Earls Court /Gloucester vs St Martin's Lane vs Bloomsbury
Jul 12th, 2006, 07:58 PM
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That's a pretty good rate for St. Martin's Lane. I stayed there in February during fashion week(definitely not a young twety-something) and my single king was 275 pounds/night.
It's a very trendy place. The rooms are on the small side--but very cool. All white, multi-colored back lighting behind the beds (I liked the cool blue), very sleek. Good internet connections, hip bar, good concierge.
The hallways are interesting--I felt like a rat in the maze trying to get back to my room after being out at the clubs. It's a great place to crash, but not a place that I would "hang out" at my hotel (maybe I would if I were a size 0 and over 6 ft. tall).
There were great restaurants and clubs around and it was probably one of my favorite times in London. We had dinner at Origins (the hotel recommended it) and it was great. I'd highly recommend it--some of the best food I've had in London.
I usually stay in Knightsbridge or South Kensington and this was definitely a different crowd. If you're truly looking for a fun time, this may be the place. I told a friend that I hate going to London--and eating in London--and the stay here was their answer to trying to make me like it. They stay at St Martin's Lane several times a year and love it. If you've stayed in any of the sleeker W hotels--it's very similar.
Let us know what you decide.
That's a pretty good rate for St. Martin's Lane. I stayed there in February during fashion week(definitely not a young twety-something) and my single king was 275 pounds/night.
It's a very trendy place. The rooms are on the small side--but very cool. All white, multi-colored back lighting behind the beds (I liked the cool blue), very sleek. Good internet connections, hip bar, good concierge.
The hallways are interesting--I felt like a rat in the maze trying to get back to my room after being out at the clubs. It's a great place to crash, but not a place that I would "hang out" at my hotel (maybe I would if I were a size 0 and over 6 ft. tall).
There were great restaurants and clubs around and it was probably one of my favorite times in London. We had dinner at Origins (the hotel recommended it) and it was great. I'd highly recommend it--some of the best food I've had in London.
I usually stay in Knightsbridge or South Kensington and this was definitely a different crowd. If you're truly looking for a fun time, this may be the place. I told a friend that I hate going to London--and eating in London--and the stay here was their answer to trying to make me like it. They stay at St Martin's Lane several times a year and love it. If you've stayed in any of the sleeker W hotels--it's very similar.
Let us know what you decide.
Jul 12th, 2006, 11:14 PM
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Hi Lori S,
Appreciate your comments about St Martin's. Sounds like you had the best time in London ever. One concern I have is roomsize; it seems that the smaller rooms are miserably so. I still wonder if the King deluxe is big/comfortable enough to stay in. We are lazy tourists, we enjoy staying in as much as going out. Would you say the area was constantly buzzing? Supposedly, one of the benefit of staying in that hotel is guaranteed access to their very popular bar and restaurant. Did you spend time in either one? Remember any specific fun places nearby? I'll research Origins. We're keeping our options open for now as we're still learning about which area to stay in. Interesting to note that you didn't enjoy staying in South Kensington & Knightbridge as much.
We're also not completely hooked on London perhaps because we always had British friends (out of towners) hosting us from 10 am to 10 pm every day, a bit draining. This time we'll be on our own so we can enjoy London at our own pace.
Appreciate your comments about St Martin's. Sounds like you had the best time in London ever. One concern I have is roomsize; it seems that the smaller rooms are miserably so. I still wonder if the King deluxe is big/comfortable enough to stay in. We are lazy tourists, we enjoy staying in as much as going out. Would you say the area was constantly buzzing? Supposedly, one of the benefit of staying in that hotel is guaranteed access to their very popular bar and restaurant. Did you spend time in either one? Remember any specific fun places nearby? I'll research Origins. We're keeping our options open for now as we're still learning about which area to stay in. Interesting to note that you didn't enjoy staying in South Kensington & Knightbridge as much.
We're also not completely hooked on London perhaps because we always had British friends (out of towners) hosting us from 10 am to 10 pm every day, a bit draining. This time we'll be on our own so we can enjoy London at our own pace.
Jul 13th, 2006, 12:11 PM
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England is probably my least favorite of all of the European countries I've visited. We also had friends that were living in London and visited with them, as well as traveled there on our own. It's just not my cup of tea. (No pun intended.) But this was definitely my favorite of my visits--I actually had a great time.
My husband and I usually like to lounge in our room after a day of playing--especially before dinner. So I liked the hotels in S. Kensington and Knightsbridge, but I didn't particularly enjoy the area or the restaurants there in particular (too $$ for the quality, etc.) and I'm not particularly into shopping in London.
This last trip was with a friend, not my husband--which puts a different twist on things to be sure. We were traveling for business, so we didn't have a bunch of time in the room itself. In fact, I bet I probably spent less than 6 hours in the room. The king is not so small that it's not manageable, but it's smaller than what I would consider comfortable for lounging with my husband. For me alone, it was fine.
We did go to the bar at the hotel--but it was very late after we had got back from the clubs and we didn't have any problem getting a table. I think we actually moved to the lobby though to get some more air. We were there during fashion week so the whole area and the hotel was buzzing. Some of the guest rooms in the hotel actually had trunk shows, so you'd see people and racks of clothes going everywhere. The streets were packed with people. I'm not sure if this is representative or not.
