IHG hotels in London (recommendations)
Feb 7, 2017, 8:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 112
IHG hotels in London (recommendations)
My sister and I will be in London for about 3 nights in August and want to maximize our time. We are going to be taking tours that offer hotel pickup from some locations, but also start at the Victoria station.
Our original plan is to stay at the Crowne Plaza London City (it's a points night that they've added on the club level (?) that would include continental b'fast) or the HIE Southwark because it offers continental b'fast and is close to the HOHO bus route. Neither are close to any of the pickups for tours, though.
Where would you recommend staying in London? We'd like to have a hotel that includes b'fast to help save some money!
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Our original plan is to stay at the Crowne Plaza London City (it's a points night that they've added on the club level (?) that would include continental b'fast) or the HIE Southwark because it offers continental b'fast and is close to the HOHO bus route. Neither are close to any of the pickups for tours, though.
Where would you recommend staying in London? We'd like to have a hotel that includes b'fast to help save some money!
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Feb 7, 2017, 11:16 am
#2
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Location: somewhere north of London, UK
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So long as you don't eat in the hotel, breakfast doesn't have to be expensive so I would bear that in mind when you're making a decision. Whilst the Club lounge at the CP is nice, the food offering is rather limited.
That said the CP is in a great location - 5 or so stops on the tube to Victoria, whilst I believe that the hop on, hop off buses stop just round the corner on Ludgate Hill, on the way up to St Pauls.
Sleep quality in the CP is also significantly better than the Southwark HIEX.
That said the CP is in a great location - 5 or so stops on the tube to Victoria, whilst I believe that the hop on, hop off buses stop just round the corner on Ludgate Hill, on the way up to St Pauls.
Sleep quality in the CP is also significantly better than the Southwark HIEX.
Feb 7, 2017, 11:19 am
#3
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So long as you don't eat in the hotel, breakfast doesn't have to be expensive so I would bear that in mind when you're making a decision. Whilst the Club lounge at the CP is nice, the food offering is rather limited.
That said the CP is in a great location - 5 or so stops on the tube to Victoria, whilst I believe that the hop on, hop off buses stop just round the corner on Ludgate Hill, on the way up to St Pauls.
Sleep quality in the CP is also significantly better than the Southwark HIEX.
That said the CP is in a great location - 5 or so stops on the tube to Victoria, whilst I believe that the hop on, hop off buses stop just round the corner on Ludgate Hill, on the way up to St Pauls.
Sleep quality in the CP is also significantly better than the Southwark HIEX.
What about HIEX Victoria? Any thoughts or insight on that one?
Thanks!
Feb 7, 2017, 11:31 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
Search for London in the IHG forum. There are hotel specific threads.
Suggest reading:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...-property.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...important.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...on-budget.html
Suggest reading:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...-property.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...important.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...on-budget.html
Feb 7, 2017, 12:05 pm
#6
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Many many years ago, I stayed at the HIEX in Victoria - it was in an old building, so the soundproofing again was bad. It's also not a very inspiring area - the CP in in a good location for a number of attractions.
Feb 8, 2017, 8:23 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Charleston, SC
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The soundproofing is far better in the CP (it's one of my go-to hotels in London if the rates aren't too silly) and also I think the beds are better.
Many many years ago, I stayed at the HIEX in Victoria - it was in an old building, so the soundproofing again was bad. It's also not a very inspiring area - the CP in in a good location for a number of attractions.
Many many years ago, I stayed at the HIEX in Victoria - it was in an old building, so the soundproofing again was bad. It's also not a very inspiring area - the CP in in a good location for a number of attractions.
I'm reading some reviews about HIEX Victoria having mold issues. That would be a deal breaker for us to stay there.
Thanks for your help and input!
Feb 8, 2017, 9:58 am
#8
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Narrowing it down and changing gears a little bit.... if you had to choose to stay at either HIEX Victoria or Staybridge Suites Vauxhall which would you choose?
I'm reading some reviews about HIEX Victoria having mold issues. That would be a deal breaker for us to stay there.
Thanks for your help and input!
I'm reading some reviews about HIEX Victoria having mold issues. That would be a deal breaker for us to stay there.
Thanks for your help and input!
If you haven't been to London before, do bear in mind that public transport - including the underground - is safe and typically very efficient.
