miko

Dear all,

Please help me decide between The Sloane Square Hotel and The Academy Hotel (Bloomsberry) in London. Rates are similar but we are due to arrive in London this Friday so I have to make up my mind really fast.
I love the look of both hotels but any tips and suggestions from travellers who experienced staying at any of these two are much appreciated. Which one is better in term of location, charm, value, etc ?
Thank you all,

KTtravel

I haven't stayed at either place but tripadvisor.com gives The Sloane Square Hotel a slightly better rating. If you haven't checked out the reviews there, you might want to read what they say keeping in mind that your opinion might be different. I have stayed near Sloane Square and liked the area but know Bloomsberry is also a great location. I hope someone who really knows these places can chime in. Have a great trip!

KTtravel

Oops, I think it is Bloomsbury.

Michel_Paris

I stayed at the Academy in May 2009. Very nice! Beds were ultrasfot, good pillows, ipod dock/CD player in room, large bathroom, friendly and helpful staff. I was in a single room and it was a bit small (but still a large bathroom). No noise issues.

Quirky building, since it is a hotel that is built into several small town houses.

They have an outdoor sitting area, but I was never around at tea time.

They have a very nice breakfast room, but a bit on the pricey side. I ate there two mornings and the food was good.

Location wise, prime. Some good restaurants within walking distance, easy walk to British Museum, some pubs down the street. From there I walked to St Pauls, Covent Garden,etc..

jent103

If both hotels are nice, I'd pick Bloomsbury hands down over Sloane Square. It's walking distance to more and has good transport connections, plus I just like the area. Sloane Square would be fine too, though.

laurie_ann

I stayed at Sloane Square Hotel a few years ago for a night before I moved into the neighborhood there. The Bloomsbury area is probably more centrally located for tourists, but if you like a more residential neighborhood or a more shopping neighborhood you might prefer Sloane Square. The hotel is one half block from the Sloane Square tube line which is on District and Circle lines and on a number of good bus lines so I always found it very convenient. There are a number of restaurants along the Kings Road there or kind of "behind" the Sloane Square tube station at Ebery Street and Elizabeth Street.

Michel_Paris

The Academy is easy walk to Oxford St for shopping as well as Tottenham Ct Rd for...electronics it seems.

The play "We will Rock You" is playing at theatre on Tottenham Ct.

miko

Thank you all for the very good insight. Sorry about "Bloomsberry", I am now aware of the right spelling .

Based on your comments, I've decided for The Academy, as it is also slightly more inexpensive than the other one. My only fear regarding this hotel was related to the fact that since it has not been recently refurbished, rooms might be a bit more outdated/worn out than they look in the pictures. But...
I think we will enjoy it anyway!
Thanks again for all your help.

Michel_Paris

Some tidbits...

I used Googe St Tube stop to get to hotel

Neat touch: you get business cards with your name, hotel address, and room phone # (also telephone in bathroom)

Coming out of hotel, if you go left and cross Tottenham Ct beyond it is Charlotte St which has a wide selection of restaurants.

If you turn right out of hotel and right on Store St, there is a good Thai restaurant Busaba Eathai

Mimar

I've stayed at the Academy, and rented an apartment adjacent to Sloane Square. We were happy with the Academy. And I agree it's a better location for general sight-seeing. Glad Michel_Paris mentioned Busaba Eatthai. We found it on our last day. It's not well-signed but very popular.

My only caveat would be if you're especially interested in fashion, then Sloane Square is the place to be. King's Road has all the designers and the people-watching is fabulous.

Abe_Froman

We are staying at the Academy in late May and afterward will be traveling by train to Bath. Any suggestions for the best way to get from the hotel to the Paddington station. Taking the Tube looks to mean alot of walking and/or at least one train change. This would be mid-morning or so on a weekday. With baggage, is it better just to take a cab? Other options?

laurie_ann

Here's a second vote for Charlotte Street as a restaurant area. Many, many choices and lively atmosphere.

PatrickLondon

Abe-Froman, if you're willing to allow plenty of time, you could take bus no 7 from Russell Square to Paddington - but with baggage a taxi might be more convenient. See what you think when you've had a chance to check the bus out.