room I had on the previous visit which was very similar. 

Food and drink

Breakfast

On my most recent stay I did not have breakfast as I had an early flight. So I will refer back to my stay before Christmas when I did have the breakfast buffet.

This was free due to my status. I was impressed by the super friendly staff and observed one of them chatting to a couple that had obviously been to breakfast the day before and asking how their visits to various tourist attractions were. 

I thought that there was a decent size selection on the buffet and the room felt modern and bright. I liked that they had fresh, whole and stewed fruit to choose from and the pastries tasted freshly baked. As well as the cold selection there was a full cooked section as well which was all good quality and well cooked. 

There are two options for eating and drinking for the evening.

The Kitchen and Bar

Downstairs there is a bar and restaurant that I ate in the first time I visited.

The staff were helpful and friendly and the food was tasty. I thought there was a decent choice on the menu. 

My chicken wings and tuna melt:

Skybar

On my second visit the rooftop bar had just opened and this specialises in Asian small plates. I was told I could also order from the other menu from downstairs. 

It has a great outdoor terrace overlooking Heathrow and I’d recommend a visit for a drink if you are staying at a hotel nearby. 

I ordered the chicken malai tikka skewers which arrived suspiciously quickly. While the sauce was tasty and the coleslaw fresh, the chicken itself was a big disappointment. It tasted like somehow had reheated it in a pan with a load of butter. It was extremely greasy and had a very strong flavour of cloves which was very overpowering and I could not taste anything else. I left most of it.

The waitress did notice and ask if it was alright. I told her as kindly as possible what I thought and she said she would feed it back. I do think they could have taken an item off the bill as service recovery such as the sparkling water I had since I had left most of it. 

Facilities

There is also a fitness centre open 24-7.

Pricing

The hotel is great value and if you get the local bus to the airport it makes a cheap stay! Prices start from just £73 for the entry-level room for the pre-pay Marriott Bonvoy rate. On points, it costs around 22,000 points but given the cheap prices of the rooms, I don’t think it is worth it. 

Conclusion

I have stayed in almost all the 4 and 5 star hotels on Bath Road and I would say Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Hotel is my favourite for that area when you look at price versus what you get for your money. You don’t get a lounge if you have status as you would at the Sheraton or the Marriott, but you do at least get two free drinks. Personally, this is now my go-to unless I wanted to stay on-site at one of the terminals (I’d stay at the Sofitel at T5, the Hilton Garden Inn at T2/3 and the Hilton at T4). 

You can check prices and get more details on the hotel’s website here. 

Like our Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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I was invited to stay at the Penthouse at nHow London hotel as well as trying their restaurant. I had heard of Nhow as we had previously featured a reader review. nHow is a small chain of hotels in Europe that are design-led and highly focused on local art. I hadn’t realised that they were part of the wider NH hotel group which you may have heard of and also own Anantara hotels. 

The hotel was listed as one of the best UK hotels in 2020 by The Times and gets 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.

Location

The hotel is situated on City Road, on the fringe of Shoreditch and close to Islington (about 10 minutes walk) and Hoxton. It’s around 10 minutes walk from Old Street and Angel Tubes and 20 minutes to Farringdon station. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the surrounding areas as well as boutique shops and markets. 

Check-in and communal areas

Reception

The outside of the nHow hotel is fairly non-descript but as you enter you are hit by an explosion of colour and fun design. The reception area is in one corner of a large open plan area on the ground floor that also consists of the bar/restaurant and sitting areas. At one end of the reception desk is a drink labelled ‘Drink me’, presumably in homage to Alice in Wonderland. It tasted like a fruit infused water and was refreshing, although it would have been good to know what was in it!

My favourite part of the downstairs area is the large Big Ben sculpture which looks like a rocket. The hotel has been designed under the theme ‘London Reloaded’ by Project Orang – a bold modern celebration of traditional British icons, such as London landmarks, the Royal Family and the underground. 

Another area I liked was the fireplace corner which made a relaxing place to sit that felt a bit like someone’s living room!

However, you couldn’t maintain that illusion for long when you spot these whimsical chairs that look like they are made from military uniforms!

The receptionist welcomed me to the hotel and apologised that the penthouse was not quite ready as I had arrived around 40 minutes before check-in started. After a short wait in the bar area, I was invited to collect my keys and head to the room.

Rooms of nHow London hotel

The guest floors were no less quirky than the main area, even before I got to my room. As I left the lift it felt like I was on a London street which continued as I headed down the corridor. 

You will notice that the carpet gradually changes as you walk along it, initially starting with sporadic flowers until it erupts into a sea of roses as you come to the penthouse. 

I also adored the front door-like room entrances which were apparently inspired by Notting Hill.

Penthouse door

As you enter the Penthouse there is a guest bathroom in the hallway with a rather unusual painting of the Queen. Not sure what her Majesty would make of the moustache (perhaps she needs to visit the beauty salon?)!

Then you enter the main part of the suite through a heavy door. The room is triangular in shape finishing in a promontory window seating area giving good views of the surroundings.

The theme of the room is floral and made me think of an English garden with its grass-like carpet and flower accents. The main living area felt spacious with a dining table that would comfortably seat six, a sofa and two chairs, and a desk for working.

I loved the old Bakerliete phones too as there was a second one in the bedroom. The garden theme continued with the flower decorated kettle which was accompanied by a proper teapot – something you rarely see in hotels nowadays. If coffee is more your thing, there was also a Nespresso machine. I liked that there were mugs as well as takeaway cups if you wanted to grab something on the way out. Also in this area was a proper bar kit with cocktail shaker, measure and ice bucket alongside some nice cut-crystal glasses. Two cartons of water were provided and there was also an empty fridge. 