The tube from Blackfriars (opposite the CP) to Victoria Station takes 13 minutes. Google maps tells me that even in a taxi it would be 15 minutes from the Staybridge to Victoria.
Feb 8, 2017, 10:04 am
#9
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I can't sensibly help you there - as noted it's ages since I stayed at the HIEX Victoria and have never stayed at the Staybridge, but the location isn't convenient (and I would classify that as a rough part of town, although it is improving).
If you haven't been to London before, do bear in mind that public transport - including the underground - is safe and typically very efficient.
The tube from Blackfriars (opposite the CP) to Victoria Station takes 13 minutes. Google maps tells me that even in a taxi it would be 15 minutes from the Staybridge to Victoria.
If you haven't been to London before, do bear in mind that public transport - including the underground - is safe and typically very efficient.
The tube from Blackfriars (opposite the CP) to Victoria Station takes 13 minutes. Google maps tells me that even in a taxi it would be 15 minutes from the Staybridge to Victoria.
I'm just torn because I like the hotel (SS) but I like the HIEX location better.
Thanks!
Feb 8, 2017, 10:14 am
#10
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No, definitely don't stay at the HIEX.
The CP will be better than the Staybridge. As noted by Raffles, it beats the IC Park Lane, and you can get from there to Victoria just as easily. And its in a very nice part of the city.
The CP will be better than the Staybridge. As noted by Raffles, it beats the IC Park Lane, and you can get from there to Victoria just as easily. And its in a very nice part of the city.
Feb 8, 2017, 10:20 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2009
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By the time you've walked to Vauxhall station and taken the tube, you may as well have just taken the tube from across the road at the Crowne Plaza.
Alternatively if you're so hung up about your early starts in Victoria why not just ditch IHG and stay at a hotel in Victoria? It's this kind of irrational decision making driven by the loyalty program which the hotels rely on
Alternatively if you're so hung up about your early starts in Victoria why not just ditch IHG and stay at a hotel in Victoria? It's this kind of irrational decision making driven by the loyalty program which the hotels rely on
Feb 8, 2017, 10:24 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 112
Only reason I am "stuck" on using IHG hotels is because I have points to get all my nights free.
So now changing again....if we didn't do Staybridge you say to do CP. To void the 50k per night would you recommend HIEX Southwark (only 35k per night)?
I am sold on the Staybridge Vauxhall hotel (b'fast, manager's reception, and self serve laundry, for our last night there) but not the location.
Okay - so scrapping the HIEX Victoria - what about HIEX Southwark in comparison to Staybridge Vauxhall?
You're all a ton of help. Thanks!
So now changing again....if we didn't do Staybridge you say to do CP. To void the 50k per night would you recommend HIEX Southwark (only 35k per night)?
I am sold on the Staybridge Vauxhall hotel (b'fast, manager's reception, and self serve laundry, for our last night there) but not the location.
Okay - so scrapping the HIEX Victoria - what about HIEX Southwark in comparison to Staybridge Vauxhall?
You're all a ton of help. Thanks!
Feb 8, 2017, 12:46 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,771
I can't comment on the rooms but the HIEX Southwark is in a much better location than anything in Vauxhall. It's an excellent area to stay, walkable to most of London's top attractions both west and east. You also have Borough Market right there as well as lots of good restaurants/pubs in and around the Cut, plus great theatres too.
Feb 9, 2017, 3:27 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 199
I agree that the Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) Southwark can be a great location; but one thing that you might want to bear in mind is that the hotel is under-going major building works at present. I live very close by, walk past most days, and have been watching progress with interest. The official statement on the HI website says:
Which I certainly think under-plays that amount of work going on at the present time. Of course it may all be materially complete by your expected stay date and/or reflected in the rates being charged; but it is definitely something I would want to be aware of before booking.
A 12- bedroom extension and restoration work on the façade of the Holiday Inn Express London Southwark began on 1st September 2016. The project will be concluded in 4 phases and will last approximately until 1st August 2017. We shall remain open during this time and endeavor to keep any disruption to a minimum.
Feb 9, 2017, 3:40 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 199
In case anyone is interested then the extension plans for the HIEX Southwark (including before and after floor layouts) can be found on the Southwark Council website
http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk/do...0524&system=DC
http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk/do...0524&system=DC