Thistle London Piccadilly

The one big plus is the location, close to Leicester Square and handy for exploring central London. Breakfast was basic and short on variety, though the restaurant staff were friendly and polite. Reception, on the other hand, didn’t feel very helpful or welcoming, which added to our disappointment. The room also felt stuffy because the windows couldn’t be opened, and it was noisy. We kept hearing the lift and doors around the rooms and housekeeping areas. Once cleaning started early in the morning, the self-closing doors kept slamming nonstop. The room was smaller than advertised, with a tiny wardrobe and a cramped, uncomfortable bathroom. The sink was clogged, and the toilet flush button was so awkward to press we practically broke our nails trying. The furniture and decor felt dated and worn.

The staff were polite and helpful, and the room was really comfortable, which is why I didn’t rate the stay lower. We had a very spacious room, some of the most comfortable beds we’ve slept in, decent and stable Wi-Fi, and impeccable room service. The location was also very nice, close to Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. Breakfast was good quality with a decent amount of choice. The main hassle was that the hotel had two lifts, but only one worked during our stay and it had very limited capacity. I was with my family, so we had to take our luggage upstairs over several trips and couldn’t all use the lift at once. Repairs outside the hotel also made it difficult to get in. If you’re travelling with a wheelchair or baby stroller, note that there are 3-4 steps at the entrance. After that, there aren’t any more accessibility issues.

The room was quiet, the shower was lovely, and breakfast was plentiful. The staff were very helpful, and the hotel is handy for the tube station. The toilet flush was close to useless. Then the fire alarm went off at 7 am, apparently because of the kitchen. My daughter was crying because she thought the hotel was on fire. After a long day the day before, I’d hoped she could sleep in and enjoy the next day, which is why I’d booked an overnight stay. The alarm had a massive knock-on effect for us.

The service was nice and the location is top notch. Breakfast was okay, and it’s nice that they give you a voucher if you skip room cleaning. Still, the hotel feels outdated, the price is quite high, and we heard noise from the hallway and outside. The bathroom had an unpleasant smell, and the windows don’t open to let in fresh air. It was a decent stay, but very, very expensive for the quality.