Academy Town House Hotel Reviews

Helped carry my bag upstairs flights so this...
Helped carry my bag upstairs (3 flights) so this was good service, fruit and water in the room and mini bar
Reviewed by A Ruddy; Reviewed in Jun 2010

The hotel was beautifully appointed and the staff...
The hotel was beautifully appointed and the staff very friendly. I would use it again - although as I work for a Charity it was a little on the expensive side.
Reviewed by Ann Charlton; Reviewed in Jun 2010

The kind of boutique hotel that makes you...
The kind of boutique hotel that makes you feel welcome. Quiet and with good room facilities. Excellent breakfast and restaurant staff.
Reviewed by Richard P; Reviewed in May 2010

no air con no service probably no cleaning...
no air con, no service, probably no cleaning staff, definately no customer service
Reviewed by W Coleman; Reviewed in May 2010

Hotel correcto peque o muy tranquilo estilo m...
Hotel correcto, pequeño,muy tranquilo, estilo más bien clásico y muy bien situado cerca del Museo Bitánico y de Oxford Street.
Reviewed by J Miro Vila; Reviewed in May 2010

Bien sous tout rapport peut- tre un peu...
Bien sous tout rapport, peut-être un peu bruyant sur les chambres au rez, côté rue.
Reviewed by m eze; Reviewed in May 2010

We have a group of staying at the...
We have a group of 20 staying at the hotel, and they were very accomodating, good location for exploring the sites, great garden for pre dinner drinks, quiet location and good breakfast, worked well for a large group.
Reviewed by Katie P; Reviewed in Apr 2010

When I arrived at the hotel i was...
When I arrived at the hotel i was greeted by the night manager and proceeded to check-in. Payment had been made through a company credit card but this gentleman insisted That I pay again and very aggrevated!!! I was also asked for my passport. In 17 years of travelling the UK staying in hotels I have never been asked to produce a passport. I told the gentleman i was a british citizen and i was not required to carry a passport whereever I go. After a heated arguement and was finally given my key to the room. The following morning I was apologised to but given "it's company policy" rule again.
Reviewed by Scott M; Reviewed in Apr 2010

Room great but up many flights of stairs...
Room great but up many flights of stairs. 2 things let the room down, 1. Very strong smell of damp from leaking air conditioning unit which should have benn rectified 2. The room temperature. . very hot. decor, bedding room size were perfect and very comfortable. Will stay again if offered a better room.
Reviewed by S Smiley; Reviewed in Apr 2010

Efficient and friendly staff lt br gt Comfortable...
Efficient and friendly staff.Comfortable, relaxed hotel.Very good deal on laterooms.Restricted facilities but courtyard gardens are a huge bonus.A great hotel for a short trip to London.
Reviewed by Jeremy H; Reviewed in Apr 2010

Slightly tatty round the edges but I'm a...
Slightly tatty round the edges, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Overall great and would definitely go back. Great location for central London.
Reviewed by Sarah R; Reviewed in Apr 2010

The shower was not particulary efficient We have...
The shower was not particulary efficient . We have had this problem with each room we have used in this hotel. They should maybe invest in better toilet facilities . i.e a power shower or better water pumps.
Reviewed by M McNeill; Reviewed in Mar 2010

Nice hotel Very cosy with nice elements of...
Nice hotel. Very cosy with nice elements of servicesvery well situatedIl will definitely go back to this hotel next time I'm in London
Reviewed by Alexis Perrier; Reviewed in Mar 2010

We received an upgrade to a suite which...
We received an upgrade to a suite which was excellent so I can not coment on the double/twinrooms.Shower preasure was weak, but adequate.My only gripe the cost for an English breakfast £16.50 each. This was more expensive than the starter and evening meal if we had chosen to eat there. So we went out and found a cafe for breakfast at £7.50 each all in
Reviewed by C Billington; Reviewed in Mar 2010

Friendly staff good food and great location Disappointed...
Friendly staff, good food and great location. Disappointed with the size of room considering the cost.
Reviewed by J Robertson; Reviewed in Mar 2010

Good comfortable room ...
Good comfortable room
Reviewed by Martin W; Reviewed in Mar 2010

For the price I paid the room was...
For the price I paid, the room was quiet, clean, well equipped and surprisingly peaceful for a its location. My only small niggle is that the shower head was a little clogged, resulting in a somewhat weak shower flow. The laterooms late-booking price made it fair value.
Reviewed by Graham K; Reviewed in Mar 2010

