What it’s like staying at The Londoner, a massive ’boutique’ hotel in central London

What is The Londoner?

Located in ultra-touristy Leicester Square, The Londoner is a design-forward hotel with 350 rooms and suites, multiple bars and restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, a spa, and lots of chic nooks and crannies to hide away in or explore. Popular with both guests looking for a stay near central tourist attractions and locals looking for an upscale cocktail, The Londoner has plenty to offer.

How to book The Londoner

Hotel rates in London, especially Central London, are almost always on the expensive side. Rates at The Londoner typically start at more than $500 a night or more.

A suite I want to live in

For my two-night stay, I was in a Corner Suite that was spacious and full of eclectic patterns and prints. It felt trendy and homey at the same time — exactly what you’d expect from a boutique hotel (and what I want my actual home to feel like).

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My room, number 232, was at the end of a stylish, monochrome yellow hallway behind a glossy yellow door with an ornate center doorknob. The door featured a doorbell that had a light to signal whether I needed privacy or wanted my room made up.

Inside the suite, I was greeted by a beautiful wooden wall with square paneling contrasting a lighter hardwood floor, a pink velvet modern fainting couch and an umbrella hanging from a peg by the door — convenient for rainy London days.

By the door was a small desk with multiple power outlets and USB plugs, plus a few travel magazines.

A small coffee table and a sitting chair were positioned across from the pink lounger. There was also a full-length mirror and my first glimpse of the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out at a public library across the street.

A minifridge and a tea and coffee area were hidden in a wooden closet next to the desk. Offerings included sodas, wines, beers, Nespresso pods and various teas.

The king-size bed was plush and comfortable, and I greatly appreciated having the option to control the lights and the do-not-disturb sign right from the nightstand. A bottle of water and a glass waiting by the bed were a nice luxury touch.

One thing I did not find luxurious: The curtains that covered the floor-to-ceiling windows were not automatic, requiring guests to get out of bed to adjust.

The large and functional closet had plenty of space to store my carry-on bag and backpack. It stored two robes, slippers, a Dyson hair dryer and a steamer.

At the far end of the room was the bathroom decked out in head-to-toe subway tile that was a mix of deep greens and blues. I love a hotel bathtub, and this one looked like a deep soaking tub at first glance. However, I realized once I was inside trying to soak that it was actually on the shallower side.

The rest of the bathroom consisted of an equally dramatic green sink with plenty of bathroom amenities (think: toothbrush kit, cotton swabs, nail file) and Miller Harris Tea Tonique soaps, shampoo, conditioner and lotion.

The electric Toto toilet was separated from the rest of the bathroom, as was a powerful shower that turned on with the press of a button.

Eating and drinking at The Londoner

The Londoner is home to a French-Mediterranean restaurant called Whitcombs, a Japanese izakaya-style rooftop bar called 8 (that was unfortunately closed the nights of my stay) and a pub-style gin bar called Joshua’s Tavern. Also, a lobby Champagne bar called The Stage, serves breakfast, afternoon tea (with Champagne), and small bites and drinks into the late hours.

I stopped for dinner at Whitcombs on the Sunday night of my stay, and though the restaurant was absolutely stunning, it was also near-empty. It also seemed to lack a designated host. I stood around waiting for over 10 minutes to get my table before finally heading into the dining room to ask for help.

Overall, Whitcombs was a mixed bag for me. Considering the restaurant was so empty, it took a long time to just get water and the menu — and even longer to get a lackluster martini. After those initial hiccups, though, the staff was much more attentive and very helpful in navigating the menu.

I ordered a fresh and light green bean salad with Datterino tomatoes and balsamic ($18); two Rock oysters ($18) that I found to taste overly dressed (with Veuve Clicquot and green Tabasco, which overpowered the oysters’ delicate flavor); an expertly prepared filet mignon with chanterelle mushrooms and rich, delicious Parmesan creme ($54); and a side of delicately sliced portobello mushroom carpaccio with Dijon mustard and aged balsamic ($12).

I also stopped at The Stage for a nightcap after spending a few hours popping around the lively pubs in nearby Chinatown. Though I had missed the music (it’s in the afternoon on Sundays), I did enjoy a delicious but steeply priced dirty Oxley gin martini ($36); I sipped it while listening to the late-night crowds recounting their sunny Sunday exploring one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.

Another home away from home

Guests of The Londoner have access to three special rooms called “The Residence.” Its library-like space called The Drawing Room is full of coffee table books, board games, couches and tables, as well as snacks, drinks and coffee. The Y Bar has a literal Y-shaped bar where you can order cocktails and food (at a cost). The Whisky Room is a speakeasy-like whisky bar with a 50-plus collection of whiskeys from around the world.

My busy schedule during my quick trip to London didn’t allow me to spend much time here, but I did make a quick pass-through. I could tell that this would’ve been a great place to work on my laptop as it felt like a trendy coworking space that people pay top dollar for.

There’s also a wellness ‘Retreat’ within the hotel

In the hotel’s basement, guests will find “The Retreat,” which is an indoor pool, gym and spa open to guests and nonguests. It even offers a membership program for locals.

The pool area is relaxed and chic, with private cabana areas, a hydro pool and a slightly larger main pool.

While the area feels relaxed and upscale, there are designated times for children to splash about without bothering those folks who are looking to sit back and read a book.

The spacious gym area featured Technogym equipment such as bikes and treadmills, free weights, mats and a separate fitness studio.

At the spa, guests can book facials by Omorovicza, body treatments by Ishga, massages by Ila and treatments designed specifically for men by Gentlemen’s Tonic. There’s also a salon offering hair and beauty treatments, as well as men’s grooming services.

The location is in the middle of all the action

The Leicester Square area surrounding The Londoner is very touristy. However, you can’t deny that the hotel’s location puts guests in the center of the city and within walking distance or a quick Tube ride to most major attractions. Chinatown is basically across the street, West End theaters dot the area, and tourist hot spots like Covent Garden, SoHo and Picadilly Circus are all super easy to access on foot.

Reasons The Londoner might not be for you

• Those looking for an accessible price point might find The Londoner to be too pricey.
• Leicester Square is a bustling, tourist-centric area that might be too buzzy for travelers searching for a quiet hideaway within the city.

Accessibility

The Londoner offers an assortment of accessible rooms, though that information is nearly impossible to find on its website. As it’s a modern and new hotel, guests with different physical needs can expect comfortable and practical accessibility features such as grab bars in accessible rooms and public spaces, wheelchair-friendly elevators, wide hallways and accessible entrances.

As always, I highly recommend calling the hotel before booking to confirm that rooms are available to meet your specific needs.

Checking out

The Londoner is a fabulous hotel with fun and chic design elements, a great location and plenty of amenities (like a spa and indoor pool) to make it feel more luxe than a typical boutique hotel. While all of the public spaces were stunning, my suite felt absolutely palatial for a London hotel. At the end of the day, it was a comfortable place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of a huge city.

But is it a “super boutique?” Given its size and overwhelming number of amenities — from the multiple restaurants and bars to The Retreat and The Residence — I see why The Londoner touts itself as such. I give my kudos to the marketing team that coined the term.

Personally, I just think it’s a pretty solid hotel that I’d gladly stay in again, thanks to the room and location alone.

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