- Stats
Check In
The entry and lobby areas have been undergoing refurbishment, so there was a lot of scafolding about, but the front desk staff was very prompt and friendly. They got me checked in, had a room already ready for me relatively early in the morning (~11:00am -- I had requested noon through the mobile app), and even walked me to the elevator.
Room
As a Platinum, I was given an upgrade to a river view room with a nice view of the Thames and Parliament, and a very up-close view of the London Eye. In fact, the Eye was so close that the pods were going right by my room. Despite the great view, I kept my blinds closed much of the time so I didn't feel like people were looking in my window.
However, I truly loved the room -- especially the bed, which was one of the most comfortable I've slept in at a hotel. It was almost too comfortable, as I wanted to climb into bed and not leave. The room looked recently renovated, and I was pleasantly surprised that I liked the look. It was a nice blend of modern colors and traditional styles, unlike (IMHO) many of Marriott's other attempts at modern design. The bathroom was great too, with plenty of room.
Location
In the past, I've avoided this hotel because I've walked by a number of times and the area is always swarming with tourists. However, for someone looking to do tourist-things it London, it's really hard to beat the location. Westminster, Parliament, the London Eye and the Southbank Center are all at your doorstep, and the West End and Soho are a reasonable walk across the Thames on a pedestrian bridge to Embankment. In retrospect, I now wish I had stayed here before on other trips.
Overall
While this was my first stay at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, I think it will now be my first choice when visiting London on my own. When staying with family, I might be more inclined to stay at the Grosvenor House so I could make use of their outstanding lounge. However, when I'm there solo and I want to spend most of my time out and about in the city, it's going to be hard to beat the convenient access to so many things.
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