I was really disappointed by the quality of...
I was really disappointed by the quality of this hotel. We travelled to London for a joint birthday trip so when we were greeted by a receptionist who was not rude but not welcoming either my heart sank a little. We were given a room at the very top of the hotel overlooking Gower Street - I had asked for a room overlooking a quiet area but either this was ignored or - I will give the hotel the benefit of the doubt - they did not have one available. The bedroom was tiny but nicely decorated and clean but the bathroom was the size of a small cupboard, clean but very shabby. I slept badly on the first night due to the noise from traffic on Gower Street, though the bed was comfortable, and I purchased some ear plugs and slept well from then on. A few things niggled - a deposit of over £500 was put onto my debit card on checking in. I've never had this before and it wasn't adequately explained to me. I've only ever had to give a card number to reception on other occasions. Perhaps a lot of people do a runner after the first night...? There was a pervading smell of sewage on the ground floor and up the stairs for our whole stay. Our bedroom was not serviced after our first night. Admittedly, we did come back to the hotel at 3.30pm, but had been out for about 6 hours. The very nice chambermaid apologised after we asked reception for some clean cups but I reckon they need to get more cleaning staff. Finally, the staff member who checked us out just wasn't very pleasant. Again, not rude so nothing to actually make a complaint about but completely uninterested. This hotel thinks it is a boutique hotel and it is in a brilliant location but I was seriously disappointed and wouldn't consider staying there again. Perhaps all central London hotels at this price are destined to disappoint, but I've stayed in some excellent places in other major cities and I'd suggest they don't rest on the laurels of being a 5 minute walk from the British Museum and get their act together and perhaps suggest that their receptionists at least smile and ask people whether they've had a pleasant stay...
Reviewed by Helen D; Reviewed in Feb 2010

ONLY ONE AREA FOR ANY REVIEW LESS THAN...
ONLY ONE AREA FOR ANY REVIEW LESS THAN EXCELLENT: THE BATHROOM: (ROOM 72)1. THE SHOWER WAS TOO WEAK FOR A DECENT WASH-DOWN2. NO SOAP DISH IN BATH3. NO TOILET BRUSH (ONE PREFERS TO CLEAN UP FOR ONESELF!)4. ONLY ONE WEE BAR OF SOAP.
Reviewed by David Nelson; Reviewed in Feb 2010

A lovely hotel tucked away in central London...
A lovely hotel tucked away in central London. Lovely fruit and water in room and complimentary toiletries of a high standard. Would most certainly stay here again
Reviewed by M McNeill; Reviewed in Feb 2010

An excellent find An easy walk to the...
An excellent find. An easy walk to the West End. Quiet, clean and just the place for a short break.
Reviewed by Celia N; Reviewed in Feb 2010

I thought that this hotel was trying to...
I thought that this hotel was trying to be something special but didn't quite achieve it! Breakfast was expensive; I am not tight but even I thought that I could eat just as well elsewhere. We were given a small attic room where the air con did not work. The plumbing was antiquated and noisy.
Reviewed by P Tunstall; Reviewed in Feb 2010

Clean accomodation not too expensive Smaller rooms and...
Clean accomodation not too expensive. Smaller rooms and older hotel. Good service.
Reviewed by Jason D; Reviewed in Feb 2010

I stayed her for one night only I...
I stayed her for one night only. I booked a single room - it was very small but had all the facilities I needed. I was expecting something a little more plush, given that this is meant to be an exclusive boutique hotel -perhaps you get this with the larger rooms. Breakfast was very nice and in a small breakfast room in the basement
Reviewed by Ann H; Reviewed in Jan 2010

Room at back of hotel was quiet with...
Room 52 at back of hotel was quiet with large window overlooking courtyard garden, shower room was tiny but worked for us. Bed very comfortable and room was tastefully funished & had large flat screen TV. Breakfast was good in pleasant basement dining room. Conservatory lounge with access to garden with tables outside (not needed in January).Good location for public transport, British Museum & dining on Charlotte Street.
Reviewed by David Talbot; Reviewed in Jan 2010

The Academy is a lovely hotel but sadly...
The Academy is a lovely hotel, but sadly my 10-day trip was ruined by Receptionist Paul, who displayed dangerous anger issues. After he made a huge mistake (which he later admitted to), he became so bizarrely aggressive, I was actually afraid for my safety. I travel alone all the time and have never encountered such as this. It was shocking! And I still haven't been reimbursed for his $100 mistake. It's bizarre as I always go out of my way to be courteous to employees, tipping everyone every day. His rage was misplaced and terrifying.It's a shame because the hotel is well-appointed otherwise, well-located and lovely. I should have liked to use it as my permanent London base for trips...but after his frightening behavior - which ruined my 10 day trip - I will not return. I tried to alert Management to his bizarre behavior (and the fact that he overcharged me by $100), but their response has been bascially "Gee, doesn't sound like Paul...?" They are ignoring it and that is the worst part of all. Knowing a bad situation isn't important enough to recitfy ensures it will continue. Don't stay at the Academy unless you don't mind being berated and yelled at (and overcharged erroneously).*By the way, Paul would not honor LateRooms.com reservations, saying any reservation made through your business is "illegitimate". I disagreed with him as I have had only wonderful experiences with Laterooms.com. But he refused to honor the reservation I made through you, saying your establishment couldn't be trusted. THEN, he went ahead and charged me an inflated fee, which he attributed to being established by "Laterooms.com". What a racket. You might do well to inquire about what other troubles he is causing you. His name is Paul and he is one of the front desk managers.
Reviewed by k dougherty; Reviewed in Jan 2010