The wicker back chairs were surprisingly far more comfortable than they looked, probably due to the extra cushion at the back.

There was a little welcome gift on the table of some beautifully decorated cookies.

There is also something of a dog theme to the room with this friendly chap keeping guard as you walk in. The hotel is dog friendly and the penthouse provides a dog bed and bowl for your fur babies. I just hope they don’t get confused by the green carpet and think it is grass! There’s a small charge to bring your dog or cat to the hotel – you can find out more here. 

The bedroom had a more romantic and luxurious feel with its large comfortable bed and open plan bathroom. I’m not always a fan of open-plan bathrooms but this one had the shower and toilet out of sight in separate cubicles, plus there was a curtain you could draw across to separate it from the bedroom. 

The highlight was definitely the huge bathtub with its decadent floral mural behind.

The marble bathroom also had a large walk-in shower with a rainshower head. 

….as well as this unusual large gold basin

There was a plentiful supply of bespoke toiletries from La Bottega which had a light fresh fragrance and felt high quality.

The his and hers Royal themed bathrooms were fun as well as the lime green flip flop style slippers.

The room was very quiet being on the 8th floor and the bed felt comfortable too. My only complaint was that some of the bathroom lights are on a timer so you have to wait for them to go out when you go to bed and switch off. There are motion-sensitive night lights which are a popular feature in new hotels and useful if you want to get up during the night. These ones were quite sensitive though and went off if you turned over in bed! I reported this to management so hopefully, they can adjust them for restless sleepers like me.

In case you are more interested in one of the standard rooms, here is a peek at one of the superior rooms:

As well as the Penthouse there are also the nHow suites which are only slightly smaller but substantially cheaper making them great value.

nHow suite living area

Food and drinkat nHow London hotel

The hotel offers a combined bar/restaurant, The Bell and Whistle, based on a reinvention of a traditional pub. Currently, only the bar and lounge areas are available for dining.

The menu is anything but pub food and both myself and my friend TV Presenter and fellow travel enthusiast Patrick Hoy (see his interview with TLFL here) were impressed with the menu’s offerings. We were torn on what to order but eventually decided to go for the rosemary doughnut and the bao bun to start. The barman who was looking after us was fantastic, friendly and knowledgable. The cocktails we ordered were great too.

The bao bun itself was a little heavy but the flavour of it and the accompaniments were great. I loved my rosemary doughnut which was packed full of flavour. The seemingly eclectic range of ingredients actually worked really well with the salty ham and cheese working with the herby slightly sweet bread and cut through by the acidity and crunch of the gherkin. 

We also ordered a couple of side dishes which were both amazing and worth a trip to the hotel alone, especially the tempura broccoli which was very moreish with its light as a whisper batter. The sweetcorn salad had just the right amount of chilli and the fresh lime perfectly balanced the sweetness of the corn.

For main courses we went for the crab tagliatelle and porchetta.

My porchetta was a huge portion with lovely light crackling puffs and plenty of rosemary jus for dunking the triple cooked roast potatoes. 

Despite being way too full at this point we had both been seduced earlier on by the intriguing dessert menu, so we vowed to soldier on for the review at the expense of our waistlines!

The bacon waffle cone sounded very interesting and often savoury things work well with sweet. Patrick went for the macaroon.

The macaroon had a perfect light but slightly chewy texture and the accompaniments added some freshness with the fruit. I enjoyed the ice cream which was velvety and creamy but I thought there was a little too much bacon versus the other elements. But overall it was enjoyable and fun. 

Breakfast at nHow London hotel

I had breakfast included and was expecting a fairly small breakfast choice since it was described as “continental” but was very pleasantly surprised. The breakfast buffet had a small selection of hot items as well as an extensive choice of high-quality cold options. From smoked salmon to sourdough and fruit salad to green salad, it had it all. You could also order a la carte for an additional fee.

I had to head to Heathrow quite early so I just had a lovely buttery and flaky croissant and some creamy Greek yoghurt with some perfectly ripe fruit. I thought it was very clever how when you entered they took your coffee order so you didn’t then have to waste time waiting for someone to come over. Why don’t other hotels do this? It’s always so infuriating having to wait for ages for someone to come and take your order!

Facilities at nHow London hotel

There is a large well equipped modern gym in the basement and three meeting rooms. There are also Brompton bikes available for use. 

Price and booking

Prices are very reasonable with superior rooms starting at around £140 and the Penthouse from around £500 a night which you could easily pay for a basic room in Mayfair. The nHow Suite starts from just under £300. However, you can get it slightly cheaper by joining the NH hotels loyalty scheme, NH Rewards, which can give up to 10% extra discount and you can earn points too. It’s free to join here. 

You can find more information about nHow London and rates here. 

Conclusion

I was pleasantly surprised by nHow London hotel as having seen the quirky decor before, I wasn’t sure if it would be all style and no substance. However, the room was well equipped and thought out as well as comfortable. I really enjoyed the food and the broccoli tempura really was to die for! The main communal area had plenty of places to sit and relax as well as a great bar and food. Breakfast was also great with plenty of choice and high-quality ingredients. Staff were all friendly and there appeared to be a lot of thought put into how everything works resulting in seamless service most of the time. 

If you want a reasonably priced luxury experience close to the fashionable areas of London to explore, then this is definitely a great choice. You get a lot for your money and even a suite is the price of a standard room in more expensive areas. The 10% discount makes it even more attractive!

