Review: Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill

Wait, you think those first pictures show a tiny room? Clearly you've never stayed at a hotel in London before. That is a large room in London.

I don't understand why you would consider Hyatt part of the "big 3" hotel chains and not IHG and the Intercontinental London - Park Lane. I would also suggest that Conrad is a luxury brand alongside Waldorf Astoria, not below them, just different. In virtually all locations, it exceeds a similarly located Marriott or Hyatt Regency.

Nice review.

Rates can get up there, it is London after all. But C+P does open up - I keep a sharp eye out for them 🙂

FYI, there was a basement gas-line explosion at the property in November, '14. No deaths, but several injuries. The entire property was closed immediately (and as many guests as possible were re-accommodated to the Andaz Liverpool Street, but it was a major disruption for many travelers without a doubt.).

After a several months, once it was determined to be safe to do so, they re-opened the club-level floors and the lobby. Consequently, capacity at the hotel was greatly diminished. A major was renovation was decided upon, with work commencing on the 1st through 7th floors first. Once those were completed, work begins on the Club level floors. The idea here being to maintain club access during the renovation, and when it comes time to attack the club floors themselves, the majority of the hotel's capacity will have been renovated/updated.

Whilst I have not yet stayed in a renovated room there, I have been a guest at the Churchill many times, and I do love the hotel. They treat me very well, and I am recognized on each return visit. I love the bar and it's staff. The Club can get crowded (best to go earlier in the morning), but the breakfast is ample to start the day. I do have a favorite resto around the corner that is my go-to for a full breakfast in that neighborhood.

As to the Andaz, it is also a solid choice and I have been there many times as well. The Eastway breakfast is great, with a ground-level street-side window view to the world as you nosh. The 1901 buffet spread is also quite good, and a really nice interior space as well. I actually find the hotel quite convenient (and you'll find the East End has quite a lot to offer once you're over the 'touristy usual suspects'). You can grab the Metropolitan Line a mere few steps away form the front of the hotel, and within 10-15 min be at Paddington to grab the HEX.

And there is a Waldorf in London.

Sad to see these types of options dying as the "2 free nights" credit card bonuses go away. Really nice way to have some special trips without burning through transferable points. By my count the Fairmont, Hilton and Hyatt cards have all ended the free night sign-up bonuses this year.

Used the Hilton Reserve nights 2 years ago at the Conrad. I could see how the location might not work well because it is tucked away between St. James Park and the Thames. But the Tube access across the street from the hotel made getting around very easy, and walking along the Thames was a beautiful way to end our nights.

@Rico, oddly enough, though there is a Waldorf in London, it is not a Waldorf Astoria, it is a regular Hilton hotel. Bad news for those expecting the WA standard of luxury, but good news for elites who get breakfast included there that is not included at most WA brand hotels.

When not booking with points, The Churchill can be booked with Travel Leaders Select amenities through a TA with that affiliation.

Complimentary Buffet breakfast for two daily
Complimentary early check-in and late check-out upon availability
Complimentary upgrade upon availability at time of check-in
65 GBP Food & Beverages Voucher
Complimentary basic Wi-Fi

Agree with everything FarNorth says

Technically, there is a Ritz hotel in London, but it's not participating in Marriott/RC Rewards.

@farnorthtrader Ah, no wonder there was a lounge with breakfast, afternoon tea and a happy hour at the Waldorf in London and I didn't get squat as a diamond at the Waldorf ASTORIA in Edinburgh.

@ptahcha @Rico: In what can only be described as a confusing state of circumstances, there is a Waldorf Hilton in London but it's not a Waldorf-Astoria property (simply the former Waldorf hotel, named long ago after William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor... and you can guess where the name of the original "Waldorf=Astoria" came from, too). There is a Ritz Hotel in London named after hotelier Cesar Ritz, and the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain as we know it capitalizes on Ritz's good name but was founded in 1983. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton forged a marketing relationship with the Ritz London and the Ritz Lisbon, but they are independently owned and managed. Frankly, it's a smart move on both Hilton and Marriott's parts to align themselves with the original namesakes somehow to reduce confusion and boost both brands.

That said, the Ritz London is not a Marriott property at all, and the Waldorf Hilton is just a plain ol' mainline Hilton.

Which do you prefer - Andaz or HR now that you've stayed at both? And why?

+1 to what mojo said - I initially missed an opportunity to book Hyatt cash&points, but it re-emerged a few weeks (maybe 2-3?) later. It's a steal - 115 pounds +12500 points per night. We are spending three nights there in July and it will cost us ~$400 and 37500 points, not even the cost for a single night normally at the hotel. We are excited and pleased to hear such a good review.

