Harrington Hall - Any comments welcome
 

My husband and I are going to UK in Nov and will be staying 4-5 days in London before heading out to the countryside. We would prefer to stay in a hotel while in London as we will probably do B&Bs out in the country. I have been researching for a couple of months on hotel accommodations and have yet to get a recommendation from a travel agent so I thought I would ask some of you who have been there. At first I was really interested in the Royal Horseguards - the pictures on their website looked great but found out from someone who have recently been there that it was okay but maybe not what it appears on the website. Also I understand that there are not a lot of places to dine within walking distance. We are looking for a moderately priced hotel - MUST be clean, must be close to a tube station, would like to have a few places around to walk to dinner at night, and would like to get that English atmosphere - would prefer not to be an American chain. Does this hotel fit the bill? One last thing for now - does this hotel have a bar/lounge with a fireplace? <BR><BR>Any info - negative or positive welcomed.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Brenda

We rented a flat right around the corner from HHall a few years ago. They had recently renovated, so that the outside was old looking but the inside is new and modern. I have never heard anything bad about the hotel.<BR>as for the area, it is great! You will be about a block or 2 from the SoKen Tube station.<BR>There are gazillions of shops, restaurants, great wine shops, pharmacies, boutiques, some really fine restaurants right outside the door.<BR>And don't forget the Victoria and Albert Museum.<BR>I love the area and think that while the hotel may not have the charm of a B&B, you really cannot go wrong with the neighborhood.

Thanks, Kate. Sounds better and better. All that you mentioned are important - shopping, wine shops, restaurants. Is there a Boots pharmacy near - I hear they are worth visting. I always go to a 'drugstore' when we travel out of the country - there are always interesting - soaps, bath products etc. We have several maps marked already and it appeared that the location of Harrington Hall was pretty much in between most of the spots we have marked so far.<BR><BR>Thanks again,<BR>Brenda

Right around the corner is a neighborhood pharmacy, that is quite nice. Not Boots though, but they are Everywhere! <BR>Very close by is a nice Thai restaurant called Bangkok that we ate in a couple of times, also a very posh restaurant called Hillaire. Loved the food and atmosphere . My husband really enjoyed the wine shop, we often saw CNN journalists and familiar faces there. It is a nice neighborhood, quite wealthy.<BR>For fun shopping , there is a White(Waite) Rose Market, we bought chocolates, teas, soaps, try it, its fun.<BR>Get an Access London guide book, they are very helpful in telling you everything in the area you will be staying in.<BR>Have a great time~

I never miss an opportunity to tell anyone how much my family enjoyed Harrington Hall during our June 2001 trip. It was the third trip to London (and third hotel) for my husband and me, and it was the nicest of the three hotels. The rooms were large, air conditioned, with king bed, minibar, marble bathroom, hair dryer. And we had just the standard room. My sister's family had a suite and it was very nice. The staff was very accommodating. The locattion is great --- only a block and a half from the Glouscester tube stop. Lots of restaurants and shops within walking distance. There is a lounge off the lobby, but I can't remember if there was a fireplace ---- I think not. The continental breakfast is the best and most comprehensive I have had, but it is spendy if not included in the room rate. We did not get a good deal on the price of our room. Nevertheless, when we return to London in July 2003, you can bet we will be staying at Harrington Hall again! (We, like you, stay in smaller B&Bs in the country, but always treat ourselves to a nice hotel in London.) Have a great trip!

harrington hall is great. Very clean and good location, right near gloucester rd. underground.

Thanks for the replies. So far, I haven't read anything negative anywhere about this hotel. I know the fireplace question must sound kind of silly but at that time of the year it is sometimes nice to get back to the hotel from a long day and have a drink close to a fireplace - the Oak Bar in the Plaza is one of my all time favorite bars for atmosphere in the winter. Thanks again