London: The Howard (Swissotel)?
Dec 27th, 2003, 01:54 PM
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London: The Howard (Swissotel)?
My mother is coming over for a couple of weeks and we're starting the visit in London. Through some Internet searching and a voucher, I was able to book us in to the Swissotel The Howard for a few nights at 100 GBP per night per room, including tax. It sounds like a good place and I can't beat the price but I've never stayed there...any feedback?
Dec 27th, 2003, 11:05 PM
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Hi
I stayed at this Hotel in November for a couple of nights. We had a view looking out over the Thames, London Eye etc and we found it ideal. It's an easy walk to the theatre district (up quite a hill but only about 10 minutes) and we also walked to the Tate Modern (also about 10 mins) and right along the Embankment. The Hotel is almost directly opposite Temple tube station which is great if you are travelling by tube BUT Temple closes on Sunday (Hotel is in a business area and much quieter at weekends). Our room was good - roomy with all mod cons. We thought the room service prices were somewhat wild but you have hundreds of restaurants close by (Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was great). Breakfast was well cooked and the service fast and efficient. I note you are going with your mum - I would recommend this Hotel if she is ok to do some walking to get to places. We found this part of the enjoyment.
I stayed at this Hotel in November for a couple of nights. We had a view looking out over the Thames, London Eye etc and we found it ideal. It's an easy walk to the theatre district (up quite a hill but only about 10 minutes) and we also walked to the Tate Modern (also about 10 mins) and right along the Embankment. The Hotel is almost directly opposite Temple tube station which is great if you are travelling by tube BUT Temple closes on Sunday (Hotel is in a business area and much quieter at weekends). Our room was good - roomy with all mod cons. We thought the room service prices were somewhat wild but you have hundreds of restaurants close by (Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was great). Breakfast was well cooked and the service fast and efficient. I note you are going with your mum - I would recommend this Hotel if she is ok to do some walking to get to places. We found this part of the enjoyment.
Dec 28th, 2003, 12:00 PM
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Thanks, Morgana, esp. for the Tube info. We will be there on a Sunday, but will not be doing too much that day--we'll just it cab it that day. Is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese open on Sunday? (I am more the Wagamama type, but my mother isn't).
Dec 30th, 2003, 10:53 PM
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Hiya, sorry about the delay in replying, been away for a few days over Christmas. I have found a website for you - www.yeoldecheshirecheese.com This has a menu for you to look at, opening times etc (open Sunday lunchtime but not evening). We ate in the Chophouse - I had suet pudding, something I hadn't eaten for decades, but it was great. Definitely a 'mum' sort of place although I am with you in YOUR choice of Wagamama! It's not a fancy place by any means if you are out to impress, but it's good old fashioned food in lovely surroundings and very reasonably priced considering the location.
Dec 31st, 2003, 12:05 AM
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Thanks again, Morgana. I am tempted to forgo the lunch and do a nice afternoon tea instead, possibly Brown's if they do their tea on Sunday afternoons. By early evening, Mom's jet lag will probably be setting in, so we'll spend the evening back at the hotel. If I'm hungry later, I'll go on my own to Wagamama's or the nearest Yo sushi.
Dec 31st, 2003, 09:39 AM
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Mmmm, yes, afternoon tea sounds very nice.
One more thing - we asked and got a room in the Hotel overlooking the Thames. It was quiet and the view was superb - Big Ben, London Eye etc. Other rooms overlook the inner courtyard which I didn't see, but personally I would go for the river view. I could lie in bed and watch the Eye turning, but then again I'm a big kid.
Also there were always cabs outside the Hotel if you needed one.
Hope you have a lovely trip.
M
One more thing - we asked and got a room in the Hotel overlooking the Thames. It was quiet and the view was superb - Big Ben, London Eye etc. Other rooms overlook the inner courtyard which I didn't see, but personally I would go for the river view. I could lie in bed and watch the Eye turning, but then again I'm a big kid.
Also there were always cabs outside the Hotel if you needed one.
Hope you have a lovely trip.
M
Jan 1st, 2004, 08:13 AM
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Our special rate is for a courtyard view; if the hotel is pretty empty I might be able to get a river view at my price, but I won't complain if I don't.
The Eye won't be turning when we're there--it's undergoing annual maintenance in January.
The Eye won't be turning when we're there--it's undergoing annual maintenance in January.
Oct 7th, 2005, 12:28 PM
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Hi flygirl, we thought it was just ok. The location had its good and bad points. The room was a little smaller than I'd envisioned (and I am used to European hotel rooms). The service in the lobby/lounge was terrible. It took us 30 minutes to get a waiter to take our drink owner and that happened only after we went to the front desk and the maitre d' three times. The upside was that the waiter then disappeared again so we didn't have to pay for the drinks.
It wasn't a terrible place, but all in all, if I were to do that particular trip again, I would try for an Internet discount rate at the London Sofitel. Better amenities, better service, better location, IMHO.
It wasn't a terrible place, but all in all, if I were to do that particular trip again, I would try for an Internet discount rate at the London Sofitel. Better amenities, better service, better location, IMHO.
Oct 7th, 2005, 12:58 PM
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No, we had to cancel for various reasons...my husband had a bad cold, the weather was most uncooperative, and a business meeting I was supposed to have in Milan was rescheduled. So we reshaped our itinerary and have been staying entirely in Germany (the hotel in the Austrian alps were we were supposed to stay for a week in was closed due to damage from the August floods). We've been in Baden-Baden, the Teutoburger Wald and a few spots in between.