We need one night near Victoria Station and to find anything decent and reasonable is easily $350+. Hilton points is a joke - 150k+, my measly 50K points might take $50 off the price. Ridiculous.

1) I assume that many of the people assigned to the club-floor are on award stays, hence the slightly older rooms. I doubt anyone on a cash stay actually receives the older room, which looks indistinguishable from a Hyatt in any suburb back home.
2) The J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House is on par with a Ritz-Carlton in terms of service and amenities.
3) Hotels in London may be expensive, but I find you get much better service than New York, Washington and San Francisco -- three other markets with absurdly expensive hotels.

I've heard others say that Marriott has a relationship with the Ritz-London and Ritz-Lisbon but I've never seen either hotel appear on Marriott.com as booking options.

Having stayed at the Churchill both before and after the gas explosion I can say I prefer the regular floors over the club floors. We've been fortunate to have a fantastic view of Portman Square each time. Yes the bathroom is a bit small but it's nicely done. We have been fortunate to have our breakfast in the restaurant downstairs instead of the lounge (not a big fan) so we had the buffet as well as the cooked to order items.

The service has always been exceptional for us and the people very nice. We've also stayed at the Andaz quite a few times as well (my Husband's preference) but I'll take The Churchill any day.

This and the Le Meridien Piccadilly are my 2 go-to hotels in London, where I travel fairly frequently. Hyatt is definitely the nicer of the two, but location is a bit more remote from everything. A couple items to note:
1. The Churchill Bar is quaint and has character, but they forbid laptops after 6pm. As one who often works til midnight while sipping a glass of wine, I found this quite objectionable. I now have a blanket dispensation to work in the Bar after taking this up with the management.
2. Unlike most hotel lounges in London, the Club Lounge at the Hyatt is a cut above. The wine is drinkable and they bring chef's special creations around to the guests in the club in the evening, in addition to what's on the food station. Overall I find the lounge comfortable with a bit of character, but weak compared to Asian hotel lounges.
3. They used to have these great Winston statuettes all over the hotel, but they must have been frequently stolen as now they only place you can find them is in the gift shop post-gas explosion/renovation.
4. I've stayed at the Conrad in St. James many times, but prefer the Hyatt. Especially true since Hilton had their massive devaluation (cue DCS with more defensive diatribe...)
5. As an English speaker, you will most definitely be in the minority at the Hyatt :-). It's a popular hangout for the ME crowd (near Mayfair, so...)
6. The Park at Portman Square is greener than green and a nice place to hang, but the gates are locked to keep out the riff raff. But you can gain access as a hotel guest by simply asking the concierge.

Ron

This is my new favorite Hyatt!

I have been to the family lounge with my family, and the adult lounge solo. I like that they occasionally circulate around with platters with special items that are not on the buffet.

I had no idea the desks just outside the lounge are another checkin location, I will have to use that next time!

I have stayed a this property several times over the last couple of years but following a stay at the Conrad st James which only occurred due to a conference held in the hotel I have never returned to the Churchill .The difference was worlds apart . The club rooms at the Churchill are dated ,tired ,dark and basically sub par . In comparison The Conrad rooms are spacious ,beautifully finished with spacious bathrooms that are luxuriously finished. The quality of F&B in the executive lounge is superior by a long way . But above all the staff at the Conrad are very professional,polite and friendly .Even though I returned to the Chuchill over and over the service was simply cold and at times flippant.
Breakfast at The Conrad is perfect both in the executive lounge and the main dining room off the lobby ,nothing is too much trouble ,if requirements are specific the staff will go out of their way to accommodate .
It is always disappointing when you remain loyal but then discover that loyalty offers no value ,The Conrad is my only choice and his been since that default stay last year.I now feel my loyalty is appreciated unlike Hyatt or should I say WOH !!!

love this hotel and its location. The other hotel i frequent in London is the Marriott Grosvenor Square on Duke Street. Always had good service @ the Churchill.

Nothing makes one more irritating in a hotel to be given an extremely inferior room at the start, then ask for it to be changed, and be shown to a room that is clearly better and nicer and, apparently, was too good for it to have been given to you in the first place.

Just an utterly degrading experience to know that the front desk knew the room you were getting was lousy, and somehow smiled and said, "and here's your room key!.." knowing that you could have gotten better, and may have had you not been "not" one of their premier customers, and the desk staff hopes that you won't complain about the inferior room and smugly thinks, great, I filled one of those, now we'll keep the good ones for any last-minute VIPs or walk-ups paying more money.

Degrading.

We stayed there in May and we were disappointed with our stay; the Club used to be so much better. I do love the Molton Brown products. There were 3 of us and we all decided we liked the Andaz more; their upgrades for Globalist are much better and their breakfast is quite good. With Liverpool station being right there, great to any part of London you want to get to.