I have done quite a bit of hotel hopping in London and the rest of United Kingdom recently. It is one of those once in a life time road trips to explore a country in depth and wonder about the history and how people lived through the years. The cities I covered in this road trip included hotels in London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and York. Here is a review of each of them.
Hilton London Angel Islington, London
My first hotel when I arrived in London. It was a new area for me, and though I was initially hesitant about this suburb, turned out to be quite a lovely gem. Hilton London Angel Islington though relatively quiet with a basic lobby area, has spacious modern and clean rooms, perfect after a long trip flying in from Singapore. The best thing about staying in Angel is that it is a food hub with unlimited choices of restaurants serving different cuisines along the street. You would never go hungry here! It is also a cozy neighborhood that does not have huge loads of people going about, which is rather peaceful suburb to me.
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Park Plaza London Waterloo, London
I stayed here on two occasions, once in a studio room, and the other in a standard room. Overall I enjoyed my stay in the hotel, being relatively new and well maintained. It has a fairly decent breakfast option, a lovely lounge area, and a good well equipped gym. It is also located across Lambeth North station, on the Bakerloo line, which was an easy underground route to key shopping spots. Lambeth area is not as crowded so you don’t feel the dirt, stench or crowd as compared to many of the popular areas in London. There are a few supermarkets nearby and a few places to dine if one is not fussy with food.
The studio room at Park Plaza London Waterloo is a winner for me. It is way more luxurious and spacious than the standard room with additional seating area and larger bathroom space. The odd thing is that there is a sliding door between the wc and the shower, so only one person can use the bathroom at a time. Also if you stay facing the train lines you will encounter the sound of trains coming and going though they end in the night for a decent sleep. Otherwise you could not find a more perfect place to stay that is so near major spots by train.
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Assembly Hotel London
Just on Charring Cross road, the new Assembly Hotel London it is very well located with a 5 min walk from Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Just up the street towards Tottenham Court Road tube station is only a 10 min walk, which would also be the start of Oxford Road. The boutique hotel is also steps away from Leicester Square and Chinatown and also walking distance to Covent Garden. If you like to be in the thick of activities to do in London - from the theater, museums, and dining this is the place to be. It is also great if you dislike taking the tube from one place to another as everything is within walking distance. The disadvantage is because as it is a boutique hotel on the budget side, there is no lobby and very tiny rooms, including bathrooms. It would be an issue for long term stay as there hardly any wardrobe space only just a short hanging pole to hang a few pieces of clothes. There is no desk or chair in the room, apart from a large pink plastic rabbit which can be used as a chair. The window wall extension ended up becoming my spot to have a meal and watch people walking below. I would come back here and stay again just because of the convenience of the location.
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The Grosvenor Hotel, London, UK
The only good thing about the hotel is that it is located next to Victoria Station. The hotel is not wheel chair or elderly friendly with steps leading up to the hotel and no porter in front to assist you. The lobby of the hotel is probably the most grand part of the hotel. Other than that the standard double room that I stayed in was a let down. Everything was old and run down and even the bed was sinking. For the price I paid per night I believe I could have gotten a better value else where. It is quite a pity, as historic hotels can be quite beautiful if it was better maintained and refurbished with age. Would I stay here again? Not if I can help it. Perhaps if one stayed in the deluxe room in the main wing they would have a better experience. Personally, I do not like the Victoria area as it is mostly tall buildings and a transport hub, not a place you will wander around to admire the surroundings.
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Coombe Abbey Hotel, Coventry, UK
Once you step into the hotel, you would just be so amazed a the history surrounding this place. You could almost pretend you are gentry when you walk around the surrounding gardens. The rooms are so old styled that you feel you have stepped back in time. It's one of the hotels that one must experience to get a sense of what it is like living in historic times. The corridor and rooms could feel a little scary for me.... They serve a great breakfast, which is set in a lovely sunroom, one of my favorite spots in the hotel.
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Clayton Hotel Cardiff, UK
It is an old town, so I did not expect much. I would stay the hotel had a good and attentive front office reception. The hotel room was old and not updated with carpet that smelled of yesteryear. I couldn't wait to get out quickly enough.
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Hotel Indigo York, UK
This must have been one of my favourite stay in my trip. Relatively new, the boutique hotel is very nicely decorated in an industrial chic style. There are high beds in the rooms so that might be a little difficult for older or shorter people. Everything is new and modern and well thought out. They even provide with free fresh milk, water, biscuits and chocolate. The toilet though lovely was the only awkward one with the door blocking free easy of movement to the wash basin. The hotel is located relatively central in York with an easy walk to the shopping area as well as near restaurants. A large Waitrose is a short walk away. If I am to come back to York, this would be my hotel of choice.
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Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Tower Hotel, Liverpool, UK
The best part of this hotel would be a view of the river from the rooms. Relatively refurbished rooms, with oddly movable side tables that look like something you would have in a house but not a hotel. The bathroom seems new but behave old. The worst part is the card access to the rooms as they still use slot cards and could be a challenge. It is a 10-15 min walk to the shopping One with some restaurants to eat along the way. Would I stay here again? Probably not, as I would try the newer Indigo Hotel just a few steps away.
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Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh, Scotland
Hotel looks relatively well refurbished with rooms looking fairly updated. The hotel is away from shops or dining spots expect a 15-20 min walk. Half of the lifts was working, so it’s best not to be caught with guests arriving from group travel.
