London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [136]
The Portland Hotel.
££–£££ | Just around the corner from leafy Russell Square, the Portland is one of several hotels on the same street that are owned by the same Grange Hotels chain. This occasionally means that you can book into one hotel and actually end up staying in another, and while the quality is comparable, not all amenities are the same—so be quite clear of your requirements when you book. That aside, the Portland is good value-for-money for a swank neighborhood. Bedrooms are spacious and comfortable, with large bathrooms and seating areas. All rooms have their own kitchenettes, giving you an alternative to eating in restaurants every night. The staff is friendly, and the location is an easy walk from the British Museum and Covent Garden. Pros: great location; large rooms; kitchenettes free you from restaurants. Cons: restaurant located in neighboring hotel means walk down the street to breakfast. TripAdvisor: “great position for sightseeing,” “rooms were quite large,” “only stay in cool weather.” | 31–32 Bedford Pl., Bloomsbury | WC1B 5JH | 020/7580–7088 | www.grangehotels.com | 18 rooms | In-room: no a/c, kitchen, DVD, Internet. In-hotel: restaurant | MC, V | Holborn Rd.
The Ridgemount Hotel.
£ | Mere blocks away from the British Museum and London’s West End theaters is this handsomely fronted guesthouse that has clean and neat rooms at a bargain. The public areas, especially the family-style breakfast room, are rather sweetly cluttered Victorian-style parlors. Rooms are plainly decorated and not all have private bathrooms, but some overlook a leafy garden. Pros: good location for theaters and museum; family rooms accommodate up to five. Cons: decor is basic; no customer services; cheapest rooms have shared bathrooms. TripAdvisor: “rooms are small,” “amazing price for central London,” “great location to tube and buses.” | 65 Gower St., Bloomsbury | WC1E 6HJ | 020/7636–1141 | www.ridgemounthotel.co.uk | 32 rooms, 15 with bath | In-room: no a/c, no phone | MC, V | Breakfast | Goodge St.
Rough Luxe.
£££–££££ | Bloomsbury’s quirkiest hotel is, as its name implies, a strange combination of shabby chic and swanky luxury; in a 19th-century building near King’s Cross train station in a neighborhood locals would describe as “dodgy,” its rooms have been renovated to keep bits of their old battered walls and flooring in place so that the elegant new beds, designer lighting, and original artwork are cast in stark relief. All rooms have Skype-equipped mobile phones, rather than landlines. Some rooms share bathrooms, but all baths have been fully renovated with lovely touches (antique claw-foot tubs, designer sinks) alongside remnants of the old, torn wallpaper. The whole effect is so extraordinary that the hotel is regularly featured in designer magazines. Certainly its chutzpah is impressive, given that prices are high while bathrooms are often shared and services few. Pros: art and design lovers will be dazzled; it’s all very avant-garde. Cons: not everybody likes avant-garde; no restaurant or bar; neighborhood is a bit scary; some rooms share baths. TripAdvisor: “outstanding atmosphere,” “unique style,” “hidden gem of eclecticness.” | 1 Birkenhead St., Bloomsbury | W1CH 8BA | 0207/837–5338 | www.roughluxe.co.uk | 10 rooms | In-room: no a/c, no TV (some), Wi-Fi. In-hotel: Wi-Fi hotspot | MC, V | Station: Kings Cross
Sanderson