Jocelyn

Hello, <BR> <BR>Has anyone stayed at the Repton Hotel (31 Bedford Place) in the Bloomsbury area? <BR>What's this hotel like - in terms of transport, rooms and facilities? <BR> <BR>Also is this area safe generally? I'm planning to stay around this Bedford Place area and will be travelling alone. Any info will be greatly appreciated. <BR> <BR>Many thanks, <BR> <BR>Jocelyn

s.fowler

The area is fine! It's about a block and a half from the British Museum. The Russell Square underground station is about 2 1/2 blocks.There are nice little setaurants and other requited amenities in the area. <BR>There are a number of small, ordinary hotels on Beford Place among which is included the Repton. This past December we stayed at St. Margarets Hotel on Bedford Place.[Do a search for my full report]The front desk was very good. The place was IMMACULATE! The decor pretty ordinary and run down. So we poked around a bit. All I can say about the Repton is that we didn't bother to go in! It didn't look any better in the amenity department. The one that *did* look good was the Thanet. About 5 pounds moer than the others, but more elegant. It is run by a father and son. If we were to return to Bedford Place [which is likely!] we'd be torn. St. M's has its drawbacks, but the cleanliness and desk were fabulous! And the Thanet looked nice! <BR>

s.fowler

That was REQUIRED amenties! [wondering what UNrequited amenities would be...] <BR>Note: Most of the rooms in the Bedford Place Hotels have "facilities" down the hall. [Except for the Thanet] The "ensuite" in our room at St. M.'s was designed for midgets. Whether you require you facilities in the room or not is both a personal and financial issue. Just informing you! <BR>

Myriam

We stayed in the Bloomsbury area (hotel Russell on Russell Square) in December last and were disappointed 1) about the hotel (which was supposed to be 4* but worth only 2*) and 2) about the neighbourhood. We had been there 7 years ago and in our memory Bloomsbury was quite pretty, so we decided to stay there. We found the area to be dirty and the houses not well kept. Totally different from what we had seen 7 yrs ago. <BR>I would prefer to stay at the opposite side of Oxford Street (area Marylbone Road).

Maria

Hi guys, <BR> <BR>Has anyone stayed in the President Hotel in the same area? How about Royal National? I am considering taking advantage of a British Air special for hotels but I can't seem to find much information on the accommodations offered. Any information on these hotels would be very appreciated!

Ron

A few comments re the question and answers above. <BR> <BR>1. I would agree more with SFowler than Miriam about the Bloomsbury area. I have stayed there in 1989. 93 and 98 and have not noticed any particular deterioration. It is still the best close in area with "reasonable" accomodations if one wants to be near Soho, theatre district, Covent Gardens. <BR> <BR>2. One of the places I stayed at was the Thanet. It may look better than others on that street, but the bathromm was the same tiny plastic contraption in the corner. That combined with rude management and poisonous sausages with the english breakfast have not encouraged me to return. <BR> <BR>3. The President, Royal National and a couple of others are (Imperial, County, Tavistock, I think) are all part of the same hotel group catering to the organized tour crowd. They seem to be large, impersonal hotels; the lobby of the Imperial seemed ok. I have not stayed in any of them, but given that the major airlines and tour operators continue to use them, they have to be at least ok (and probably no better than ok.) <BR> <BR> <BR>

Jocelyn

Hi everyone, many thanks to all who responded. <BR> <BR>Besides the B&Bs/hotels in the Bedford Place area, are they any decent lodgings in other parts of the Bloomsbury area that cost around 40-55 pounds with ensuite facilities and are close to tube/bus stations? Can anyone recommend somewhere. <BR> <BR>What about the other areas in London that will be good to stay in? Bayswater or Victoria? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again. <BR> <BR>Jocelyn <BR>

Eileen

Hi, Jocelyn. I no longer remember how much rooms cost at Hotel Montague. But this is one hotel located at Bloomsbury and is right across the British Museum. The front desk is small and simple but the single room wherein I stayed was very nice and clean. And breakfast was great. The neighborhood is safe but I was not able to sleep very well since I heard the vehicles passing by the whole time even if my windows were closed. <BR>However, since I like shopping, I stayed there only once. I prefer to stay at Oxford Street since it's more convenient. <BR>

s.fowler

Ron-- thanks for the info about the Thanet. And I am still smiling from your description of "that plastic contraption in the corner!" <BR>Given the comments on the Thanet and the "look" of the other hotels on Bedford Place, I would recommend St. Margarets. No aesthetic prize here, but I'm convinced the carpets are threadbare because they are cleaned so often! AND the front desk is very helpful. [The breakfast is ample, but unspectacular... you don't HAVE to eat the sausages!] <BR>As for the Russell Square area I noticed a difference. Southampton Row *seemed* tackier than I remembered from about 18 years ago, BUT, as one poster noted, you can't beat the location for the British Museum, Theatre district, National Gallery etc... You are also near my favorite museum, Sir John Soane's Museum. And there are nice little retaurants, cafes and pubs on the streets that run south of the BM. <BR>The next nearest tube stop is Holborn, which is in a nice office/shopping area. Don't miss Sicilian Avenue! <BR>

s.fowler

Bringing this up for Thanet info... <BR>

s.fowler

And again

Sue

We stayed at the Bedford, one in the same chain as the President (imperialhotels.co.uk), and were quite satisfied. However, here's what we were looking for: en suite bathroom, lift, bar/restaurant just in case. The Bedford was a little shabby, but we were happy with our room (facing garden side), liked the garden for sitting in, having a beer and talking, and liked the fact that we were close to the Russell Sq. tube stop and across the street from the 188 (and others) bus stop, which we used a lot to go to theatre area (Aldwych) and even clear to Greenwich. And it is close to British Museum and within walking distance (a bit) to Covent Garden. The hotel personnel were young and very helpful, giving info on laudromat rather than expensive hotel laundry. However, if you are looking for charm? Well, maybe not (I did love the garden.) Good restaurant next door (Diane's), interesting street/alley with pubs, restaurants dead-ending at hotel. <BR> <BR>The Bedford is on Southampton Row a little south of Russell Square. By the way, we paid 90 pounds breakfast included (though it was a buffet breakfast, meaning less than hot eggs, it was plentiful). Frankly, we like the area very much, perhaps because of its location. <BR> <BR>Just noticed that all these postings are from 1999. Oh well, maybe someone can use this!

Judy

Thanks Sue! I am always interested in new info, especially when we will be staying in the Bloomsbury area(The President). Judy

Q.P.

I shouldn't be telling you this, but...there's another small hotel in Bedford Place (right next to St. Margaret's, in fact--that is so little known to the general travelling public that it's practically a secret. It's called The Penn Club, and has long associations with the Quakers. Although you can become a "member" (and get slightly lower rates) and it has certain features of a club (including a lovely library and reading room), in fact anyone can stay there. For years it has been a favorite of academics using the British Library, even now that the BL has moved. Not luxurious at all, but cozy, clean, well run, and in the same low price range as others in that street. Check it out. And, hey, keep this to yourself, OK? <BR> <BR>Q.P.