I had just over 24 hours in London, as I was landing at London City Airport before 7AM, and departing from London Heathrow Airport the next day just after 10AM.
Continue reading: Review: The London EDITION
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
There are so many properties in London though. I stayed at the Shangri-La Shard last month and despite the noisy restaurant at the lobby-level, it was a great place (best tip is to order drinks in the pool area rather than the restaurant when you're at the top of the hotel, the view is towards the better side of London and it is far less crowded).
The Taj 51 Suites are also beautiful and so is Claridge's... Might be worth it to pay for one of these experiences once...
As you wrote, “there are some great independent luxury hotels” in London, and the chains just aren’t in the same league (except price-wise - and this one doesn’t just have expensive rooms; those menu prices look pretty toppy, even for London and even with the pound in its current weak Brexit state).
So much of this looks close to being properly luxurious, but it’s just not good enough: a full English breakfast but with no potato dish? (bubble & squeak is traditional, but sautéed potatoes would do at a pinch, or even rosti), but to have it padded-out with cheapo baked beans (baked beans?! FFS)? For true luxury you should have options like kidneys and kedgeree.
And £25 for a simple chicken curry on the room service menu is just crazy - in a city full of gorgeous Indian food.
I am usually complementary about your photos (best in the review business in my book) but this time - as you say yourself - they just don't do the hotel justice. I mean really they flatten everything out and as you say make the place look dated when it really isn't. Even the Berners Tavern looks ho-hum. It's not - it's one of the most attractive dining rooms in London (and yes you do say it's pretty). I know you know all of this but just for anyone who has not been....
Oh....and I can't believe I'm disagreeing with @The nice Paul - potato in an English breakfast? I don't think so.
The EDITION is my favorite hotel in London. Lucky is right that the photos here aren’t doing it justice because the lighting really creates the scene.
I hate how every Edition in the world looks exactly the same. I’m all for brand consistency, but some variation would be nice. They all have the wood paneling and bed with the exact same throw.
Ahem, Ben. The best Marriott in London is the Marriott Park Lane, which is as good as the best Ritz-Carltons, and fully integrated into Marriott Rewards (also a heck of a lot less points per night).
@Evan
Really? “No” to bubble & squeak??
B&S covered in runny yolk from a fried egg which has swum in bacon fat is just about *the* perfect breakfast taste.
Salivating now. 🙂
@Evan +1
@The nice Paul, potato in a full English? Are you mad? The only carbohydrate should be white sliced bread. In the Qantas 787 review you stated “you could care less” I’m beginning to question if you are even british after all.
@ Iain
Ha! “When in Rome...” and Lucky is American, so I politely adjust my English. 🙂
But I am curious by the rejection of potato-based fried products in a Full English. In my defence (since no-one seems even to have heard of B&S) I cite the glorious, silver service Full English served in post-WW2 British Rail restaurant cars (before they were pretty much all abolished). Sauté potatoes were always, always served.
Where do you stand on kidneys, kippers and kedgeree? 😉
I don't know when you took those photos of a people less lobby, I stayed there for 4 nights last year and the lobby was busy at all times.
@The nice Paul - yes of course we've heard of B&S, just not in a full English!
Kedgeree fine - kippers and kidneys? Bleugh. Thankfully it's not 1956.
Although in a few months time we'll probably be grateful for anything.
The log-cabin siding in the elevator lobbies is a so not London look. Appalling! The dated faux wood panelling in the not very big bedroom looked like a cheap carport conversion for guests you don't want to stay long, in Kansas or somesuch place.
As for the casually arranged extremely faux-fur throw, did they provide long BBQ tongs to remove it to the floor in a corner of the room?
I think you got a dud room in exchange for the earliest possible check-in.
@ glenn t -- That's actually a much better room than the standard one, or the "upgraded" one I waited several hours for a few weeks later. They all have the same paneling and throw as far as I can tell.
