If you’re looking for a bit of luxury on your next trip to London, but don’t want to opt for the full five-star experience (and associated room rates), the capital is home to some fantastic four-star alternatives, some of them up there with the very best.
Here are five four-stars that are currently drawing rave reviews from guests.
The Nadler Kensington
The Nadler Kensington is building up an excellent reputation among hotel guest for its high standards and quiet location. The hotel’s pristine facade, marked only by its name, in simple black lettering, fits in perfectly with the elegant buildings that share quiet Courtfield Gardens, while the back of the hotel looks over Morton Mews, meaning you can’t really go wrong if you are looking for a good night’s sleep.
Rooms are modern in design and charmingly decorated with good quality amenities including free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, hairdryers, coffee machine, tea-making facilities and a neat little kitchenette concealed in a cupboard. Room sizes do vary though, so be sure to request a large one if you need it. The staff at the hotel seem to be highly thought of too, described as welcoming, friendly, courteous and helpful always willing to go the extra mile to assist guests.
In terms of location, The Nadler is very close to Earl’s Court tube station, and the nearby restaurants and bars, with the shopping area around Piccadilly Circus less than ten minutes away on the underground system.
Prices aren’t too bad for four star and if you get a room for around the £200 a night mark you can count yourself fortunate.
Pullman London St Pancras
The imposing black and white Pullman on busy Euston Street is unmissable and offers possibly the best value for money four-star in London (especially if you can nab a room for under £200). The hotel is renowned for implementing high standards while maintaining an air of calm informality that puts guests at ease. Staff are often described as efficient but friendly to individual guests and families.
The hotel strives to create a unique and luxury experience for visitors and their rooms are perfectly fitted out for entertainment and business alike with LCD TVs (with satellite channels), climate control and a computer station. Wi-Fi is free, but for a surcharge you can get wired superfast broadband and there is also a safe where you can lock away your laptop while out and about. The higher up the hotel you go, the better the view so it is worth requesting this if it’s important to you.
The Pullman St Pancras has a restaurant and lounge/bar (breakfast is highly recommended) and a sauna on site. Situated between Euston and St Pancras stations, the Pullman is ideal for visiting the British Library and exploring the sights of Kings Cross.
Montague on the Gardens
The Red Carnation Group are well known in London for their luxury boutique hotels, which includes the five-star Hotel 41. A more budget-friendly option is the Montague on the Gardens near to Russell Square on Montague Street. For between £240 and £300 a night, you can stay at a hotel that, at the time of writing, sat top of the Trip Adviser four-star rankings and was among the top trending hotels on Expedia.
The first sight of this Bloomsbury boutique evokes old English charm with its colourful window boxes spilling out onto the street and a neat frilled awning framing the entrance. The polite and attentive staff maintain the atmosphere with everyone from desk staff and housekeeping to concierge offering a friendly but professional service.
The rooms are uniquely decorated and well-equipped, with the ground floor rooms that bit larger than those upstairs. For the same price as a standard room at Hotel 41 you can get an Executive Room here or go the whole hog and book a Junior Suite for around the £500 mark.
The Montague boasts a substantial breakfast menu, offering American, continental and a full English. In the summer, al fresco dining is offered in the Terrace and Garden Grill with regular live jazz music.
There are plenty of nearby tube stations but if you prefer to walk, the British Museum is just a few steps away, Covent Garden a short stroll and even the West End is not too far.
Apex Temple Court Hotel
Through a little archway in the Serjeant’s Inn, one of the many grand buildings along Fleet Street, is the luxury Apex Temple Court Hotel, an interesting red brick building surrounding a central courtyard. Guests can expect a friendly welcome from the helpful staff and a comfortable night’s sleep in decent-sized rooms with generous amenities, including free Wi-Fi and local calls; designer toiletries from Eleni and Bvlgari; widescreen TV with sky sports; free botttled water; mp3 dock; air con; coffe and tea-making facilities and 24 hour room service for anything else you might need. You might want to request a room near to the only lift though, or you could find yourself doing a lot of walking.
Also on site are a cafe/shop, restaurant, club lounge (serving drinks and limited snacks) and a gym/fitness centre. Prices can vary a lot, from £180 up to £400 a night.
Situated just inside the original City of London, the Apex is well-placed for exploring the legal buildings including the temple church and inns; the Tower of London; Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Apex London Wall Hotel
Another four-star Apex hotel worth trying is the London Wall, a hotel which seems to enjoy bumping its guests up to Junior Suites and showering them with sweets and other treats on arrival.
The rooms are modern, comfortable and quiet although they do vary in size so this is another hotel where a request on booking is advisable. Staff are polite and helpful and the breakfast – which is made fresh to order – comes highly recommended.
Set back just off London Wall, this Apex enjoys a great location in the heart of the financial district with the Bank of England and St. Paul’s Cathedral nearby. Prices tend to be around the £350 to £400 per night mark.
