Hi, <BR>Can anyone comment on the Strand Palace Hotel near London's Convent Garden? We're booked there for four nights later this month. We choose it for location to theaters, and the price was reasonable. It sounded OK, but maybe nothing special?? <BR>Thanks for any thoughts.

Large hotel, favored by lots and lots of tour packagers, hence lots and lots of tourists! We have not stayed there but have been in the lobby, once a few years back (lobby was crowded with tourists, but the restrooms were fine which was why we went in!!), and again last April when we were on the Strand and we ducked in for a few minutes to get out of a horrible downpour. I hate to say this but the lobby smelled very strongly of cigerette smoke and after about 2 minutes the rain seemed a better choice so we went back out! I would imagine the rooms vary in size, but I've read they tend to be smallish (usual for London). It's probably OK for 4 nights, it's close to many theaters too.

Rick, I think you got it right. We had friends who stayed there last year and they were not dissatisfied, plus they loved the location. It's also across from the Savoy, which is worth a peek.

I'm from the UK, and I always stay at the Strand Palace when I'm in London on business. As you have spotted, the location is excellent. It has I think 3 restaurants, and a couple of bars. The rooms are comfortable, although nothing special. <BR> <BR>There certainly are a lot of tourists staying there, but this means the concierge is accustomed to helping tourists - I've found them very helpful.

Stayed there twice - in 73 and 84 and found it to be nice. The staff was friendly, altho somewhat amused at finding a place in the store rooms for our bicycles

You're right, it's nothing "special," but it's not bad, either, not bad at all. I found the location really great, and their breakfast room is pleasant! If I could get a good price, I'd stay there again.

The Strand Palace is one of London's best hotels for business and leisure guests. Just outside the doors are London's famed theatreland and the cosmopolitan bustle of Covent Garden. The City London's financial district China Town, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are just minutes away. The latest standards of comfort together with everything right on the premises from shops, restaurants, and bars to a sophisticated conference and banqueting centre,makes it one of the favourite hotels among travellers. <BR> <BR>Hotel facilities include : <BR> <BR>Hotel Facilities: 3 Restaurants, 2 Bars, laundry, concierge, tour booking and baby sitting services. <BR>Ensuite Facilities: Central heating, radio, satellite TV, direct telephone, voice mail, tea/coffee making facilities, valet, bathroom. <BR> <BR>A general view of the travellers who have visited the hotel, shows that Strand Palace is usually preferred for its central location . The rooms are clean and well kept . Hotel offers very good continental breakfast and the staff is also friendly and efficient. <BR>

Thanks to everyone for your comments. Sounds like the Strand will be fine for what we need. <BR>-- Rick

While on a tour through England several years back, a very snooty woman in our group said to another, "Whenever we visit London, the first place we go for dinner is ALWAYS Simpson's on the Strand." I subsequently learned that Simpson's on the Strand is a very highly regarded (and priced) restaurant in the Savoy Hotel, directly across the street from the Strand Palace, as previously noted. We were staying at the Strand on that trip, and upon perusing the Simpson menu posted outside the Savoy, we saw they had an "early bird special" (somewhere around 6:00) that even we could afford. So now we, too, have "dined at Simpson's on the Strand." Note, coat and tie are required, even on early bird. <BR> <BR>The Strand Palace is fine if you don't mind a room looking as though the walls had been built about 2 feet around the bed. However, you don't spend that much time in your room, and the location is absolutely perfect. Just be sure to request an inner room as the ones on the street are unbearably noisy. <BR>

I would agree that the location of the Strand Palace is hard to beat, particularly if you are going to be going to the theater quite a bit. <BR> <BR>As the previous poster mentioned, the rooms can be pretty small. Also, as for the suggestion to ask for an interior room, we had one on our previous trip. Our window opened onto an air shaft, and as it was on a low floor (the 3rd I think), we got almost no natural light or air into the room. I don't know which is worse, the claustrophobic feeling we had in this room or street noise with an exterior room. In any case, you probably will not want to spend much time in the room. <BR> <BR>

Rick, I was booked into it last August and was miserable. The location is excellent, that's for sure, and even though I was prepared for London rooms to be small and plain, I wasn't prepared for this! I tried 3 rooms and hated them all - checked out after one night. The reply above which notes the walls are within 2 feet of the bed al the way around was right. The first room had a single bed, opened into an interior courtyard, was roasting (no A/C) and was a smoking room when I'd requested non. The bedspread was stained and the carpets were filthy. The bathroom was actually ok. The second room they tried for me was supposed to have a queen bed but in fact had a 3/4 bed and was exactly the same as the first, one floor up. The third room was slightly bigger and had a double bed, but was still roasting, looked into an interior yard with no natural light coming in and had cigarette holes in the bedspread. By this time, it was after 4 on a sunday and not knowing anyone or anything in London, I decided to stick it out for a night and try to find something better the next day. The third room was 20 pounds more than the first two rooms and by this time, I was paying about 90 pounds per night. Breakfast was an additional 25 pounds in the hotel! I toured around a bit and then dragged myself back to the hotel, figuring things would look better after a shower and meal. Couldn't find the promised hair dryer for about an hour - it was in a desk drawer, plugged into the wall behind the desk, so you had to dry your hair crouched down on the ground! When I sat on the bed, it sagged down over a foot! Sleeping on it was worse, it was so lumpy. I don't think I slept all night. <BR> <BR>I'm ranting, but I was really miserable! I found a wonderful hotel just down the Strand near Trafalgar Square called the Thistle Charing Cross - after a few phone calls, I was connected to some tour company that gave me 4 nights for 488 pounds, and that included a full breakfast. The room was FABULOUS - marble bathroom, with separate shower, king bed, two desks, TV, cd player, speakers and phone in the bathroom, hair dryer actually plugged beside a mirror, hardwood floors, two closets with fluffy robes. <BR> <BR>The Thistle had a fantastic concierge, who scored me a ticket to see The Graduate the next night, 10th row. The concierge at the Strand told me it was completely sold out and I'd never get a ticket. <BR> <BR>Bottom line - I posted a question about the Strand before I went and only got two responses. One said "it's ok and you're not in your hotel much" the other said "if it's not too late, change your reservation..." <BR> <BR>I wish I'd listened.

Marla, couldn't have said it better myself. Your comments echo my feelings about this hotel. <BR> <BR>Rick, I'd also suggest that you try somewhere else if there's still time.