@lucky The Punch Room is a great bar, despite its reservations only policy. As a guest they can usually swing a table with a very short notice, so while staying take the 'reservation only' with a grain of salt. More like notify in advance that you'd like to go.
Kippers, kidneys are Kedgeree are fine but no one is putting them in a fry up, and the same with potato; it’s cheap filler. Fine for the happy eater on the by-pass but no greasy spoon would be seen dead serving spuds. My knowledge of post war rail travel is limited to watching the tidfield thnderbolt and brief encounter, and whilst a lot of time was spent in the buffet, not once did they sit down to a rosti.
I’m intrigued by the “A 12.5% discretionary service charge...” at the bottom of the room service menu. I get what it’s for, and I know it’s common practice to add a service charge (for those of us Australians not used to tipping) - but to me “discretionary” means I can “choose” to pay it if I like (or they can “choose” to charge it...)? Interesting...their interpretation of the English language. (PS - I like the panelling, feels sophisticated and sharp)
Still love to see the central London prices as a Englishman in Australia these prices still seem very reasonable. Lol.
@Simon,it is indeed discretionary in the UK. You will probably not be popular amongst the staff, but if you ask to have it removed, or reduced they will do so.
Did you tip Claudia when she showed you to your room? How much?
I would be grateful for guidance as I'm never sure of what to give.
Wait. "There I was assisted by a really friendly front office agent, Claudia, who welcomed me and thanked me for being a Platinum member."
You are platinum premier ambassador. There is a HUGE difference between platinum and ambassador. I'm surprised you didn't call them out.
Were there no suites available? I'm disappointed you didn't test out Marriott's new suite upgrade policy. If a suite was available online you should have gotten it.
As for the room itself. Who designs a room but doesn't put a telephone on the nightstand by the bed? That's inconvenient for wake-up calls. Also, it would appear there is no clock in the room, also inconvenient. Finally, the bathroom looks a bit too institutional, almost like a hospital bathroom.
In terms of best Marriott hotels in London, the J.W. Marriott Ritz-Carlton is basically a Ritz-Carlton is all but name.
Whoops. I meant to say, on terms of best Marriott hotels in London, the J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House is basically a Ritz-Carlton is all but name.
Agree the Marriott selections aren't the best. County Hall is reasonably good. Starwood has some great options - Best Marriott-Starwood hotels in London to me are Town Hall (though it's in Bethnal Green), but has one of the best restaurants in London and the Great Northern, which if sound proofing was your issue, has that covered in spades... and the rooms, with kitchens on each floor, bar and restaurant are really cool
Marriott London County Hall used to be great -- the renovations were superb -- but the service has gone down to 3 1/2-star level. Housekeeping is outsourced to a temporary agency. They had a rat problem last year, too. The M Club lounge isn't a buffet and they limit you to three small, one-piece appetizers at night. If you want more you have to pay. No complimentary spirits. Just beer, wine and Spanish sparkling wine. Breakfast buffet in the restaurant is of a lower quality (aka cheaper) and more limited in selection than other London properties.
agree with the throw comments.
i always pick it up with two fingers and throw it on the floor into the corner where it belongs.
I discourage anyone from staying at a common brand hotel in London.
London is well known for gorgeous and luxurious boutique hotels.
If picking a chain, then try the St. James' Court or the Taj 51.
The End.
You missed noting the creepy screen saver on the television that is a canvas with a knife slowly emerging and cutting a hole, and then a hand emerging.
Otherwise, your review is spot on. My favorite London hotel.
This is my go to hotel in London.
Good location. Awesome vibe in the lobby.
And really creepy portrait on the wall of every room... straight out of a horror movie.
TIP dont pay over £600 for hotel in center of London, go to Marylebone Station,catch train £10 to Wembley or south Ruislip only 15 20 min by train, if flying in to Heathrow take taxi 20 min .Ramada .Holiday inn. plus others, only £85 per night only 5min walk from station dont get mugged off for 1 or 2 night stay in London, all these hotels only 20 min from Heathrow by Tube or taxi