Like our nHow London hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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I have been working my way around the plethora of new hotels in London’s City and East area but was yet to try the new Hyatt which opened in July 2021. So when Hyatt kindly invited me to try their new restaurant Zoom East and their new rooftop bar along with a stay, it seemed the perfect opportunity. Having stayed at Hyatt Place at Heathrow before, I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting the food or bar to be anything more than a typical hotel restaurant – how very wrong I was….

Free stuff – here’s how I handle it

Up until Covid I rarely took many free stays as frankly, it makes everything all more complicated. However, in the interests of doing enough reviews to keep up with new openings etc, I have recently been accepting some more. Previously there have been some comments about how I am just going to write nice stuff because it’s free. So I thought it worth just explaining a little about how it works. For a start, I only accept free stays if I already know that the hotel is of a good enough standard. It could be that I’ve stayed before, or know someone that has or if not I look at online reviews as well before I accept. (Hyatt Place gets 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor)

If I was to have an issue during my stay I would state that in the review having given the hotel a chance to rectify it. I will always be honest and as you know go into detail about the hotel – good and not so good. There’s no point in writing a great review and then a TLFL reader stays and calls me out on it. I lose my reputation, so it’s not good for anyone.

If I had a truly disastrous stay I would not write the review at all but look at returning. I often do this with stays that I have paid for too. Last summer I stayed at a hotel that I really loved but one employee made the stay far less good than it should be. So I chose to inform the hotel and I will return another time to see how things have improved rather than perhaps colour people’s judgement based on one person. That one employee would have overly influenced the review, so I chose to give them a second chance. 

There were no issues at all on this stay, but I thought it worth pointing out how it works as people often interpret a good stay as me just saying that because it was free! I never accept free stays that do not allow me the freedom to write what I want to. I’d much rather just pay!

Hyatt Place London City East Location

Hyatt Place London City East is east of the city and about 5 minutes walk from Aldgate East tube. There’s plenty to do nearby as it’s close to the vibrant Brick Lane, Spitalfield’s Market, the Tower of London, and hip Shoreditch. If you are into art it’s also very close to the Whitechapel Gallery that’s around 3 minutes away.

Check-in at Hyatt Place London City East

I’ll be honest and say when you see the entrance, the hotel doesn’t look overly impressive as the facade is quite nondescript. But really, does that matter? Once you get inside it’s a different story. Hyatt Place is Hyatt’s select service hotel which is aimed at mid to upper-level business and leisure travellers. You could equate it with their competition at the Hilton Garden Inn or Courtyard by Marriott level. But in my limited experience with this one and the Hyatt Place at Heathrow, I’d say they are above that. 

Looking down from the entrance to reception

You enter on the ground level but have to go down to reception via either the staircase or lift. It’s clear that artwork is a big feature here, especially in the reception area where there are several murals. The ones directly by reception are by Olly Fathers @ollyfathers whose abstract art has been commissioned for Soho House and has been shown multiple times at the Saatchi Gallery. 

Reception

Once at reception, I was warmly greeted and given a sheet of paper with all the details of when things were open. This is one thing I really wish all hotels would do. I travel a lot and I really don’t want to listen and memorise the opening times for everything when I check-in. It’s much better to hand me a sheet of paper (or why not email it?) so I can refer back to it. 

Tables in reception

There is a fairly large area around reception which is handy for working as there are plenty of tables at the right levels. There are also two PCs and a printer that you can use as well.

I really liked this as it gave me somewhere to work after I checked out rather than having to go to a noisy cafe.

Here you will also find another fantastic mural by Spanish-born street artist Jay Kaes (IG @jaycaes) which is inspired by the urban landscape around the hotel and of course the London Underground. I really liked this one and the way the furniture blended in seamlessly with it. Jay’s artwork can also be seen on the menu for Pocketsquare. 

In reception, there is also a small cafe where you can grab a Starbucks, although this is due to be changed to a local coffee brand shortly which is great. They also have some soft drinks and snacks which is useful. 

The Hyatt Place London City East room

Generally, Hyatt Place rooms are very modern and simple in their appearance and this was no exception. I had a 1 King Bed High Floor with Balcony which is the category I would recommend. The room feels bright and airy when you walk in thanks to the abundance of windows and a door leading out to the terrace. It’s pretty rare to find outdoor space in London hotels, so I was very pleased to see a lovely big balcony at Hyatt Place! There was furniture to relax on and a view of the city skyline.

Unfortunately, there’s currently a crane nearby that slightly blocked the view of the famous Gherkin building, but once that’s gone it will be really spectacular. Even in the cold weather this week it was great to be able to just pop onto the balcony to get a little fresh air and admire the view. 

Nighttime view from the balcony

The hotel only opened in July 2021, so being new the rooms were well designed with almost every modern convenience. In these balcony rooms, you get upgraded amenities as well such as mineral water, a welcome gift, bathrobe, and a Nespresso machine. So you’d say it’s pretty much in line with what you would get at a 5* hotel. There were even lovely coffee cups rather than just mugs and a kettle too. There was a small fridge too which was empty apart from the long-life milk for hot drinks, but I really liked that you could switch it off easily from a wall switch. Even the quietest fridges still make some noise so it was great to be able to turn it off (instructions were clear on a sign on the shelf). 

If you want to work there’s a choice of a large desk or the generous sofa with its table. 

Again it was good to see that they had thought about having a mirror so people have somewhere to do their hair. This was situated at the desk so you could use it as a desk or a dressing table. There’s also a full-length mirror at the front of the open wardrobe. I found the bed very comfortable and I’m very fussy about beds. This definitely had plenty of padding even for this princess!

