The Landmark London Hotel

First of all, our room wasn't ready at check-in time, which is a real disappointment at 3:30 in the afternoon if you are a weary traveler. Their idea of compensation for this major shortcoming was a coupon for a free non-alcoholic drink in their basement bar: ho-hum. Then, when they finally let us into our room, the noxious cleaning fumes were truly overpowering. Plus, they forgot to bring up our luggage as promised. It was only after the fumes subsided hours later that we realize they had used a strong dose of carpet cleaner to mask an even stronger strong cigarette smoke odor in the room. This in a non-smoking room of a supposed 5-star hotel, mind you. All in all, the staff were friendly but ineffective. That is to say, they were friendly and apologetic down the line, but actions speak louder than words, and they really let us down when it came to hospitality and accommodation. Don't get me wrong. The hotel is spectacularly beautiful. The decor was immaculate and aesthetically pleasing throughout; the lobby and restaurant were impressively swanky. But this hotel is all sizzle and no steak. All services are an out-and-out gouge at this place, from the internet access at nearly 15 pounds per 24 hours to the room service that tacks on a surcharge per person per dish, in addition to the already-exorbitant menu prices. When you throw in the fact that they provide none of the amenities I would expect from even a middling business-class hotel--no coffee maker or electric kettle for tea, no iron/ironing board, and an old 13-inch CRT television we would have replaced a decade ago--I was completely underwhelmed with what the Landmark London has to offer its clientele. Oh, and did I mention the spectacular view...of the restaurant from our second-floor room? With dining guest only just below our windows it meant we had to keep the curtains closed the entire time for any privacy whatsoever. Admittedly, the location is not bad, but it's not quite spot-on, either. Madame Tussaud's is the only guidebook attraction that is within walking distance, and that wasn't even on our to-do list. Believe me, the highlights of this hotel are the impressive Victorian architecture and the beautifully decorated interior. Everything else was a disappointment. I would not stay there again, nor would I recommend it even to a casual acquaintance. Look elsewhere if you are planning on splurging for a nicer hotel during your stay in London. The Landmark ultimately proved to be a high-priced disappointment.

The hotel was historic, serving as a hospital during the war, now restored to its former grandeur. The ambiance was elegant without being stuffy. The rooms were huge and beautifully decorated. We felt pampered. The hotel has a tube station across the street as well as a fresh food market directly across the street. It was a taxi ride away from West End, which was no problem for us.

We felt the hotel was beautiful and very high end... but for that price more should have been included. It felt like every time we turned around there was another charge for the littlest thing. Ordering room service was an extra charge PER PERSON. I understand extra charge, but there is no wait staff and I don't understand the need to charge me extra if they deliver two coffee vs one. Location was good, a little further north than I would want to be next time, but the underground basically solved that. The staff normally went out of their way to be helpful and personable... always greeting me by name even when calling down to the front desk. I think overall I would have been happier paying less for a hotel... next time we'll pick the four star instead of five. One other tidbit... while very helpful none of the staff recommendations worked out (for dinner, activities, etc).

The hotel was beautiful and the location was great. It did exceed my expectations. Even at a higher price, this hotel was nicer than other hotels located by Hyde Park which were more expensive.

everything as advertised. great rooms, great service throughout. prices for peripherals is not inexpensive, but consistent with what you might expect for a top flight hotel. location was excellent. easy access to all areas of London. definitely would stay there again.

Hotel was very nice and roomy, especially for a hotel in the UK. It is one of the posh places with a lot of history...but updated and nice. I had one of the basic rooms, and though it was an odd room shape - it was comfortable and not your traditional room "over there". TV was older model and tiny, if you care about those things. As is typical in the UK and European hotels, there were not outlets in the bathroom for my blow-dryer, etc. The room did come equipped with a US outlet - which was nice. My dealings with the staff were limited, but they were always very pleasant. Ate only once at the hotel at the restaurant but it was a pretty good meal. The location was fine because I didn't mind walking. I went to all the different areas (Notting Hill, Hyde Park, Westminister Abbey, Covent Garden, Soho, etc.) on foot but comfortable shoes are recommended. Out the back door of the hotel is the subway station and all major areas have a stop too...so it really works well for all. Last thing: the hotel gym is actually a 'spa' and the cost to work out is 15 quid per day (not per 24-hrs). It was amazingly small and not worth it.

The staff at the hotel were always polite and helpful. I wasn't happy with having to pay extra to use the fitness center/pool and the internet. Location was great-close to train, underground and buses-easy to get around.

Fantastic, top-notch hotel! We were extremely pleased with the hotel, the location (near 2 underground stations), and the staff (GREAT and very helpful!). The rooms were large, comfortable and spotless. One note: there is a fee to use the pool.

Very large, quiet rooms. We got 2 adjoining for our family of 5. Mirror bar was great, but we were disappointed that the restaurant downstairs was closed the whole time we were there. It seemed that menu would have worked better for our family. Aside from that we would gladly stay again. The concierge worked hard for us to plan a last minute trip to Paris and even ordered pizzas to our rooms while we swam and billed it to our room!

This was truly a great hotel experience. As a first time visitor to London the expectations were already pretty high, but I was not disappointed by anything. Use of the tube was made even easier because it was across from the hotel. The entire staff was helpful from the door greeter to the concierge from the bell hop to the housekeeping staff. I had many questions about sites and the concierge was patient, kind, and accommodating. It was an amazing trip that I am still a little overwhelmed by.