Hotel Review - Luxury on The Strand

Swindon Link editor traveled to the big smoke to stay at a hotel right in the heart of the city. Here are his thoughts on the Strand Palace Hotel.

London isn't that far away but when you're there you feel you're a world away from Swindon. It's quite hard to get your head around the fact that this bustling city is only a short car or train journey away. And I would heartily recommend a night in a central London hotel for a short escape.

We stayed in the Strand Palace Hotel for one night in early June and you couldn't pick a better central location if you tried.

In case you didn't know, The Strand is bang smack in the centre of the city, literally a stone's throw away from Embankment, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.

The hotel was fantastic with top class and friendly staff, as well as gym facilities, and top class restaurants and bars. These included Haxells Restaurant and Bar, which focusses on impeccably sourced, top-quality ingredients but also opens up as an afternoon tearoom to treat your loved ones, and a private dining room seating 40 guests, making it a perfect venue for gatherings, celebratory dinners and meetings.

Of if you are craving something a bit more US style, you have Joe Allen, a New York brasserie attached to the hotel, where you can grab an American style breakfast or for a pre or post-theatre dinner.

Our room, which was a 'Deluxe King', seemed to have the biggest bed you've ever seen. You could have fit a family of five in it. Luckily there were only two of us. And it was comfy to boot.

One of the things I loved about the hotel was the elegant art deco design, adding spade-loads to the feel of a luxury stay.

Breakfast was included in our stay and I've got to say it was absolutely perfect with freshly cooked and quality fare that would whet anybody's taste buds.

But the main thing that really made this hotel special was its location as it was just so close to so much that London has to offer from good restaurants to shopping, cafes and theatres.

During the months of July and August the hotel has a really exciting collab with the University Arts London - specifically with students from the BA Costume for Theatre and Screen, BA Production Arts for Screen and BA Theatre Design courses

Students have transformed the exterior units into a breath-taking exhibition for passers-by, that showcases the very best skills and talent from all three courses. Works on display include an array of colourful costume, vibrant headdresses, a model making desk that features the set for Mojo for the Royal Court downstairs, technical drawings and set design projects from the BA Production Arts for Screen - all visible from the street outside the hotel. The costume department are also showcasing their work in the public spaces. 

The project gives the students a high-profile platform to showcase their skills and expertise. COVID restrictions have limited their ability to exhibit at the college both last year and this year.

All of this makes The Strand Palace a perfect destination.

To book a room visit strandpalacehotel.co.uk

You won't regret it.