Chic restaurant and bar with a large menu
Free gym with plenty of equipment
Central location, close to London Underground and rail stations
Free business center with access to computers, phones, and a printer
Stylish, eclectic decor
Street noise from vehicles, especially ambulances, from a nearby hospital
Some rooms and bathrooms are small
Expensive breakfast
This 330-room hotel is located close to many of the major tube and rail stations in central London, and offers luxury rooms at a reasonable rate. The Steak & Lobster restaurant is popular and stylish, the gym has modern equipment, and there are 11 different conference rooms for business travelers. The most notable downside of the Grafton is the small rooms, which are in need of better sound protection from exterior street noise.
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Scene
Asian-inspired modern design
The Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton has a fusion of Thai, English, and modern influences that gives it an eclectic style. The public areas (such as the reception and bar/dining area) are extravagant, with plenty of golds, blacks, and whites decorating the walls and ceilings. The velvet seat upholstery of bright purples, pinks, and yellows makes a striking contrast –- though it may not be to everyone’s taste (and some of it could use a wash). Throughout the rest of the hotel are many traditional Thai statues, framed artifacts, and paintings, which are juxtaposed against the modern interior design.
Location
Easy access to public transport and the downtown core, but on a loud street
Located just across the street from Warren Street Underground Station and with direct links to Euston, Kings Cross, and St. Pancras Stations, the Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton is very easy to reach by all modes of public transport. It is also walking distance from a number of major tourist sights, including the British Museum, Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Soho, and Leicester Square. The Grafton is also situated very close to UCL Hospital, which according to guests, contributes to the majority of the noise pollution (ambulance sirens) that can be heard in the rooms at most hours of the day.
Rooms
Modern and cozy rooms, though some are quite small
The Grafton's 330 air-conditioned rooms have varying sizes and layouts due to the historic nature of the building, but they’re stylish enough, with decor in shades of gold and brown. The free coffee, tea, and magazines are nice touches, as are the international wall adaptors for electronic devices. There are audio and video jacks for media devices to plug into the television, but cables are not included in the room or at reception. The bathrooms are quite small, but they are clad in grey Sicilian marble. Note that rooms facing the street can be noisy, so light sleepers should request a quieter room. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms.
Features
Impressive (and free) facilities for guests
This hotel has plenty of features, including a gym (with free weights and elliptical machines), and a business center with free Internet access. The Grafton Hotel also includes 11 different sized (and fully equipped) conference rooms for any type of function, which also include a refreshments table (with free coffee, water, and tea) as well as all necessary multimedia support for business presentations. The stylish and eclectic Steak & Lobster is another notable feature of the hotel and offers a large and impressive menu, although breakfast is not normally included in the price of a room and can be rather costly compared to other hotel breakfasts in the area.
