London Hotel Tips by grandmaR

We had a double on the first floor (i.e. one floor up from the ground floor - US second floor) with an ensuite shower for 65 pounds (about $102). The small room looked out over the back garden which was nice and quiet. We had a window that would open but there was no air conditioning. I would think the rooms at the front might be noisy. We had a small double bed (against the wall), a TV, a hair dryer, several shelves, a chair and a wardrobe.

The rooms were cleaned each day and we were given fresh towels. The manager is very helpful with regard to getting show tickets, and the hotel is within easy walking distance of a tube stop, the buses run right down Gower Street in front of the hotel. It is really close to the British Museum. The rate also included breakfast.

Breakfast at the hotel was cold cereal, English bacon which is really ham, a poached egg, OJ, toast, butter and jam, tea and whatever the special item of the day was - either sausage, beans or tomato).

Unique Qualities: A few additional pictures of the hotel are in a travelogue.

The hotel used to have a web page, but I can no longer find it. The URL given is to Trip Advisor.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 44 (0)20 7636 1141
Address: 65 - 67 Gower Street, Bloomsburry, London WC1E 6HJ
Directions: A couple of blocks from the British Museum or from the Goodge Street Station.
Website: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186338-d187680-Reviews-Ridgemont_Private_Hotel-London_England-GTEST363514.html

I took this picture because of the Fox on the door knocker. I have in-laws whose name is Fox.

This hotel was just a few doors down from the one we stayed at. It was just a trifle more expensive, and didn't have the recommendations that ours had. We have not stayed here.

It isn't on VT, as the Gower Hotel doesn't seem to be in the same location., and I don't see anything about it on the internet.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average

Phone: +44 207636 4685
Address: 59 Gower Street, London
Directions: Bloomsbury - Godge Street Station

This hotel was booked by an agency and included in the price I paid for the package. So I don't really know exactly how much it cost - probably more than I would have wanted to pay.

The room was nice, and the hotel personel were helpful. The area was quiet, and there was a bus which ran in front of the hotel and a tube station nearby. Having said that, I found that the hotel was really too far from the main tourist areas. We were always having to take a bus or a taxi (or both) to get back to the hotel.

The designation for breakfast was confusing. I was told we would have a continental breakfast, but apparently even the hot foods on the buffet were included. The other meals were quite expensive, and my grandson got into the habit of running around the corner to Burger King.
Hotel services

* Wireless Internet Access
* Complimentary newspaper
* Express check in and check out on request
* 24 hour front desk
* 24 hour room service
* Currency exchange
* Valet Service available for laundry
* Cribs available on request

Hotel amenities

* Fitness room
* Bar and lounge
* Restaurant
* Conference rooms

Concierge service

* Mobile phone rental
* Limousine service
* Baggage storage
* Theatre and sightseeing bookings
* Flower arrangements
* Car hire
* Valet parking offered upon request. The hotel does not have its own car park.

Unique Qualities: We had a nice bathroom with a strange kind of glass partition instead of a shower curtain. There would have been NO possibility of anyone being in the shower and having any privacy if someone else wanted to use the toilet.

There were three windows on the street, with heavy curtains. With the sun coming in, it made the room quite hot and if there was A/C, it didn't work. With the windows open, it was much more temperate, but it was also noisier. The windows had no screens of course.

There was a minibar with a sign saying that if anything was moved, we would be charged for it - this terrified my grandson who was afraid that he had moved something. The TV had the usual BBC programs, and there was a safe which was big enough for my laptop. There was an iron and trouser press, tea and coffee making facilities and complimentary wireless Internet access - the internet access was quite good and was free.

The elevator was room key operated (and slow), as were the lights in the room.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 44-20-77619000
Address: 68-86 Cromwell Road, London, EN SW7
Website: http://www.radisson.com/londonuk_vanderbilt
Other Contact: 800 333-3333 US - Toll Free