One criticism here was that it was not immediately obvious that the light inside the wardrobe could be turned off with the switch by the door. I had obviously as usual just hit all the switches when I walked in. I then spent a confusing few minutes trying to work out how to get the wardrobe light to go out by moving the sliding door/mirror as this is how most hotel wardrobes work!

There was a plug socket next to each bed with a USB for phone charging and two sockets by the bed, one on each side. The socket on one side of the bed had an AM/FM alarm clock radio with MP3 connectivity plugged into the socket which was a little annoying that they did not provide another socket here so you didn’t have to unplug if you wanted the socket. Also, the sockets by the desk were a little close to the desk which makes plugging some appliances that have a larger plug a bit tricky. But these are all fairly minor whinges! There’s a large 55″ TV which is a Smart TV so you can play your own content. 

Desk with welcome amenity

The bathroom is smallish although it has a generous size shower, though not nearly as small as some of the  5* hotels I have stayed in! This was perfectly proportioned so you weren’t squeezing around things like you have to do in some hotel bathrooms. There was enough room around the sink to put your own stuff and more room underneath. There were also a few hooks and you’d be surprised how many hotels miss adding this!

I always have a hanging toiletry bag so want to be able to hang it up somewhere as well as somewhere to hang your used towels. The shower was  spacious and easy to use with plenty of places to put shower gel etc. Toiletries are the same ones I have seen in Hyatt Place at Heathrow and are a decent size and good quality. They are by Dr. Barney Kenet who is a board-certified dermatologist. There was no body lotion though and no shower cap which is normal with Hyatt Place. 

Rooms are serviced every day with bed linen changed every 3 days unless you request otherwise. 

The entry level rooms are very similar minus the balcony and a few of the luxury items like the Nespresso machine. They still have the sofa and desk and although a slightly small footprint, pretty much everything else is identical to my room.

Hyatt Place London City East Food and drink

Zoom East dinner

Katie in London and I were the first people to try the new food for Zoom East, their new menu, which opens in a couple of weeks. I’ll be honest and say I never thought that I would consider going to a Hyatt Place especially for their restaurant, but if I was in the area I would definitely be back for both the bar and restaurant.

The new chef is from Sicily, so of course, the food is Italian. I was actually chatting to the chef saying that the food that is most frequently ruined in restaurants in the UK is Italian. Italian food is simple so needs to be made with the best ingredients and cooked perfectly otherwise it can be bland. I’m sure we’ve all had some insipid chopped pale tomatoes on a piece of rock-hard bread masquerading as bruschetta in a restaurant in the UK! This was definitely in a different realm.

Both Katie and I are pretty fussy about our food, so if they impressed us, it’s fair to say it was very good. We were served a set menu of a selection of dishes from the new menu. It’s just as well it gave a bit of everything as initially we weren’t sure and were worrying about what to choose as it all sounded so good! The pictures you see of the restaurant reflect how it is in the daytime as they had not yet got all the furnishings that will transform the space at night into a more cosy space.

There’s a tranquil “terrace” area too with a living wall. The highlights for me from the meal were the courgette flower which was delicately handled in a wafer-thin batter and a light goats cheese stuffing, the sea bass that had a rich tomato sauce with punchy flavours of olives and capers, and the meatballs which were full of garlicky goodness and topped with a little salty parmesan.

It was not completely faultless as the courgette flower didn’t need the addition of the truffle in the dressing as it was a bit overpowering but perhaps something a little fresher. However, overall it was pretty damn close to perfection! I also tried a few of the wines such as a Riesling and Prosecco and they were all of great quality, which again can be tricky to find in hotel restaurants. 

Zoom East – Breakfast

Breakfast again was more than I expected from a select-service hotel. There was a good variety of everything from waffles and a full English to fruit and high-quality yoghurts. You could get eggs cooked to order such as fried, poached or an omelet. Attention to ingredients had obviously been paid as there were things such as good quality jams like Wilkin and Son’s jam, a choice of salted or unsalted butter, and Marmite and Nutella for your toast. Their fresh fruit was ripe and tasty too.

There was a good choice of pastries including donuts and fresh bread you could slice yourself. Staff were very attentive and friendly. My only complaint was that the coffee was from a machine but actually it was of decent quality. 

Pocketsquare Skyline Bar and Terrace

If you are in the area, especially in decent weather, I would definitely recommend trying out the rooftop bar Pocketsquare.

Although there are many rooftop bars in the area, this one felt much more local and intimate compared with many of the others.

The staff member serving us was incredibly knowledgeable and went through the ingredients of each drink. There’s a wide range of cocktails, especially paired gin and tonic combinations and even a Negroni menu which I have not seen before. She also gave us a little taste of a couple of things too such as Discarded’s amazing Banana Peel rum which I highly recommend!

I tried the Marketa and Katie went with the Aqua Vita. It came with a fun flavour ballon that popped into a smoke over the drink. 

The glasses were quirky glass versions of what looked like a paper cup and hand blown. Mine came with a marinated pineapple garnish – there’s plenty of attention to detail here! Cocktails were definitely generous on the measures too – two of these and we were both feeling good!

Inside is just as nice as outside and has a sophisticated but relaxed vibe.

Even early on a Tuesday night, it was filling up by the time we left, so it is obviously getting a reputation locally. 

We had a quick try of the bar food with the tempura oysters which were fantastic. Whisper thin batter and a zesty but savoury ponzu dressing was the perfect morsel to start the evening’s feasting!

Facilties

There’s a well-equipped gym that’s available 24/7 with your room key.

