Help with hotel Choice - Marriott County Hall, Renaissance Chancery Court or Chesterfield Mayfair?
 

I have spent way too much time trying to ensure that I have chosen the right place for my husband and I to stay for our first trip to London. Location is important, since we'll be there for only 2 nights, and charm and atmosphere is also important since we'll be celebrating our anniversary. For about the same price, we can stay at Ren. Chancery Court/club level, Chesterfield Mayfair/classic king or County Hall/king with Thames view. I'm trusting that someone out there has an informed opinion and can give me an answer so I can get on with my life! :) Thanks for your input.

Can only compare Ren Chancery Court and County Hall - without doubt I would go fo County Hall with Thames View. Both hotels are very good but, for me, County Hall has the edge both from location and rooms. Also the Thames View is incredible.

I like staying on the South Bank - it is an easy walk to west end/covent garden etc - and the views as you cross the Thames are wonderful.

If by "Thames View" you mean one of those larger top floor rooms with a balcony I've stayed in one and yes, the view is incredible..even though you are more or less looking THROUGH the London Eye.

This would just be the 'view' room. A balcony room was much more expensive. Sounds like County Hall is winning so far, so I assume the rooms at both County Hall and Chancery Court are essentially the same as far as amenities and decor? Also,someone said the Renaissance is in the business district. We will be there on a weekend, and I'm wondering if the area will be somewhat deserted?

All three of those hotels are wonderful - you really can't go wrong whichever one you choose. All are top notch. But to have that iconic view of the river/Big Ben from your bedroom is just about priceless.

Ren Chancery Court is not "in the business district" - it is on High Holborn which is not that far from Covent Garden but the street has a fair amount of traffic - even on the weekend

My recolelction is that there is nothing much in the difference in the ammenities (I have not stayed in Ren Chancert Court in the last couple of years). The rooms overlook the very large internal courtyard and therefore would not be as light as County Hall.

Both hotels have history but the County Hall has more of a wow factor - and with a Thames View you can open the window and listen to Big Ben - can't beat that.

County Hall is sounding better and better. Guess a view room will be worth giving up my club level room at Chancery Court. Thanks for all the great advice!

Even without a club level room, I loved the Ren. Chancery Court. The location was great -- close to a tube station and we could walk to Covent Garden. Our room was large (even by U.S. standards) with two queen beds (single women), large bathroom with separate tub and shower. I'd stay there again given the chance.

Thanks everyone! It's always nice to receive first hand feedback.
I got a very good rate last month on Marriott's website for Chancery Court/club level. The nightly rate for the club level has gone up almost 35 GBP since then, and County Hall is about $100.00 USD a night more for a view room. Would love the view, but since we won't be spending THAT much time in our room and based on your positive remarks, we will probably choose to save some money and stay at Chancery Court. I appreciate the encouraging feedback.

Interesting that Chesterfield Mayfair is rated so highly on Tripadvisor, but there doesn't seem to be any feedback on this forum.
Has anyone out there ever stayed there?

There's one other thing that the County Hall has..an indoor pool.

We stayed at the Chesterfield Mayfair about 4 years ago for 4 nights. It is a lovely smaller hotel, very comfortable and well-decorated. The location is wonderful, close enough to walk to many attractions and not far from the Green Park tube stop. Mayfair is a wonderful neighborhood to walk around and explore.

Breakfast came with our room and they had a huge buffet and you could order off of the menu as well. There are some pubs and less expensive restaurants nearby.

The staff was very friendly and helpful and we were upgraded to a small suite when we returned to the hotel for one night after we had toured around the countryside.

The rooms are small but because they are well put together and lavishly decorated, it was not unpleasant or claustrophobic staying there. I would definitely stay there again.

Your riverview room is quite enticing though.

CW

Thanks, CW. Now I'm really torn.
We have ruled out County Hall since it puts us over $500.00 USD a night and I'd like to keep it under that. Since we get in late Friday evening, have one full day of sightseeing (first time in London), and fly out early the next morning, we are looking for the total package - charm and location. Is Chesterfield Mayfair as upscale of a hotel as Ren. Chancery Court? I starting to lean towards Mayfair now. What to do.......

You're going to hate me for saying this, but I would choose the Chesterfield. It's very British, more intimate and in a good location for shops and sights, on a quieter road, close to parks (alas, no river views).

Chancery Court is a large hotel and it has larger rooms, it's handy for the Brisitsh Museum, but it's on a busy road and it's quite international in feel. I remember when it was the Pearl Insurance Building.

cliquot1,

I reread your original post where you say you're looking for charm and atmosphere. I think the Chesterfield Mayfair is full of charm and atmosphere. It's not only the hotel but the surrounding area as well. Smaller side streets, posh houses, but near to everything.

I'm not familiar with the Ren. Chancery Court but Londonres gave you good feedback on that.

