Vamps27

I am staying at the Thistle Victoria in September and I have a standard room booked through united vactions. Anyway I was over at the tripadvisor site and saw that people didn't have a good stay at the hotel. I was wondering if anyway here had a good experiance with the Thistle Victoria.

nibblette

I stayed there about 1 year ago. It is a decent hotel, 3*. I got my room through laterooms, 75 pounds including full breakfast and VAT/service. My room was a tiny little room but then I didn't spend much time in it.
The location is great, connected to the Victoria train station, next to the Victoria station metro, and around the corner from Buckingham Palace.. Despite this, my room was quiet.
It was what I expected from a 3*. Good English Breakfast buffet. Decent front desk. Concierge wasn't great but it was a 3*.

P_M

I stayed there a couple of years ago and I liked it very much, mainly for the location. I would stay there again.

mari5

Great, interesting location,, right over/at Victoria Station...good connections for tube, and all busses.
We stayed there 35 yrs. ago when moving overseas to Africa, and also 17 yrs. ago for a couple of nights. Of course it wasn't "Thistle" then.
Stayed there about 3 yrs. ago for a night...and it wasn't too nice of a room. It was a last minute reservation, 4 th floor I believe,,,high window, couldn't see out, no AC,(hot in April), and the soft bed sunk to the floor.etc HOWEVER, they do have a renovated section of LOVELY modern rooms,, way far from the elevator, and other floors have better rooms. You might want to look at the room first, but I imagine assignments are based on what people are paying for the room. (and maybe they are ALL nice NOW!)

We have a nostalgic, soft spot for that hotel (memories of first time in London in l971, with the 3 children etc)...however I would think twice or handle the room assignment differently next time. You could just ask for the NEW section .

Catbert

It wasn't the worst place I've stayed in London by far. Good location, great common areas, beautiful (expensive) bar, nice included breakfast. We really enjoyed the tea room as a place to relax each afternoon.

The rooms were OK. The windows didn't open and there was no air conditioning. You can upgrade to a room with air.

Vamps27

Catbert

Did you upgrade and if so how much is per night?

Catbert

We didn't and I'm not 100% sure but I think it might have been 29 GBP. There was a poster about it in the elevator.

Vamps27

Anyone else have an opinion about this hotel?

Lori

Take everything you read on Tripadvisor.com with a grain of salt. 90% of the people who review anything there enjoy complaining. That goes for any review site actually.

Vamps27

Thanks Lori...I mean for the breakfast alone the hotel seems like a great spot to stay, but people at tripadvisor are making it seems like it's a slum. That's very scary to me because I am going on this trip by myself and I need a good place to stay.

ally67

We stayed in Feb'05. We had a superior double. It was newly renovated and had nice AC- although we were using the heater at that time of the year. The halls of the hotel appear worn, but our room was really quite nice, although small. I loved the location, near Buckingham Palace. If you get off of the train at Victoria Station, you can walk to the Thistle entrance without going outside- nice if it happens to be raining. The breakfast buffet was pretty good, although it can get crowded. One warning- we asked for a wakeup call to make our early train to Paris, but never got it. Bring an alarm clock. If you like sushi, I understand that a Yo!Sushi has opened in Victoria Station. You can see my full trip report if you do a search on my screen name. Have a great time.

Lori

Vamps27, the location is great. If I were traveling alone location would be a prime concern to me. It's a relatively safe area and transportation connections are great.

We have never stayed at this hotel so I cannot judge that -- but -- if you are given a room you are not satisfied with go down to the Front Desk and ask for another. Better yet, before you accept the key tell them you want to take a look. Explain that you are traveling alone and you want to be sure you feel ok with the room. If you do not like the room tell them so.

Usually rooms that are part of a "package" will be just standard (perhaps older/smaller) rooms, but if it does not look good to you do not be afraid to go say something. While you won't spend alot of time in your room you do want to be reasonably comfortable.

carolyn

In 2002, my daughter and I had a double room on the fifth floor of the Thistle Vic. It was a good-sized room with twin beds, nice dresser with mirror, big closet (wardrobe type), small table, two chairs, a trouser press, and a TV, and nicely decorated. The bathroom was larger than other places I have stayed, too, with both tub and shower.

The area is convenient. What is particularly nice for people not familiar with the city is that there is a hotel entrance inside Victoria Station, so if you come from Gatwick by the express train, you are home when you get to the station.

We did hear muted train announcements during daytime hours, but they were not distracting and we did have the windows open all the time as we didn't have air conditioning. Our room was through a priceline.com vacation package and did not include breakfast. We didn't eat breakfast in the hotel dining room since it was pretty expensive when not included.

Saraho

We stayed there in the summer of 05 and it was fine. It is in a great location especially if you arrive by train.

Ask for a quiet room- ours was good except in the middle of the night there was some kind of maintenance noise that kept us awake for a short time. But we would definitely stay there again. Our room was quite luxurious compared to lots that we have heard about in London. It was large, well appointed and a lovely large bathroom.

janisj

Vamps27: I won't comment on the hotel itself since I haven't stayed there. But I am very familiar w/ it and since I usually rent a flat in Pimlico or Victoria, I go through Vic station several times almost every day.

For a solo traveler on their first visit and not totally sure about walking to a hotel at night this is a terrific choice. Because of the entry right out of the station - you can take the tube, a bus, or a taxi "home" after the theatre and not have to walk outside in and unfamilar neighborhood. And w/ the mainline train station it is also super convenient for trips to Gatwick, Dover, etc.

tsfan12

My son and I stayed at this Hotel 3 weeks ago. The location was great with the convenience of being right next to Victoria Station which has numerous shops and a Food Park that has a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Chinese food...right in front of the hotel is the meeting points for the Big Bus. Westminster is about 5 blocks and Buckingham Palace about 2 blocks. We felt safe because of all the walking traffic. We received good service and free breakfast which included a good selection of hot dishes. Unfortunately our room was seedy. The floors/walls had cracks, the mattresses were soft and worn; the carpet was threadbare; our window was filthy looking with soot unto an alley way and the curtains were dusty when we were looking out. My son said the hallway looked like a scene from the "Shining" and I got bed bug bites which I showed to the management (it still makes me itchy thinking about it). The manager provided anticeptic and bandages. If location and convenience are more important that comfort- than here you are. We paid USD 150.00 per night.

JaneB

We stayed there several years ago--got it on Priceline. The room came with a double bed so we went to the front desk and requested twin beds. There were none available because the hotel was completely full with a WWII veterans reunion. However, as soon as one became available the next day, we were moved into it. The location is great. I have no complaints. It was interesting to see all of the elderly veterans wearing their
rows and rows of military ribbons.

Carrybean

TSfan, did you actually see bedbugs? BLECH!

Vamps27

Thanks to everyone for their input. Um tsfan12 did you request another room? Also how long did you stay there?

Vamps27

Does anyone else have anything to add?