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Hilton London Angel Islington, London
My first hotel when I arrived in London. It was a new area for me, and though I was initially hesitant about this suburb, turned out to be quite a lovely gem. Hilton London Angel Islington though relatively quiet with a basic lobby area, has spacious modern and clean rooms, perfect after a long trip flying in from Singapore. The best thing about staying in Angel is that it is a food hub with unlimited choices of restaurants serving different cuisines along the street. You would never go hungry here! It is also a cozy neighborhood that does not have huge loads of people going about, which is rather peaceful suburb to me.
>> Click here for to book
Park Plaza London Waterloo, London
I stayed here on two occasions, once in a studio room, and the other in a standard room. Overall I enjoyed my stay in the hotel, being relatively new and well maintained. It has a fairly decent breakfast option, a lovely lounge area, and a good well equipped gym. It is also located across Lambeth North station, on the Bakerloo line, which was an easy underground route to key shopping spots. Lambeth area is not as crowded so you don’t feel the dirt, stench or crowd as compared to many of the popular areas in London. There are a few supermarkets nearby and a few places to dine if one is not fussy with food.
The studio room at Park Plaza London Waterloo is a winner for me. It is way more luxurious and spacious than the standard room with additional seating area and larger bathroom space. The odd thing is that there is a sliding door between the wc and the shower, so only one person can use the bathroom at a time. Also if you stay facing the train lines you will encounter the sound of trains coming and going though they end in the night for a decent sleep. Otherwise you could not find a more perfect place to stay that is so near major spots by train.
Click here to book
Assembly Hotel London
Just on Charring Cross road, the new Assembly Hotel London it is very well located with a 5 min walk from Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Just up the street towards Tottenham Court Road tube station is only a 10 min walk, which would also be the start of Oxford Road. The boutique hotel is also steps away from Leicester Square and Chinatown and also walking distance to Covent Garden. If you like to be in the thick of activities to do in London - from the theater, museums, and dining this is the place to be. It is also great if you dislike taking the tube from one place to another as everything is within walking distance. The disadvantage is because as it is a boutique hotel on the budget side, there is no lobby and very tiny rooms, including bathrooms. It would be an issue for long term stay as there hardly any wardrobe space only just a short hanging pole to hang a few pieces of clothes. There is no desk or chair in the room, apart from a large pink plastic rabbit which can be used as a chair. The window wall extension ended up becoming my spot to have a meal and watch people walking below. I would come back here and stay again just because of the convenience of the location.
Click here to book
The Grosvenor Hotel, London, UK
The only good thing about the hotel is that it is located next to Victoria Station. The hotel is not wheel chair or elderly friendly with steps leading up to the hotel and no porter in front to assist you. The lobby of the hotel is probably the most grand part of the hotel. Other than that the standard double room that I stayed in was a let down. Everything was old and run down and even the bed was sinking. For the price I paid per night I believe I could have gotten a better value else where. It is quite a pity, as historic hotels can be quite beautiful if it was better maintained and refurbished with age. Would I stay here again? Not if I can help it. Perhaps if one stayed in the deluxe room in the main wing they would have a better experience. Personally, I do not like the Victoria area as it is mostly tall buildings and a transport hub, not a place you will wander around to admire the surroundings.
Click here to book
Coombe Abbey Hotel, Coventry, UK
Once you step into the hotel, you would just be so amazed a the history surrounding this place. You could almost pretend you are gentry when you walk around the surrounding gardens. The rooms are so old styled that you feel you have stepped back in time. It's one of the hotels that one must experience to get a sense of what it is like living in historic times. The corridor and rooms could feel a little scary for me.... They serve a great breakfast, which is set in a lovely sunroom, one of my favorite spots in the hotel.
Click here to book
Clayton Hotel Cardiff, UK
It is an old town, so I did not expect much. I would stay the hotel had a good and attentive front office reception. The hotel room was old and not updated with carpet that smelled of yesteryear. I couldn't wait to get out quickly enough.
Click here to book
Hotel Indigo York, UK
This must have been one of my favourite stay in my trip. Relatively new, the boutique hotel is very nicely decorated in an industrial chic style. There are high beds in the rooms so that might be a little difficult for older or shorter people. Everything is new and modern and well thought out. They even provide with free fresh milk, water, biscuits and chocolate. The toilet though lovely was the only awkward one with the door blocking free easy of movement to the wash basin. The hotel is located relatively central in York with an easy walk to the shopping area as well as near restaurants. A large Waitrose is a short walk away. If I am to come back to York, this would be my hotel of choice.
Click here to book
The best part of this hotel would be a view of the river from the rooms. Relatively refurbished rooms, with oddly movable side tables that look like something you would have in a house but not a hotel. The bathroom seems new but behave old. The worst part is the card access to the rooms as they still use slot cards and could be a challenge. It is a 10-15 min walk to the shopping One with some restaurants to eat along the way. Would I stay here again? Probably not, as I would try the newer Indigo Hotel just a few steps away.
Click here to book
Hotel looks relatively well refurbished with rooms looking fairly updated. The hotel is away from shops or dining spots expect a 15-20 min walk. Half of the lifts was working, so it’s best not to be caught with guests arriving from group travel.
Click here to book