The Academy was an interesting small hotel a...
The Academy was an interesting small hotel, a little quirky, set in a nice Georgian terrace on Gower Street. Staff were polite and professional and the room was good (but not exceptional). I suppose my review could be split into two parts;The Good bits: Smiley, professional staff; independent hotel with a lot of character to the design and decor; good breakfast; central location, only a short walk to Drury Lane and Bloomsbury; Nice touches - complimentary fresh fruit in the room, bathrobes, tea and coffee making facilities; reasonable rates for central London.The Not-So-Good bits: Booked the room over a month before date and had asked for a room overlooking courtyard but were given a room that, whilst fairly spacious, overlooked the main road so was very noisy; We arrived at about 1.30pm and, whilst we could check in, we were told we could not go to the room until after 2pm which was a shame as we would have liked to freshen up before going on to an exhibition and then the theatre (however at least we were able to leave our bags with the porter). As it was we did not get to see the room until we returned to the hotel at 11pm; The room was stiflingly hot when we entered, all the windows were shut and the heating on full blast, must have been at least 35C. Had to open the windows and get the Air Con going to cool it before we could get to sleep - in one of the coldest January's on record!; Speaking of Air Con, the wall mounted unit leaked badly and had stained all down the wall near the bed.Overall, a good option for a short break but the little issues let it down, could have been 9/10, I'd only rate it at 6/10. Still, would go back - but would want to have a quieter room!
Reviewed by Christine S; Reviewed in Jan 2010

Wonderful individual hotel Lovely experience in reception felt...
Wonderful individual hotel. Lovely experience in reception, felt more like a country house hotel than a London hotel. Staff very pleasant and helpful. Was upgraded toa suite which was fabulous. Lots of room and lovely comfortable bed. Thankyou for making this stay special. Walked round the corner to Busaba, excellent noodle restaurant. All perfect. Would definately stay again.
Reviewed by Tracey B; Reviewed in Jan 2010

During my day trip to London I tried...
During my 10 day trip to London, I tried 3 hotels before mercifully finding the Academy. Now, I will never stay anywhere else! It is amazing. From the Frette sheets to the complimentary mineral water and umbrella in your room, it feels like home. I even got to watch as birds and squirrels fed in the garden outside my window each morning. The thoughtful staff was always helpful, the location is perfect (central but not touristy), and the price is a steal. I always enjoyed the basic breakfast (which people have reviewed as "overpriced" - but i don't agree. For half the price, yes you can go to Nero coffee cafe, but you get a small portion. The breakfast is much better just staying at the hotel!) And the beds are so comfortable, I had a hard time getting up to see London. That's my biggest complaint. During the days of frigid London sight-seeing, I would constantly find myself thinking "when can I get back to my hotel room???!" That, people, is a great place. :)
Reviewed by katy dougherty; Reviewed in Jan 2010

No upgrade was offered despite the fact that...
No upgrade was offered despite the fact that the hotel had very few guests.The room was very small and the bathroom minute. Breakfast was excellent - but extra. Bed was comfatable. Hotel was overheated.
Reviewed by ANDREW WALLWORK; Reviewed in Jan 2010

A good location pleasant service ...
A good location , pleasant service
Reviewed by Nick D; Reviewed in Jan 2010

No lift but the porter lugged my heavy...
No lift, but the porter lugged my heavy bag up the very narrow, twisty stairs. The room was very pleasant, if on the small side, but that is probably to be expected in a London townhouse like this. Everything was clean and comfortable. The bathroom was tiny, with no room for toiletries, and barely room for the shower cabinet! No bath. We didn't eat so couldn't comment on food. We were an hour late checking out - during this hour the staff must have knocked on our door on 6 separate occasions and called us a further three or four times, even though we explained we'd slept in by accident and were hurrying as much as we could. I know it was our fault we were late but it was frustrating and annoying - we left feeling quite harassed despite a very nice stay. The staff were very helpful about keeping our bags for the day though, and then offered to call us a very expensive taxi - twice the price of a black cab! We're lucky we know the area and the general cost of cabs so we declined, but they made it sound like it would be very good value to use their receommended firm, and it definitely would not! I might stay again, but only at a good rate. One of the reasons we stayed was the advertised 'free upgrade' when booking through Laterooms, but unfortunately it was not possible to give us an upgrade and it seemed quite expensive for the room we had.
Reviewed by Emma S; Reviewed in Jan 2010

