Set on relatively
quiet central London street
One block from
Russell Square Tube
Walking distance
from Oxford Street
Relatively large
rooms with pillow options and blackout curtains
Traditional Irish
pub with small beer garden
Restaurant and
lounge bar serving Starbucks coffee
Fun and funky
meeting rooms with lots of space
Windows don't
open in rooms
Some internal
noise issues
Breakfast not
included
Wi-Fi not generally free of
charge
The Holiday Inn
London Bloomsbury is a mid-range, 316-room property that veers little from its
chain hotel template. Its main selling point is the great location -- a quiet
road within walking distance of both King's Cross and Oxford Street. Most rooms
are relatively large (for London), with modern if uninspired decor, though they can be a little noisy, and the lack of free
Wi-Fi is disappointing. The sports pub, and lounge bar with Starbucks coffee are nice touches. Rates are standard for this level of hotel in central
London, though for a likely saving, guests should compare prices with the more charming Arosfa
hotel close by.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Chain hotel in modern block with smart, minimal interiors
Although
constructed in 2000, the Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury -- with its uniform
glass and brick facade -- occupies a building that mirrors the (in)famous
1960s modernist architecture of its immediate surroundings. Inside, however, the feel is more 21st
century. The hotel's spacious reception area is sparsely dotted with contemporary
low-profile seating in dark leather, finished with simple clean lines, and decorated with colorful artworks celebrating the capital. The ambience never breaks away from its mid-market,
chain-hotel origins, however interiors are well-maintained and there's plenty of
common space abuzz with a range of business and tourists guests. An
Irish pub, with cozy wood booths and international flags, also attracts the odd local resident.
Location
Relatively quiet Bloomsbury neighborhood a block from Russell Square
The hotel is
located on a relatively quiet street just off Russell Square and its Tube
station in the Bloomsbury neighborhood of central London. The
modernist/brutalist Brunswick Centre is just next door, and also houses various
restaurants and shops, as well as a cinema showing independent films. The British Museum is just a
couple of blocks away. The swanky restaurants and pubs of Fitzrovia are within 10 to 15 minutes on foot, while Tottenham Court Road station and the start of Oxford
Street shopping are a 15 minutes' walk. The King's Cross train station and transport hub is also
under a mile away, where the Eurostar terminates.
Rooms
Choice of pillows and blackout curtains -- though some noise issues
The hotel has 316
rooms, all of which are decorated in the chain's signature styling of simple
modern furnishings, carpeted floors, and patterned fabrics. The color scheme consists of blues and grays, with small, brightly colored abstract prints on the walls. There are few
surprises with in-room amenities -- flat-screen TV, tea/coffee facilities, and
Wi-Fi (though not free of charge). A choice of pillows and blackout curtains
are a bonus, while rooms are relatively spacious for London -- however windows
don't open, and despite air-conditioning rooms can feel stuffy in the summer. Although
generally well-maintained, some of the rooms are showing signs of wear, and a
few suffer from poor internal soundproofing.
Features
Traditional Irish pub and swish lounge bar serving Starbucks coffee
The hotel's
restaurant -- The Junction -- serves a
full breakfast buffet each morning (not generally included in the rate) as well
as your typical menu of international dishes for lunch and dinner. The Junction
Bar & Lounge is fairly swish, in a chain hotel fashion, and serves
Starbucks coffee as well the usual salads and sandwiches, plus some international entrees. Drinks can also be enjoyed in the Callaghans
Irish pub on the ground floor of the hotel, which also serves fairly tasty pub
food and has a small beer garden. The hotel is particularly well-catered for
business, with a well-equipped business center in addition to 15 funky, contemporary-styled meeting rooms, some with space for hundreds of guests. Wi-Fi, however, is not free of charge for regular guests and
can get expensive. An off-site gym is available for a fee. Kids eat free.