Pricing

One of the best things about this hotel is the price. If you are a World of Hyatt member there aren’t really many properties at the affordable end of the scale in London apart from near Heathrow. The Great Scotland Yard and Hyatt Regency The Churchill are great luxury hotels, but prices start at around £350 upwards. If you are going to be out and about a lot, it’s not always worth paying top price for a hotel that you will barely be in. Prices at the Hyatt Place London City East start at less than £100 a night for an entry level room! If you wanted to use points, prices start from a crazy 9000 points a night off-peak! For a balcony room like mine, they are still very reasonable at £195 upwards. 

You can find more details and check prices here. 

Conclusion

I’ll admit I went with fairly average expectations and was blown away with the bar and restaurant offerings. I’m still very surprised by what you get for the price to be honest! The room was spacious and extremely well equipped as well as being bright and modern. A lovely large shower, decent toiletries and comfortable places to work or use as dressing table meant this room pretty much had everything you could want. I just wish more new hotels put as much thought into how they layout and equip rooms! Yes there were a couple of very minor quibbles and it’s not in the heart of everything in London, but it’s well connected and close to most of the City area attractions. 

And the million-dollar question – would I pay my own money to come back and stay here? Yes absolutely! 

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The City of London has become something of a hotspot for new hotel openings with the Westin London City also opening recently and the Hyatt Place which I will be reviewing soon. This is a review of Canopy by Hilton London City.

Canopy by Hilton

I’m guessing that many readers may not be that familiar with Canopy by Hilton. To be fair, prior to this I wasn’t too sure either! According to Hilton, Canopy by Hilton is Hilton’s “upper-upscale lifestyle hotel brand, located in the most dynamic neighborhoods across the globe, every Canopy hotel becomes a natural extension of the community in which it calls home and provides an energizing atmosphere with thoughtfully local touches.” Any clearer? 

One thing that is more simple to understand is the standards across every Canopy hotel:

• Signature mattress designed just for Canopy by Hilton, outfitted with the right amount of support and temperature control.
• Nespresso machine to start your day,
• Uncloseted storage,
• A large bathroom with a large walk-in shower.
• Every bed is topped with a canopy inspired by the neighborhood.
• Canopy Central – a central space for guests day to night.

Location

The hotel has a good location for public transport with Aldgate tube station only being 2 minutes walk away. With that and Aldgate East tube station,  you can catch the Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, and District lines. It’s not the nicest of streets it is situated on but there is a good Thai restaurant, Thai Square, if you didn’t want to eat in the hotel. 

It’s also not great for access as there is a double yellow line outside so if you have a lot of luggage you may have to lug it across the road. It seems definitely designed for short-stay customers.

Check-in

The outside of the building is very modern and it has a rather random display of what look like stuffed birds (bit hopefully are fake) in the window.

In my head, I was expecting a super modern, slightly minimalist reception, but I was pleasantly surprised by the luxury feel of the reception area. The reception area is a large open-plan space with lots of seating and a bar at one end. 

There is also a seating area off to one side.

I found all the staff at the hotel super friendly and helpful. On checking in I was given some drink vouchers which I assume was due to my status as a Hilton Diamond member. I was also upgraded to a Junior Suite.

The room

The room was a little more in line with what I was expecting in terms of being modern and simple. It felt very spacious and had a good view of the Gherkin and the City of London.

There was a lovely note and some snacks in the room to welcome me. 

It did of course have the signature Canopy above the bed. I liked the fur throw on the sofa (which is a sofa bed) in case you were chilly while watching TV! Talking of TVs, this one was large at 55 inches and had the usual Smart TV features. 

I thought the room was particularly well equipped. It had a bathrobe and slippers which were in the open wardrobe. I liked the large area that you could lie your suitcase down on in the wardrobe. Much better than the annoying racks that can’t cope with a double-sided suitcase. 

There was also a Nepresso machine, a kettle and I loved the large water bottle you could refill. 

As you would expect there was a safe but it was large and well-hidden. So many safes it is a struggle to fit a laptop in, but this had plenty of space. 

Finally, there was a fridge which was empty except for some fresh milk which was also something I would only expect to see in a really top end hotel. 

I loved the little extras in the room with an eye mask and some slipper socks in bright orange (a little bit on the easyJet orange for me!)

The bathroom was also a good size and well designed. It had everything I would expect from a luxury bathroom – large rainhead shower, magnifying mirror, and plenty of soft white towels and face cloths. 

Toiletries were by Aptiva in Mountain Honey and had a mild unisex fragrance.

The bed was pretty comfortable and the room was super quiet. I could not hear any noise from the street below, although I was on one of teh higher floors. It is not a particularly busy street for traffic anyway. 

Food and drink

The hotel currently has the Freedom Café in the lobby and the Penny Squares for breakfast. Florattica Rooftop bar is due to open soon. 

Freedom cafe is for coffee, snacks, lunch, and an area to work in the day and then a bar at night with small plates. It has a great gin list with plenty of local options as well as some great cocktails. 

Breakfast 

Breakfast was also a pleasant surprise. The restaurant has a lot of large communal tables which I probably would not be a fan of if its busy. However, it was pretty quiet when we were there.

There were no real complaints about breakfast apart from having to use a machine for coffee but it was at least a good bean to cup one. There was certainly a large enough selection of food to choose from.

The cold selection had salad, meats, cheese, yoghurt, cereal and some lovely fresh fruit such as berries. The bakery selection was also great with slice your own artisan bread and some good flaky croissants. 

There was a full hot selection which also had a version of shakshuka, one of my favourites.