Good location for OxfordSt Soho Leicester Square etc...
Good location for OxfordSt, Soho, Leicester Square etc. Parking was a bit of a chore and expensive. Got a free upgrade to a suite - which was nice! Hotel was perfectly comfortable, although fixtures and fitttings of room were dated and a little shabby.
Reviewed by A Brown; Reviewed in Jan 2010

On the booking form I requested a low...
On the booking form I requested a low floor to save on walking up stairs also I do not like heights this was not passed on to the hotel. I have proof on my copy that I stated this. On arrival at the hotel I asked if my room was a low floor and they said no so I asked if they could provide this. They changed it to a first floor room. This was very small and the heating was not working. A person came to the radiator and pretended to look at it and then he said he would bring a portable heater. This took extra space in a very small room. Also there was a drainage smell in the room on the 2nd day. For the price we were charged for the room with no breakfast we should have been in luxery.
Reviewed by M Hey; Reviewed in Dec 2009

In December Apart from that it was fine...
In December! Apart from that, it was fine
Reviewed by D Logan; Reviewed in Dec 2009

Fantastic night stay The room was small as...
Fantastic 2 night stay. The room was small, as expected in a central London boutique hotel, but very cosy and tastefully decorated. We looked out onto Gower Street, which proved quite noisy but as you'd expect in this location. Request for an iron and ironing board was met rapidly. Had a fantastic laugh at the mini-bar prices, do they ever wonder why no-one uses them?!! Not so funny was the £6.30 gin and tonic in the empty bar. A bit steep, even for London. Overall though, the location, great room and customer service made for a pleasant experience.
Reviewed by Tony P; Reviewed in Nov 2009

We stayed for two nights at the Acedemy...
We stayed for two nights at the Acedemy Hotel. We had the Brunswick Suite which was very very nice indeed. It was a surprise for my girlfriend and more of a surprise when I asked her to marry me. (She said YES!)We saw two shows in the West End. Friday Night and Saturday Night. The hotel is ideal for the West End and within easy walking distance too.I recommend this Hotel for sure. The room was nicely decorated with a warm homely feeling to it. Plenty of Storage space for your clothing too (Built in Wardrobes). The Bathroom was very clean with Hot running water at all times.The only negative point was that the hairdryer in the bathroom did not wor. That said, it wasn't a problem for both myself and my new fiance!
Reviewed by Peter Walker; Reviewed in Nov 2009

The hotel is situated wonderfully for both the...
The hotel is situated wonderfully for both the theatres and the West End. An easy walk from St. Pancras on the day we arrived and within a few hundred metres of the British museum.The room (26) advertised as their basic double, was one of the best rooms I've stayed in (pound for pound) in a very long time.It had a wonderful quirky bathroom with a superb old fashioned (style) free standing bath that simply begged to be used. The bed was brilliant and the down quilt was a joy to climb under.I will definitely book this hotel on my next trip to London for a show.
Reviewed by K Robinson; Reviewed in Oct 2009

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Academy...
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Academy. The room was clean and well equipped. The staff were friendly (especially the breakfast lady, and the front desk staff) and helpful. The food was good.
Reviewed by D Singh; Reviewed in Oct 2009

Excellent staff and a quality room Just what...
Excellent staff and a quality room. Just what was needed - thank you.
Reviewed by Paul F; Reviewed in Oct 2009

The Academy is a very lovely hotel -...
The Academy is a very lovely hotel - very nice detailing, and definitely upmarket. But the room I had was one the top floor, after climbing many flights of stairs I entered what could only be described as a tiny attic room. There was no space to leave my case - I had to put it against the door. So, overall a good place to stay - but ask to for a room other than the attic!
Reviewed by Paul H; Reviewed in Oct 2009

What a nightmare finding a reasonably priced clean...
What a nightmare finding a reasonably priced, clean, quiet and comfortable hotel room can be in the centre of London. I thought this hotel was outstanding. I did ring and request a quiet room, and was given one overlooking a courtyard with fountain. Not sure how quiet the rooms would have been on the Gower St side. Hard to fault. Would recommend to anyone.
Reviewed by c mcferran; Reviewed in Oct 2009