As some of you know, we just returned from a two week trip to Amsterdam and London. Although I'm already being nagged about writing a trip report, I'm holding off a bit on that, but will post a couple of hotel reviews. In London, our first hotel was the Celtic, 62 Guilford Street, just east of Russell Square.
Our favorite London hotel (the Kensington Gardens) was booked for our dates, so we decided to take the recommendation of someone on the Forum and try the Celtic. (Thank you, darrenblois!)
The hotel is in Bloomsbury, easy to reach from St Pancras; we walked, and it took about 10 to 15 minutes. We checked into room 5, on the first floor up, for three nights. There is no elevator.
The room was beautiful, big with a high ceiling, and 2 French windows opening to the outside (with railings.) There was a small closet with lots of hangers, a desk, what I think was a queen-size bed, two comfy chairs, one desk chair, 2 marble end tables, a marble fireplace, two lamps, a small electric heater (the oil-filled radiator type,) and a luggage rack. There were lots of outlets, and plenty of light. The double room with bath cost €145 per night, including breakfast and VAT.
The breakfast was good, served by the staff rather than a buffet. There was a choice of hot and cold beverages, hot and cold cereals, and toast. “Full English” selections included choices of toast, eggs, and hot breakfast meats, as well as beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms. There was also fresh fruit available, although it wasn’t on the menu.
The staff was wonderful. The young woman serving breakfast remembered after the first morning that Stan wanted a banana, and that I took honey on my oatmeal.
The reception staff was just as good. Several of them were very concerned about whether or not we liked the room and were comfortable; when I told one that the room was just beautiful, she beamed. And when I asked another clerk about a Catholic church in the neighborhood, she told me where it was, how to get there, what landmarks to look for, and what time the services were! (It turns out her parents were married in that church, and she herself was baptized there.)
There were comfortable public areas as well, and everything was very clean.
Bus and tube lines can be reached within a 5 minute walk; many restaurants are available in the neighborhood, as well.
We enjoyed our stay at the Celtic very much, and would gladly stay there again.