Fitzrovia Hotel - Gem Hotels

I’d happily stay here again on a return to London. It’s a quieter, less touristy area, but within easy walking distance of several tube lines and places like the British Library and British Museum. Everyone I dealt with, from reception and breakfast to housekeeping, was professional and helpful. The room and washroom were a reasonable size. The mattress is quite hard, so keep that in mind, though I got used to it after a couple of nights. The shower had good pressure, both overhead and handheld, and the room itself was generally quiet. I only heard a baby when I stepped into the hall on a couple of mornings. Breakfast had plenty of choice, with eggs, bread, cheese, fruit, and meat, though it wasn’t anything special. The coffee was just okay, but I could easily pick up better coffee at one of the nearby shops. I stayed for a week in January 2026 and found it a great base.

Room 119 was a small twin, but it caused no problems. The location is great for Camden, Piccadilly, and Leicester Sq, and getting around was easy. You can hear the underground trains, though it didn’t keep me awake. I’d come back.

The shower was roomy and comfortable to use, and the room itself was nicely decorated. But there wasn’t much space at all. If you’re 6 feet and 16 stone, getting around will be a struggle. I could only stand upright on one side of the bed, which was practically touching the bathroom door. The bathroom was so cramped there was only about an inch either side when using it, and the thin wall meant you could hear everything from the bedroom. Not much privacy if you’re sharing with someone you’ve just started dating. The frontage and reception and dining areas were beautiful, but that was the high point. Use the room as a base, because it starts to feel claustrophobic very quickly.

The Gem Fitzrovia was a pleasant surprise after a holiday of pretty average hotels. The staff were warm and professional, the room matched the pictures, and it was spacious, very clean, and especially quiet for London. The bed was comfortable, and breakfast was a generous buffet with both hot and cold choices since we booked the full English. The hotel is on a mostly quiet street and within walking distance of where we needed to go. The one letdown was room service on our final evening. We were looking forward to club sandwiches, but there was a function in the restaurant, and staff couldn’t say how much longer our order might take. We waited nearly two hours and called twice before giving up and cancelling. We went to the Sainsbury's opposite instead. I would have preferred a clear answer that room service wasn’t available that night, rather than losing two hours waiting.