The Russell Hotel London

Staying at this hotel was a unique experience, and definitely one of the more interesting places I have lodged in. I was a little wary due to some negative reviews on the internet. However, I was very pleased with my Art+Tech room. I paid about 95 GBP. The room is nicely appointed with contemporary furniture and modern art. The glass decor bathroom is particularly attractive. The room was small but comfortable. Air conditioning worked fine, and the room was fairly quiet. The big plasma TV was impressive, although not much to see on it except BBC and a few other channels. The adjustable queen bed had a big fluffy down comforter and I slept like baby. Drawbacks included a very small elevator, which did not bother me since I did not have many bags. Also, the concierge was often very busy since he served as baggage check as well. I did not mind waiting, since I was on vacation and was feeling relaxed. But this might be a problem for people on a tight schedule. Overall, I would recommend the hotel to a more adventurous hip person looking new experience in a hotel.

To be honest, reading all the different review available on Internet, I book my room waiting to have problems. In fact it was all the contrary. I had the best time of my life in London due to this hotel. I book on the Le Méridien website an Art+Tech room package including tax and breakfast. The Art+Tech rooms are the new refurbished rooms. It can seems expensive (130 £ per night if booked in advance) but worth it. At the arrival, I had the surprise to discover that my Art+Tech room have been changed into an Art+Tech Mini suite !!!! Maybe because I asked an high floor and a bath ! Or because I am a moment member. It was really a great surprise... When I entered the room, I was completely astonished, never thought to find such luxury here ! The suite (Numer 719) measured almost 60 m² !!! Everything was superb even the great bathroom with huge victorian bath including powershower, magnificent Art+Tech toiletries. The Art+Tech room featured marvelous glass wall behind the bed that glitters when lighted, a power bed, very beautiful stainless steel tea and coffee making facilities, minibar filled with complimentary bottles of water, fruits and, the best for the end : a 42 inch astonishing plasma screen. And so, and so, and so... The suite featured a large seatting area in Alcantara and a marvelous bow-window with a very nice view. There were stylish details everywere in the room from the dressing room to lights, bathrobe, pictures... Everything deals with luxury and it was the best room I could ever think of. Never had problems with fire alarms or hot water, only with lift that just finished to be refurbished the last day of our stay. Effectively, the 7th floor with its white walls, beautiful modern grey carpet and blue lighting state of the art lighting (you seems to be in a futuristci star trek voyager) is the only floor already refurbished and the other floors seems a little be old fashioned compared to this one. The staff was perfect : one manager came to ask me if the room was well 10 minutes afternager the firts evening to ask it another time. The concierge seems a little be tired but was well. Regarding the breakfast, the quality of the food was perfect with everything you can wait from a luxury hotel (the same we had in Le Meridien picadilly 5 stars hotel, in fact) even though the breakfast room was a little bit old fashioned regarding our new and stylish room. As a conclusion, it was a perfect location, with a perfect looking hotel (outside it's very nice and impressive) and the best room you could find in term of technology and feeling of luxury. I can't speak of the non refurbished rooms and it can effectively can be old fashioned (as I can saw in the stairs) but if you can afford the Art+Tech room price (not expensive at all regarding other hotels), do it, you'll definitely not regret it !!! And maybe you will have the chance to be upgraded in a minisuite like me and have the best time of your travel life ! (Sorry for my English, but I am a French people !)

Where to begin? Locked in the bathroom when the door handle came off? Fire Alarm in the middle of the night? Holes in the carpeting and mold on the walls? Clogged drains and loud parties?A great exterior, a lovely lobby and helpfull concierge couldn't help the disasterous rooms. Tea in the bar was nice though. A great neighborhood (try Denise's Restaraunt, just down the street).Try another hotel!

When we arrived from the U.S. we had to wait 8 hours for our room after an all night sleepless flight. The hotel desk staff were terrible and we believe purposely made us wait until the hotel manager happened by and realized that we had waited long past the check in time. When we finally were checked in, after many apologies from the manager, the room was superb. We visited during the Queen's Anniversary and were on our way to Ireland when the airline strike occurred. We couldn't find a hotel in London to spend extra days there were no flights to Ireland. The concierge called us with 10 minutes to spare to get to the train station where he had booked us on a train to wales then a ferry to Ireland, spending the night at a B&B in Wales. People knocked at the B&B all night begging for a room - we still don't know how the concierge did it. He took care of our every need - unlike the snooty front desk people. And, when we came back through London we stayed at the hotel again where he took careful care of us. He turned what would have been a horrid experience into a great one.

Rooms are currently less than 2 star but being rented as 4 star. Rooms are dark, dusty, wall paper torn. Tiles falling off in bath room, carpets ripped, inside window views of yard full of rubbish. What more can I say? However, Hotel rooms are being renovated, but new rooms are charged at twice the price!

We were promised air conditioning and 2 adjoining rooms when we booked for summer 2002. When we got there we were told they had no adjoining rooms, but would give us rooms near each other that definitely had air conditioning.The room had a state of the art, super temperature control - that did absolutely nothing. It was chilly the first day, and we were told we couldn't get heat. The next day and for the rest of the week was very warm for London. It was at least 25 deg F. hotter in our rooms! It took a number of calls for someone to finally tell us that the air conditioning system did not work in that section, and more calls before someone told us "maybe it will be fixed in a few weeks". Then again, maybe not. They wouldn't change our rooms and supplied us with a couple of tiny fans. The windows only opened about an inch, because they were nailed mostly shut (no fire codes in London?). That was one hot, miserable week.

I found a $100 a night room here and thought something must be wrong. For the center of London, that's pretty cheap. Even B&Bs usually go for more than that (sometimes) and I knew the Le Meridien chain was classy and usually expensive. But, I went with it and was not dissappointed. It was a very nice hotel -- located close to the British Museum but yet far enough out of the way of the massive crowds. The hotel is elegant, but yet not too fancy so I would feel uncomfortable looking tired and worn out. It had good restaurants and pubs inside and around it. The room was small, but more than enough just to rest after a days sightseeing. The staff was VERY helpful and efficiant! Would stay here again in a heartbeat!

We stayed here and were slightly apprehensive about the rating of the hotel vs. the costs. Were we surprised! We stayed in an economy room but it was clean and covered the basics nicely. The one bar was very classic, English decor. The concierge was MORE than helpful in providing us information to surrounding shopping areas. And the full English breakfast daily - superb. Cannot say enough about the great location as well.

The hotel facade is lovely but the rooms are small, the elevators and the hot water don't always work, the food is terrible, service is very disinterested. The concierge staff is quite good and the bars are lovely but thinly stocked.

I was somewhat apprehensive about staying here after reading some of the reviews on this website. We stayed in one of the "unrenovated rooms" on the fifth floor and had a beautiful room with an extraordinary bathroom!! Hotel staff was very helpful and the concierge was particularly helpful, plugging us in to some nice restaurants and economic ways of getting around London. The restaurant was only so-so but there are so many good restaurants now in London, it didn't matter. We're already saving up to go back as soon as we can. LOVED this hotel!