Everything seemed good quality and the dishes were topped up regularly.

Facilities

There’s a large well-equipped gym and a concierge service. 

Booking and pricing

I paid cash for the hotel and prices can be very reasonable if booked in advance. Prices start from around £150 a night or 56,000 Hilton Honors points. 

You can search for prices and availability here.

Conclusion

Overall I was impressed with the Canopy hotel. It was stylish with friendly staff and a good bar. The room had lots of extras and was comfortable and quiet. I also felt like my status was recognised which is always nice. Considering the price of the hotel it does make a good value option for a fairly luxurious hotel that is close to public transport. 

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This is my review of my stay at Nobu Portman Square London in Autumn 2021. As I said the other day, before I stayed at the Nobu hotel I was not expecting a lot. Much as I enjoy the food at Nobu, I have not heard great things about their hotel in Vegas and worried that it would be all style over substance. So what did I think?

Location

The location was what attracted me as I had some social events in Portman Square. I had often thought the terrace outside Nobu looked nice, but never been inside. 

The hotel is only a few minutes’ walk to Selfridges and opposite the Hyatt Churchill hotel. It’s 4 minutes walk to Marble Arch tube and 6 minutes to Bond Street, so it’s pretty well served for transport and things nearby. 

Check-in

As soon as my taxi pulled up there were staff to open the door and take my luggage.

The door to the hotel was opened for me as well as I was welcomed to the hotel. The reception area is beautiful and feels very luxurious and tranquil.

The reception staff were very helpful and friendly throughout my stay. I arrived early but there was no issue getting checked in. Although they explained a few crucial parts about the hotel, there was also a welcome letter which I always like so I can refer back to it. I was asked if I minded giving my mobile so they could add me on What’s app if I needed anything which seemed like a good idea. 

The room

I had booked a Deluxe room, one up from the entry-level superior room. As expected the room felt Japanese and slightly minimalist in style. I think when you see photos of the rooms they can look a bit stark, but it didn’t feel that way.

I liked that there was a huge desk that you could use to work at or dry your hair with a chair placed by the mirror. There was also an armchair and table which you could use to work at if you wanted a more relaxed position.

There was a note welcoming me to the hotel and some of the Senbei crackers which were left by the Japanese Tea set.

It felt like a personal touch and something unique to the hotel.

There was also a Nespresso coffee machine, kettle and fresh milk in the fridge. 

The mini bar was bursting with choices to run up a hefty bill! I liked that they had the Moth premixed cocktails including Negroni and Espresso Martini. It was good to see some nice glassware to go with it to. Two bottles of water were provided on arrival and topped up at turndown if necessary. The turndown service was excellent with all my bedside table rearranged nicely on a flannel and water put out too. 

There were the usual robes (very good quality) and slippers along with a safe and an umbrella. There was no iron or ironing board but provided one very quickly when I requested it. They also have garment steamers available. 

There were plenty of sockets everywhere including by the bed and the light switches were simple to operate. The bed was very slightly firmer that I would like but overall was comfortable and the hotel was quiet. It maybe was due to the exclusive Nobu (Simmons) mattress. You could feel the quality in the pure cotton, 400 thread count linens. I was on the 9th floor so fairly high up and heard no traffic noise. 

I particularly liked the bathroom which felt luxurious with its marble floor. I was surprised not to find a Japanese toilet though!

Grown Alchemist large size toiletries were provided alongside a good selection of Nobu branded amenities. I’m a fan of Grown Alchemist so I was happy!

The shower was the highlight as it was large with an enormous rain shower head, separate handheld shower and simple to use push controls.

Food and drink

One of the massive perks for me was they served breakfast until 2pm! I had it included in my rate and it was great to be able to have brunch after a late night out!

Slightly oddly it was served in the bar. The menu had lots of interesting choices and on day one I went for the Yuzu crab benedict since I adore Yuzu. You could choose whatever you wanted if you had breakfast included so I went for a croissant as well which was enormous as well as being beautifully light and flaky. It was served with a choice of fine butter and homemade jams. Delicious!

The benedict was also great and the eggs cooked perfectly. I really liked having the brioche toast instead of a muffin as it was much lighter and the sweetness went well with the crab. It could have done with a little more crab but that’s my only complaint.

The service the first day was great and the experienced waitress I had was gracious and very friendly which really made the experience. All in all, it was a fantastic way to start the day.

The second day it was slightly less successful due to having to wait quite a long time but the bar was full being a Sunday morning. The same waitress remembered me and when they had run out of croissants (to be fair it was probably around 12.30pm at this point) made the kitchen make one especially for me! This characterised the level of service I had throughout my trip. 

The second day I went for the full English. I loved the homemade baked beans and the sourdough toast. It was the attention to detail that really makes it. I had also sampled some of the crispy bacon the day before so I asked to swap in that for the back bacon which of course was no problem.

I did really like the lounge bar and have returned a few times for some great cocktails there. They do also have the Nobu lounge which is more of a nightspot. Here is the full cocktail list at Nobu:

If ever you are in the area I recommend popping in for a Japanese Fizz. I introduced all my friends to it and they all ordered another one or three! so they must have been good! They have that lovely citrus flavour of Yuzu with a hint of sherbet about them. It’s the sort of drink that feels very innocent but wreaks its revenge the next day!

Nobu restaurant

If you haven’t been it’s worth going once if you have deep pockets and like Japanese food. It’s basically a fashion of Japanese with a hint of Mexican. Portions are pretty tiny which is what makes them expensive. But I like being able to try several different things. I had a few of my favourites:

The crab tacos

Then yellowtail Jalapeno which comes with a soy/citrus dressing and just the right kick from the jalapeno. 

