InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel
A hotel with a convenient location, but with service to be improved
InterContinental Park Lane is housed in a building built in 1975 by Sir Frederick Gibberd. Its architecture is far from the neo-classical baroque palaces of the nineteenth century, but deserves attention if not passion.
The interior architecture, which was recently reviewed, is more questionable: to try to forget the contemporary building, the choice of neo-retro design is rather kitsch (lobby bar), and rarely adapted to the volume (lobby with low ceilings and hugechandeliers).
The junior suites, like many hotels in London, are rather small: the use of wood affixed to the walls tends to reduce the feeling of space.
The Junior Suites are very comfortable, and equipped with the latest technology (including Bose mini hifi). The view of Hyde Park is another advantage of these rooms.
The location of hotel is ideal because very central, and a few metres from the Hyde Park Corner underground station .
The restaurant "Cafe Cookbook" offers menus with a Mediterranean influence in a relaxed place, and very nice Sundays brunches
.
The staff is doing its best but sometimes seems not to manage the situation.
_________
Crowne Plaza Hotel London - St. James
A significant investment could make this hotel a true jewel
Many hotels in London are very pricey but not that good. The owners prefer getting their mney rather than invest to renovate the buildings.
Unfortunately, the Crowne Plaza Hotel London - St. James is no exception: it is a property f very respectable Taj Hotels Group, but the Crowne Plaza seems to be abandoned. Despite its remarkable location, a stone's throw from Westminster Palace.
Surprisingly, the Taj group has invested heavily in the renovation of the adjacent building, transforming it into a remarkable complex of 82 luxury suites and apartments(51 Buckingham Gate). This place shares with the rest of the Crowne Plaza St. James an elegant garden and various restaurants and bars: the Westminster Bank and Zander Bar, a contemporary English restaurant), Quilon (contemporary Indian cuisine), Le Bistro 51 (trendy French restaurant) Hamptons (cognac bar and martinis).
The beautiful Victorian facade hides a lobby worthy of the best hotels in the capital, and a French concierge, perfectly playing his role as ambassador of arrogance.
After the lobby, disappointment arose quickly when arrived at the rooms. The King Bed Deluxe rooms are spacious and have a balcony, but the last renovation were made twenty years ago: furniture without any elegance is too old to be young and too young to be old, old carpet, dull decor, bathroom which looks like ones in Romanian hotel in the sixties. Cool Britannia is not passed by the hotel, or so fast that it has not been able to leave his mark. Small pleasant detail: the balcony was littered with beer cans and cigarette butts.
It is therefore necessary to wait until the owners decide to make serious investments to make this hotel a very nice hotel.
_________
Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum
The best value for money in the heart of South Kensington
Finding an affordable, comfortable and clean hotel is often not easy, especially in the heart of the most aristocratic - and most expensive - area in London. The Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum responds to the challenge with flying colours.
You should not indeed expect a majestic Victorian building, but rather a 27-storey tower with a 60s [ugly] architecture.
However, the Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum has several advantages:
- Its location is ideal, only a few metres from the Gloucester Road underground station, on the Piccadilly Line, which stops at Heathrow airport in 40 minutes;
- Executive rooms are reasonably big, comfortable, quiet, very clean and quite nicely decorated. Located on the upper floors, the Executive rooms offer some beautiful views over London.
- The hotel staff is courteous and professional, but sometimes overwhelmed by the numerous customers.
For breakfast, needless to take it in the hotel: the area is full of places friendly and relatively cheap places to have a real English breakfast
The Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum is a good choice for those who want to visit London from a central location, in a hotel with little character but comfortable, and at a reasonable price.
_________
Holiday Inn London - Camden Lock
Very pleasant hotel located in the underground area of Camden Lock
Camden Lock is the undergound district located in Camden Town in north-west London. Around Regent's Canal are numerous shops selling second-hand clothes, records and other unusual objects. The place, young and eclectic, regularly hosts concerts.
The hotel is housed in a stylish contemporary 5 storeys building.
The subway station Camden Town, served by the Northern line, is less than 800 metres from the hotel. This station is closed on Sundays.
Executive rooms are very spacious and have a pleasant terrace. The rooms is decorated with a contemporary and nice furniture (dark wood furniture, blue interior fabrics). The bathroom is also spacious and nicely decorated (large bath, basin).
The room is very quiet, perfectly clean and well maintained. However, during my stay, the air conditioning had some difficulties to cool the large room, surrounded by a large window.
A nice breakfast is served in a pleasant room. The restaurant offers a basic but quality menu. The place, however, is not memorable. Also, it is probably better to dine in restaurants around.
The hotel has a fitness center equipped with new equipment.
In summary, the quality of its rooms and friendly staff make Holiday Inn London - Camden Lock an excellent choice for staying in London. If you are not to rightened by the young and lively place. Those who want to stay in a conventional district may probably need to stay in a hotel located in the very centre of London.