Because of the Chesterfield's size there were no groups staying there and the clientele when we were there was very mixed, nationality wise. The view from the window in our room was out over some rooftops (5th floor, I think). Not the river, but pleasant. It has a nice bar as well.

Don't stress too much over this--you'll have a wonderful time no matter where you stay.

You guys are great. Thanks for the advice and words of wisdom :) I tend to be a perfectionist, to a fault! But it is so nice to be able to get reliable feedback, and your responses are just what I was looking for. Thanks again for the help!! Mayfair sounds like such a nice area to stay in, and as long as the hotel is up to the same standards as Chancery Court, then I think I've made my decision!!

If you'd like a recommendation for a restuarant close to yoru hotel I woudl offer Le Bourdin Blanc. I've had a couple of excellent meals there
http://www.boudinblanc.co.uk/

I can only comment on the Chesterfield Mayfair. I stayed there on a business trip 2 years ago-only because my client booked the room on my behalf to get their "special rate" for me. I was there 3 nights. It was lovely. Service was great. Room was large and airy. Close to Green Park tube, and there are several nice restaurants and pubs in Shepherd Market, which is very close by. We had pre-dinner drinks at the hotel, but did not eat there. And very clean....

The County Hall complex
( Marriott/Premier Inn/Movie theaters/LOndon Eye etc) does not have any charm or neighborhood feel to it, very touristy. London is such a lovely city and there is lots of charm to be found in other areas.

Thanks again for the advice, including the restaurant. It looks great! As long as Mayfair is considered a good location for accessibility for a one day visit to London, then I think Chesterfield will be my choice, even
though Chancery Court looks good also.
Does anyone know if one is easier than the other to get to Heathrow? We have a 730AM flight out Sunday morning, so we shouldn't have traffic issues, and I assume we'd still need to allow an hour to get there?

I guess I'm too late weighing in but I LOVE the Chancery Court--have stayed there many, many times on business and pleasure. The club floor rooms are lovely and the complimentary lounge buffet breakfast is excellent (I would call it upgraded Continental). The building itself is fascinating as it has retained many of the features (marble staircases and brass) of the former life assurance company. Staff is oustanding. If you are only mildly intrepid and haven't much luggage, the tube line which is half a block away runs straight in and out from Heathrow--run time is around 1hr 20 min, possibly more on Sunday. Watch for Sunday delays. Hotel will arrange a private car for you or a black cab, slightly less than the hire car. CC is an easy walk to Covent Garden and theater district. Tube or buses will take you virtually anywhere else from just outside the door.

Thanks for the input, Cathinjoetown.
I'm actually still on the fence, believe it or not, so your comments are helpful. I'm just worried that I'll be giving up the 'charm' factor at Chancery Court, but location for a whirlwind sightseeing day is important.

For a 07:30 flight on a Sunday I woudl book a car from Justairports (or equivalent) Depending on which hotel you finally decide it'll cost 24 or 30. To me that is worth getting there faster than the tube at that time in the am

With a 7:30 am flight, you'll need to leave quite early. I agree with Wombat7....hire a service to get you there. They'll probably recommend you leave the hotel by 5am....possibly earlier. Seems much easier to do that than to drag around luggage from taxi to train at that time of the morning.

Thanks for the great advice. I tried to submit an online request with JustAirports, but it wouldn't work, so I guess I'll just call them. And I appreciate the heads up for timing. I wasn't quite sure what to expect for a Sunday, but I'm thinking we should probably leave the hotel around 430AM? Definately don't want to miss our flight.

It depends on your comfort zone, whether you are flying business class (with expidited check-in and security), which airline you are flying and how well you know Heathrow.

That early on a Sunday morning I would guess on half an hour to get out to the airport by car. I would be happy leaving at the hotel at 5:30 - which should get you there at 6:00.

Having said that ask Justairports - tell them the time of your flight and they will tell you when they should pick you up.

Let us know which hotel you finally choose. The photos of some of the bedrooms of the Chesterfield on tripadvisor show some quite interesting decor.

It was a very hard decision, but we decided on Chancery Court, based on feedback from a friend who just stayed there, and we'll earn some nice Marriott points for our stay. Since we really only have the one full day, we also felt like we might be in a location more accessible to 'speed sightseeing'.
I'm sure Chesterfield Mayfair is wonderful, and I really hope to have the chance to check it out in the future. Booked JustAirports for our pickup at Heathrow and return. Good advice wombat7 regarding Heathrow. I'm sure Just Airports will know exactly how long to allow. We are using miles for first class, so that might save us time checking in.

I fly out of Terminal 3, travel business class and generally do a web check-in (but have to get my boarding pass at the airport). My average time from check-in desk to lounge is 15 mins - if that is any help.

As I couldn't say enough good things about it, please let me know how you like the Chancery Court. To me, it feels like a 5 star at slightly lower prices. From there it's easy to get down to Picadilly Circus/Leicester Square to grab an on-off double deck tour bus which might be your best chance to see all the main sights in your short time.