Convenient location near Hyde Park
Air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs and kettles
Free breakfast buffet with hot and cold items
Indoor heated swimming pool
Sauna on-site
Bar and restaurant offering room service
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms are small, worn, and lack style
Lobby and public spaces feel drab
Elevators are small
The 105-room Henry VIII Hotel is a simple -- but dated -- mid-range property near Hyde Park. The hotel has some alluring features for its moderate price point -- an indoor pool, sauna, and free breakfast -- but overall it's a bit disappointing. Rooms are drafty, tiny, and lack style, but they do have flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning. The Henry VII's location is convenient to public transport and attractions like Hyde Park, and may be appealing to a tourist with low expectations. A far more attractive option would be the London Bridge Hotel, though rates here tend to be higher.
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Scene
Drab value hotel in need of a facelift
The Henry VIII Hotel is built into a white Victorian building with a set of twin black doors. Pleasant and classic on the outside, it's drab on the inside. Stylistic touches in the lobby -- including a wood-paneled reception counter and hanging coats of arms -- are the hotel's most forceful attempts at an aesthetic. The vibe is traditionally English (despite what resemble Roman murals on the walls). Worn velvet couches offer a place for guests to congregate. Carpets are grayish-brown and a bit faded. The hotel looks like it's in need of an update, though nothing is dire. Overall, the Henry VIII's greatest selling point is its price-level for its location, which is reasonable considering its proximity to Hyde Park. That said, its tired appearance might be frustrating to more design-conscious guests.
Location
On a quiet residential block in the heart of Paddington, up the street from Hyde Park
The Henry VIII Hotel is located on a quiet residential street in the heart of Paddington, a short walk to the Paddington, Queensway, and Bayswater tube stations. Hyde Park and Kensington Palace are just a few minutes' walk from the hotel, while Portobello Road -- known for its numerous boutiques -- is a 10-minute cab ride away or a long 27-minute walk. Heathrow is half an hour away on the Heathrow Express, which leaves from Paddington.
Rooms
Small, plain rooms that lack style, but with flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning
Rooms at the Henry VIII Hotel are small and plain and look more like typical U.K. university dorms than central London hotel rooms. Plaid curtains and small framed prints offer the only color. Rooms come with narrow writing desks and armoires and are outfitted with kettles, safes, air-conditioning units, and small flat-screen TVs. In some rooms, the layout of this furniture is downright awkward, creating narrow passages between the desks and the beds. Likewise, bathrooms are small and difficult to maneuver and have shower/tub combos. Rooms come in Twin, Double, Triple, and Family configurations, but in some Twin Rooms the beds are pushed together to form doubles, so it's best to inquire when booking. There's also a single Suite.
Features
Indoor pool and sauna plus free breakfast and Wi-Fi
While overall quite drab and uninspiring, the hotel does have a few enjoyable features, including a small L-shaped pool better suited for dipping than for swimming laps. There's also a sauna. The free breakfast buffet is generally underwhelming, though it does include hot and cold items. Wi-Fi, while free, also gets mixed reviews, as it can be less than reliable. The basement-level restaurant, while dark, exudes some style -- resembling an oversized classic tavern -- with iron chandeliers and wood support beams criss-crossing the ceiling.