I couldn't tell you the specific names of the clubs we went to, but you won't have any problems finding some. Just look for the queues! Hope this helps!
England is probably my least favorite of all of the European countries I've visited. We also had friends that were living in London and visited with them, as well as traveled there on our own. It's just not my cup of tea. (No pun intended.) But this was definitely my favorite of my visits--I actually had a great time.
My husband and I usually like to lounge in our room after a day of playing--especially before dinner. So I liked the hotels in S. Kensington and Knightsbridge, but I didn't particularly enjoy the area or the restaurants there in particular (too $$ for the quality, etc.) and I'm not particularly into shopping in London.
This last trip was with a friend, not my husband--which puts a different twist on things to be sure. We were traveling for business, so we didn't have a bunch of time in the room itself. In fact, I bet I probably spent less than 6 hours in the room. The king is not so small that it's not manageable, but it's smaller than what I would consider comfortable for lounging with my husband. For me alone, it was fine.
We did go to the bar at the hotel--but it was very late after we had got back from the clubs and we didn't have any problem getting a table. I think we actually moved to the lobby though to get some more air. We were there during fashion week so the whole area and the hotel was buzzing. Some of the guest rooms in the hotel actually had trunk shows, so you'd see people and racks of clothes going everywhere. The streets were packed with people. I'm not sure if this is representative or not.
I couldn't tell you the specific names of the clubs we went to, but you won't have any problems finding some. Just look for the queues! Hope this helps!
Jul 13th, 2006, 12:25 PM
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Hi, we've been to London about a dozen times and stayed all over the place. I especially loved The Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury across the street from The British Museum. Also, loved Jurys Kensington and London Elizabeth (a little more shabby but still quite nice) across the street from Hyde Park and we'll be staying at the Montcalm Nikko at Marble Arch this December. Very nice place. So far, those are the ones I like the most. If you'd like more info on any of 'em, don't hesitate to ask.
Oh, we were in London during the bombings last summer and The Montague was quite near Russell Square Station. It was a wild time but the hotel continued to smoothly take excellent care of all of us.
gaia111
Oh, we were in London during the bombings last summer and The Montague was quite near Russell Square Station. It was a wild time but the hotel continued to smoothly take excellent care of all of us.
gaia111
Jul 13th, 2006, 01:07 PM
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Lori: We have similar sentiments about London but we think we just need to find our comfortable niches in London. Thanks for your further descriptions, the rooms seem to be too claustrophobic & funky to be comfortable. We'll definitely explore Covent Garden in the evening after reading your experience. Our friends are not Londoners so I think they didn't know quite the right places when they took us around.
Gaia: I'd appreciate more info on the Montague. I found a way to book a room there even though it's supposed to be full. Can you describe the room you had? Room type? What do you like about staying there? Conveniences & inconveniences? Thanks.
Gaia: I'd appreciate more info on the Montague. I found a way to book a room there even though it's supposed to be full. Can you describe the room you had? Room type? What do you like about staying there? Conveniences & inconveniences? Thanks.
Jul 14th, 2006, 05:10 AM
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Hi, Dax,
We had a room overlooking the gardens in the back. It was huge...one of the suites. My kids had same. Each was different and decorated really well. The kids just loved being there in those comfortable rooms. Nice bathrooms with loads of amenities. The suites had couches, safes, great minibars and lots of storage space as well as big closets. The concierge was fabulous. He addressed us upon arriving and helped us continuously. He even asked if he could help when we didn't need it! Oh, when we arrived, we were far too early to check in and the concierge took us to a lovely big room loaded with couches, etc., fed us and gave us loads of coffee and tea. He couldn't get us in our rooms early, but tried to make our wait as comfortable as possible. Good breakfast, great room service, can't really lodge any complaint about this place. Good location across from the British Museum but not in the front...more along the side, so the street isn't so busy but located well. Close to Russell Sq. tube but others nearby. When we were there during the bombings last summer, the tube wasn't working much over that first weekend, so we walked to Covent Garden and other places with ease. Still can't believe what a ghost town that place was during that first weekend. Very surreal!
Anyway, if you need more, just ask.
gaia111
We had a room overlooking the gardens in the back. It was huge...one of the suites. My kids had same. Each was different and decorated really well. The kids just loved being there in those comfortable rooms. Nice bathrooms with loads of amenities. The suites had couches, safes, great minibars and lots of storage space as well as big closets. The concierge was fabulous. He addressed us upon arriving and helped us continuously. He even asked if he could help when we didn't need it! Oh, when we arrived, we were far too early to check in and the concierge took us to a lovely big room loaded with couches, etc., fed us and gave us loads of coffee and tea. He couldn't get us in our rooms early, but tried to make our wait as comfortable as possible. Good breakfast, great room service, can't really lodge any complaint about this place. Good location across from the British Museum but not in the front...more along the side, so the street isn't so busy but located well. Close to Russell Sq. tube but others nearby. When we were there during the bombings last summer, the tube wasn't working much over that first weekend, so we walked to Covent Garden and other places with ease. Still can't believe what a ghost town that place was during that first weekend. Very surreal!
Anyway, if you need more, just ask.
gaia111
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