Then the beef Toban Yaki which comes sizzling on a ceramic plate. It was OK but I found it a little bland.

The highlight was actually the tempura asparagus which had a wafer-thin crispy batter around beautifully fresh asparagus and a lovely dipping sauce. It was so good I ordered another portion!

Facilities and spa

Nobu has three treatment rooms offering an array of bespoke treatments including the Nobu Zen – a Nobu Signature Ritual with stretching and massage techniques to balance the body and harmonise the mind. I went for a 60 minute “Restless traveller ritual” treatment. This consisted of dry leg brushing to activate lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness, followed by a long foot ritual with acupressure before moving to an Indian head massage and antipollution face massage to cleanse and nourish. I’d say this is pretty much my dream treatment and very relaxing. The therapist was lovely and felt very pampered by the experience. I would definitely go back even if I wasn’t staying at the hotel.

Afterwards, I was offered their signature tea which was tasty (I hate most herbal teas so that’s saying something). There’s a nice area to sit and relax near the spa and gym which also has an outdoor space.

They do a decent variety of treatments although standard things like manicures and pedicures are on request. It felt more of a wellness spa than a beauty salon.

Nobu offers a full Pilates studio with a choice of classes from £35. There is a 24-hour modern gym too. 

Booking and offers

I had booked through Luxury Escapes as I had credit to use and it cost £300 a night including breakfast. Normally I would have booked through our travel agent partners GTC as you get extra perks if you book through them.

As well as being a flexible rate you get:

• 100 USD hotel credit
• Complimentary buffet breakfast for two daily
• Early check-in and late check-out upon availability
• Upgrade at time of check-in – subject to availability (Excludes Saijoukai Suites and The Nobu Penthouse)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

You can request rates and availability here. 

Conclusion

I went with fairly low expectations but ended up loving it so much I stayed an extra night. They were happy to extend my stay for a reasonable rate and offer me free breakfast as the rest of my stay had included it. It doesn’t have the swimming pool/steam/sauna etc that I usually look for but the prices are reasonable and it’s perfect when I will be out and about a lot. 

I found it a very calm and luxurious hotel which really helped me relax. The staff were really exemplary apart from one breakfast when things were a little slow. However, they spotted this and apologised before I could say anything and chased things up. 

The spa, restaurant and bar are also worth a visit in their own right. 

NOTE: Things may have changed slightly as Covid restrictions have lifted further since I stayed in autumn 2021. 

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Up until around 6 or 7 years ago The Carlton Tower Jumeirah hotel used to be my go-to London hotel. Then it started to get a bit dated and in need of some renovation.

All that changed when it reopened in summer 2021 after an extensive 18-month refurbishment at the cost of $134 million (£100 million). The hotel has been rebranded as The Carlton Tower Jumeirah and there are now fewer rooms to allow for larger accommodations.

The hotel has a long history, and it originally opened in 1961 as London’s first tower hotel and was celebrated for being the tallest in London at the time. It was originally designed by Henry End, also responsible for the interiors of the Plaza Hotel in New York.

I stayed late last year to check it out – so have they restored it to its former glory?

Location

The Carlton Tower has a fantastic location a few minutes walk to Knightsbridge tube, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Hyde Park. It’s also handy for Kings Road, the Natural History Museum and the Royal Albert Hall.

The rooms overlook Carlton Square making them quiet and giving a lovely outlook as well as views over London on the higher floors. 

Check-in

Check-in definitely felt like a very premium experience from the staff’s beautiful uniforms to the welcome drink.

As you walk in you enter a large lobby with a stunning light fitting. Off the lobby is the bar and the all-day cafe. When I was there it was close to Christmas and the hotel was decorated for the holidays.

The reception staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. I was offered a welcome drink and an individually wrapped hand towel on a tray. With the staff’ gorgeous silk print outfits as well, I felt like I was checking into a hotel in Asia. They even have separate day and nighttime uniforms, now that’s attention to detail!

I was also given an initialled leather key to keep as well as the more normal key card for the room. A brief overview of the hotel was given along with the times of breakfast etc.

The room

I had a Junior Suite with a balcony. You can also get a balcony with lower category rooms as well. 

There were some lovely welcome gifts laid out for me – I particularly liked the scrabble board with my name spelt out in Valrhona chocolate letters! There was also some fruit. 

The room felt very large with a sitting area, the table and chairs and a large hall area for clothes and tea and coffee etc.

There was also a dual-purpose desk/dressing table with plenty of sockets.

Many of the rooms have the Dyson hairdryer in the desk itself but mine was in the wardrobe. You can also request other Dyson hair accessories from reception if you wish. 

As you would expect, there was a coffee machine and a kettle with the Carlton Tower branding. I was pleased to see Jing tea which is a really high-quality brand and one of my personal favourites. I also loved the copper bar accessories which were also branded with CT. 

A beautiful set of fine china cups and saucers were in another drawer as well as some lovely crystal glasses.

It was good to have a balcony and enjoy some great views over London. The gardens below are private but guests at the hotel can get a key to them as well as enjoying the tennis courts adjacent. 

The bed was super comfortable and definitely up there with some of my favourite hotel beds such as the Corinthia. It was well equipped for charging by the bed with 2 UK sockets, an EU socket and 2 USBs. There was also a Bluetooth clock radio and simple controls to turn the lights off. You could also dim the lights at a central switch and where there was also an easy to use temperature control. 

