The Clermont London Charing Cross

The location worked really well for seeing downtown London, with lots of restaurants around the hotel and easy access to the train and tube. The staff were great, and both the rooms and the cleaning service were great too. They kept our luggage after checkout on the last day, so we could do more sightseeing before our flight. The free minibar and coffee were nice touches, and they restocked them every day. I'd highly recommend it for a London visit.

We found the hotel handy for Leicester metro or Charing Cross, but the stay got worse toward the end. The first few days went well. Then our room wasn't serviced, even after we asked, so we had no water bottles or towels until we called reception and they sent some up. On the last day, the shower had no hot water. Reception said they'd look into it and call us back, but we're still waiting. Breakfast was decent, though the porridge had a hard skin on top, like it had been microwaved or left over from an older batch. We could hear the street, the subway, people overhead, and noise in the hallway through the windows. The location works well if that's your main concern, but with the other issues, I wouldn't recommend it as a four-star hotel.

The building is historic, beautifully decorated, and well kept, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Our room, though clean, felt plain and rather cold. The bathroom ventilation ran constantly, making it chilly, especially in the shower, and the tub had no enclosure, so the bathroom ended up soaked each time. We could also hear the room above us, including odd creaking footsteps that sounded like someone walking on wooden boards. We stayed four nights last week, and getting around was easy. Soho and the theatre district are right nearby, while most of the main sights are walkable or a short metro ride away.

We were delighted to be recognized when we returned after many years, back when the hotel was called Amba. The warm welcome included a thoughtful welcome-back chocolate cake in our room. The restaurant and bar were another highlight, with an elegant interior, a lovely atmosphere, and attentive service. Staff throughout the hotel were friendly, and the service was excellent. The historic grandeur gives the place a special feel, and the rooms are well equipped. We stayed three nights last weekend and found it good value by central London standards. The location is hard to beat, beside Charing Cross Station and close to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, the Strand, and Piccadilly Circus, with great underground and bus connections. If you choose a front-facing room, the views of the Strand, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and parts of Trafalgar Square are fantastic, but you will hear some noise. The rooms at the back are quieter, although they look out only over the station roof. We'd happily return and recommend The Clermont London, Charing Cross to anyone after a welcoming hotel with historic charm in central London.