The Clermont London, Charing Cross

The hotel is in a historic building, beautifully decorated and well maintained, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Our room was clean, but simple and not especially warm. The bathroom ventilation ran constantly and made it colder, particularly when showering. The shower was over the bathtub without a cabin, and every shower left the bathroom completely flooded. We stayed four nights last week and found the location extremely convenient. The theatre district and Soho are right there, and most major attractions are walkable or a short metro ride away. The soundproofing was poor: we kept hearing footsteps from above, with an odd creaking noise like someone walking on wooden boards.

Our room was clean, comfortable and pleasant, and the team were welcoming, kind and helpful. The hotel is nice, and we enjoyed the breakfast. Its central location made the stay especially easy: it’s right by Charing Cross Station and only a 3-minute walk from Trafalgar Square, with many of London’s main sights close by. A very convenient and enjoyable visit.

We were pleasantly surprised to be remembered from our visit years ago, when the hotel was still called Amba. The warm welcome back, complete with a lovely chocolate cake in our room, was a thoughtful touch. We enjoyed our three nights at The Clermont London, Charing Cross last weekend and would gladly return. The restaurant and bar were highlights too, with an elegant interior, great atmosphere and attentive service. The staff were friendly, service was excellent, and the rooms were well equipped. The hotel has held onto much of its grand historic charm. For central London, where accommodation is generally expensive, we thought it offered very good value. The location is hard to beat: right beside Charing Cross Station and an easy walk to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, the Strand and Piccadilly Circus. Being built over the station also makes it very well connected by tube and bus. One thing to bear in mind is the noise: front-facing rooms have fantastic views over the Strand, St Martin-in-the-Fields and even parts of Trafalgar Square, but aren’t completely quiet. The back rooms are much quieter, though they only look out over the station roof. We’d happily stay again and recommend it to anyone after a welcoming, charming hotel in the heart of London.

The elegant, classy feel made The Clermont a welcome break from central London’s crowds. After a rainy shift in the city at Charing Cross, I came in for coffee and a croissant and was glad I did. There were hardly any tourists, so it was a lovely quiet place to write a few letters and catch up with a friend. If you want somewhere refined and peaceful on the Strand, this is a good spot.