The huge 55-inch widescreen HDTV featured high-definition streaming and device pairing.

Turn down service was particularly impressive with personalised slippers being laid out by the bed. There was also a gift of a set of Grown Alchemist body cream and moisturiser to take home since you can’t pinch the miniature toiletries anymore!

Bathroom

It was good to see a bath although some of the lowest categories of rooms only have a large shower. 

The bathroom felt very luxurious with its expansive use of marble and large soaking tub. I liked that they had large containers of shampoo, conditioner and body cleanser in the shower by cult brand Grown Alchemist, which offers high-quality all-natural products that smell great. There was also a dish or bath salts and some extras such as cotton buds and cotton wool. Soap was provided at the sink. 

The shower was large and had good pressure.

One thing that defines luxury for me is attention to detail and that was certainly something that the Carlton Tower excels in. Everything is branded with the CT logo and there are lots of thoughtful touches such as a black flannel to take your make-up off with. This was the first time I had seen that in a hotel. 

Other room types

The room I would recommend below the category I was in would be the Balcony room.

If you wanted something more spacious than a Junior Suite, there are also generously proportioned Luxury Suites with a separate living and dining area.

Food and drink

The hotel’s restaurants and bars have all been updated. However, the famous ‘The Chinoiserie,’ all-day dining area in the lobby, has kept its essence but refreshed with an elegant and lighter design. Here you can have afternoon tea or simply grab a drink or snack.

Also, in the lobby, the bar has been given almost a modern gentleman’s club feel with rich woods, including a parquet floor, a fireplace, a marble bar top, and chairs in chartreuse green hues. Their secret ingredient is the range of entirely natural aromatic sprays that they used to blend their signature cocktails from Black Pepper to lemon leaves. 

Al Mare

Formerly a masculine feeling steakhouse, the hotel’s destination restaurant has been turned into ‘Al Mare,’ offering modern Italian cuisine  Its terrace opposite Cadogan gardens provides a pleasant spot for lunch or dinner al fresco in the summer. 

I sampled several of their signature dishes during my stay.

To start a creamy saffron and liquorice risotto which was very well balanced against two such strong flavours. 

Then a crispy-skinned wild sea bass with clams and artichokes which was delicate and light but with lots of contrasting favours and textures. 

Finally, of course, you have to end any good Italian meal with Tiramisu, but this was definitely a sophisticated version.

Breakfast at Al Mare

I really liked the feel of Al Mare for breakfast which had sunshine streaming through onto its parquet floors and Mediterranean coloured decor. There was a choice of several set breakfasts as well as a la carte depending on what your room package included.

Between us, we tried the Eggs Royale and a Vegetarian version of the full English. I was torn between that and the standard Benedict with the truffle Hollandaise which sounded tasty too! The food was all excellent, but we did find the service although very friendly, a bit slow and haphazard with our veggie sausages completely forgotten even after reminding them!

The coffee came with a beautiful design on top and had a great flavour with a silky foam on top.

The fruit plate was also equally aesthetically pleasing.

The Peak cafe

My favourite area is The Peak’s light-filled cafe with panoramic views across the capital which is by the fitness area. This is only open to residents and members. They serve a buffet breakfast and then snacks and drinks.

The area can also be used as an event space if you are looking for something special.

Facilties

As well as enjoying the gardens and tennis courts, the hotel is well equipped for keeping fit. The 20m swimming pool was always very impressive in its light-filled position in contrast to many hotel’s basement swimming pools. The swimming pool has now been revitalized with a resort feel featuring poolside day beds and cabanas. The pool is London’s largest in a hotel with natural daylight and has a double-height glass ceiling and a jacuzzi next to it as well. 

There’s a spa-like feel to the pool with drinks and snacks laid out and well equipped high end changing rooms.

The hotel’s health club ‘The Peak Fitness Club & Spa’ is set across three floors in total and has been completely redesigned. New treatment rooms have been created at the Talise Spa on the second floor. Treatments feature products from 11 Skin, Aromatherapy Associates and Omorovicza. There’s a steam, sauna and relaxation area as well. 

Additionally, The Peak offers studio classes and a gym featuring bespoke ‘Technogym’ equipment on the ninth floor. 

Booking

Prices have definitely risen to a similar level as London’s other top luxury hotels with rooms starting at £665. Jumeirah do have their own loyalty scheme which we will be covering in more detail very shortly. 

If you want to get extra value for money, if you book through a specialist luxury agent such as GTC you get additional benefits for your stay:

• Daily complimentary breakfast
• Room upgrade on arrival, based on availability
• $75 food & beverage or spa credit, per room, per stay
• Early check-in and late check-out, based on availability
• Complimentary WIFI
• Complimentary 1-way airport transfer (suite guests, Europe, 2-night stay minimum)

You can enquire with GTC for prices and availability here. 

Conclusion

The hotel was certainly looking very elegant and refined from top to bottom. It truly felt like a very luxurious experience which I rarely find that every detail is taken care of. Here you felt that the staff were genuinely interested in you and what you wanted. There were so many little extra touches such as the personalised welcome, the turndown gifts and slippers. I would certainly rate it on a par with The Corinthia which is my favourite London hotel. In fact, I would say the rooms and overall facilities are better although I still like the spa at the Corinthia better due to its wider range of facilities. 

I liked the style of the hotel which was modern but classic and the reflection of the gardens in the botanic inspired prints used. The swimming pool has been restored to its former glory and on a sunny day, it almost feels like being on holiday lounging by the pool. All the food and drink I had was delicious and high quality, although the breakfast service was the one thing that could have been improved. 

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