Holiday Inn Express London-Swiss Cottage

Like many properties in the Holiday Inn chain, the London-Swiss Cottage property has a silver-gray exterior with glass panels that make the facade look like that of an office building. The interior is bright, upbeat, and a little mod. White-leather loveseats with purple cushions line the lobby reception area. A royal purple carpet, covered in geometric shapes with white outlines, appears throughout the Holiday Inn Express London-Swiss Cottage. The lounge and breakfast area have a playful style, with red benches and bar stools as well as wood tables and chairs. The meeting space manages to be a bit more fun than most, with the typical laminated wood tables and white walls livened up by purple chairs and carpet. Guests tend to be businesspeople who need access to this part of London as well as tourists looking for an inexpensive alternative to the city's more centrally located hotels.

The hotel is located in Finchley Road in the northern London neighborhood of Swiss Cottage, within walking distance of several shops and restaurants. Camden Market is a 10-minute drive away. The Finchley Road tube station is a three-minute walk from the hotel and connects with both the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines, enabling access to several parts of London. It's about a half-hour tube ride into the West End. Getting to Heathrow Airport takes at least 40 minutes without any traffic or a minimum of an hour by public transportation. Gatwick Airport is about 70 minutes away by car without traffic.

The 79 rooms at the Holiday Inn Express London-Swiss Cottage are bright and clean, with warm decor including red bed throws, abstract red-and-yellow canvases on the walls, and matching curtains. Room sizes range from Twins to Family units with mattresses that get mixed reviews for comfort. Perks include flat-screen TVs and electric kettles with supplies for tea and coffee. All rooms have blond wood desks, and the larger Family Rooms also include pull-out sofa beds. Connecting rooms are also available. White-and-blue-tiled bathrooms are simple and clean, with walk-in showers. Hairdryers are provided, but toiletries are limited to wall dispensers of soap and body wash. 

Most of the Holiday Inn Express London-Swiss Cottage's amenities are suited to business travelers. The hotel offers a free breakfast buffet with scrambled eggs, sausage, and baked beans, and most guests give it positive reviews. The lounge serves light fare and drinks and kids eat free. The on-site business center has a computer, fax machine, and photocopier. There's also a meeting room that can hold up to 25 people. While there's no gym, the hotel does have a deal that allows guests access to a local club with personal training and classes. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.