Hello all--

I'll be spending 4 days in London in July and was looking into accomodation there. I came across this hotel and was wondering if anyone can offer any feedback, or perhaps recommend other similar hotels. Not really interested in B&Bs (we're a group of 3, late 20's/early 30's)

OK, I haven't stayed at the Philbeach but I know many folks who have and I have seen some of the rooms. I have used the restaurant there and the bar (the restaurant and bar are good)

The rooms are very small and perhaps in more need of some loving attention than you would expect to find in a regular hotel. The lighting is not particularly good (more of a problem if you're looking to put on make-up I admit!) and it's not unknown for guests to be engaged in quite noisy activities in the privacy of their rooms late at night.

At the weekends and on Monday nights you may find the place is full of drag queens, trannies and other assorted cross-dressers and their admirers.

The hotel is generally safe, is convenient for public transport but parking anywhere near is a nightmare.

It's not particularly close to Soho and Old Compton Street (London's Gay district) - if you're planning a late night out it's probably worth prebooking a minicab from Freedom Cars (the hotel will have details) as it's often infuriatingly difficult to get a cab late at night from anywhere in the West End.

Hope that helps.

It helps immensely, thank you!

We didn't necessarily want a party hotel, and given your comments about the rooms and crowd, we may be suited better elsewhere.

There looked like two other options--the Noël Coward and something No. 7 (can't quite remember the name), any insight into those?

I hesitated to reply earlier because my two experiences as a guest there occurred maybe 8-10 years ago and I was afraid I had old information. But after reading what SarahWest states, my old information may actually be current. The place was a dump when I was there and apparently little has been done to refurbish it. The staff was pleasant. You seem inclined to look elsewhere, and I encourage you in this.

Please...you can get much better mainstream hotels are better prices and location than this dump.

I know because when I used to live in London, I put a few people there. And they called the next day to say that they have moved out!

The Philbeach is a total dive of a place!

Before I moved to London I stayed at No 7 Guesthouse on two ocassions and highly recommend the place!! It's in Brixton - 5 minutes or so walk to Brixton tube station and only a minutes walk to the nearest bus stop.

For a late night cab in London (and freedom are not always available) try Computer Cab on 020 7432 1432 - they take visa and mcard, and have 100's of black taxis on the road.