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-   -   Regent Palace Hotel London (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/regent-palace-hotel-london-387023/)

Judy1 Jan 13th, 2004 04:45 PM

Regent Palace Hotel London
 
Does anyone have any info on, or has stayed at the Regent Palace Hotel near Picadilly Circus in London?
Any advice on a reasonably priced hotel in that area? Thanks.


Budman Jan 13th, 2004 05:10 PM

We won a bid on skyaution.com 2 years ago for roundtrip air to London and 3 nights at the Regent Palace. We liked the location, but the room was small, the hotel was only a 2**, it was rundown, and if you have an en suite bathroom, it was about the size of the ones we've had on a cruise ship, but not as nice. A lot of the rooms had shared bathrooms down the hall.

I certainly wouldn't stay there again. ((b))

prue Jan 13th, 2004 06:36 PM

If you have not already done so I suggest you do a Search at the top of the page as this hotel has been discussed lots of times with very varying reports.

BlingBling Jan 13th, 2004 06:40 PM

It's a dump. Unless you're an unfussy 18 year old who just needs a place to sleep, shower and store your gear after a hard night of partying, find another hotel. You deserve better. That area can be quite noisy with traffic. What do you consider reasonably priced and when do you plan to travel? (it makes a difference in rates)

janis Jan 13th, 2004 09:51 PM

It is absolutely huge (almost 1,000 rooms) and less than 1/2 the rooms have private baths. On top of that it is a manistay for very low cost youth tours so there is a lot of noise and rowdiness.

It is at Piccadilly Circus - which is fun to see but not a good area to stay.

I personally would not stay at the Regent Palace if they paid me . . . . .

janis Jan 13th, 2004 09:54 PM

meant to add - I am not a "hotel snob" and have stayed in many 1 or 2 star places ove the years. But if you want budget you can do better than the Palace, if you want location you can do better, and if you want amenities ... you could do better.

WillTravel Jan 13th, 2004 10:22 PM

You can almost certainly do better on Priceline (at least if there are exactly two of you, or an even multiple of people).

infomania Jan 14th, 2004 03:09 AM

It has a great location and now has a branch of Harry Ramsdens (Fish & Chip Shop) on the ground floor,but has a reputation as a glorified youth hostel.

Judy1 Jan 14th, 2004 04:30 PM

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. The Regent is out for me. My sister and I are travelling in mid-July. I realize this is peak season. I was hoping to find a decent hotel within walking distance to Picadilly Circus for about $150.00-$200.00 US. Any suggestions?

EricaS Jan 14th, 2004 04:55 PM

Try londontown.com. I have had good luck with them on several occasions. Looks like you can get a room at the Thistle Piccadilly or the Thistle Charing Cross for within your budget, both of which are easy walking distance to Piccadilly Circus and lots of other sites: theatres, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, etc.

Staying near Piccadilly is a bit touristy, most of the restaurants will be touristy and/or expensive. I?ve never stayed at either of the above hotels, but Thistle is a reliably clean, decent hotel chain. I stayed at the Trafalgar Hilton once, which is in the same general area and it was beautiful and fabulous. But we got an excellent deal and I think they?re hard to come by now. But you might want to try. I also really liked the Millennium Baileys, but that?s out of your area.

If you want something less expensive, I have also stayed at the Travel Inn County Hall and it was fine... utilitarian, but fine. It?s walking distance to the aforementioned sites, albeit a longer walk. But the walk is lovely ? over Westminster Bridge. It?s relatively cheap, safe, clean, and the area has a few places to eat, get coffee or whatever. Ned?s Noodle Box, across the street, is yummy and cheap.

Best of luck!

janis Jan 14th, 2004 05:21 PM

Judy1: Might I ask why you want to be walking distance from Piccadilly Circus? farther up Piccadilly towards Green Park is very nice but immediately around Pic. Circus is pretty hectic, almost sleezy.

And anywhere in central London is within a few minutes of Pic. Circus by tube so you could stay lots of places . . . .

Judy1 Jan 14th, 2004 05:59 PM

Janis,
Your suggestion sounds very sensible. Now that I've read everyone's replies (and thank you all for your input) I'm rethinking staying so near Piccadilly Circus. Not being familiar with London, I just don't want to end up in a hotel too far away from all the attractions. I'm open to suggestions.

Mischka Jan 14th, 2004 07:47 PM

Hi Judy,
Try the Berjaya Eden Park Hotel

http://www.hotel-london.co.uk/site/h...hp?hotel_id=20

I was very happy staying here. My room was good and the bathroom was brand new. The best thing about staying here is that you are within 2 minutes walk from two tube stations. The breakfast buffet was nice too. I got good last minute rates. Lots of restaurants and shops just around the corner and it's a quick walk to Kensington Palace and High Street Kensington.
Good luck :-)


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