We chose the St Giles for its central location. Positioned at the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street in the heart of London's West End, it is arguably the most central hotel in the capital. It is within walking distance of Oxford Street, China Town, Theatreland, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Soho, and the British Museum. The nearby Tottenham Court Road underground station allows easy access to other London attractions.
The hotel is a modern, purpose-built, independently run three-star establishment. The brightly titled entrance provides a warm reception. Climbing a few steps brought us to the queues at the four reception desks. Eventually we reached a desk and the receptionist started her search through the many pieces of paper filed in boxes in different locations for our booking details. Eventually we received the digital key for twin-bedded room no. 533.
The 655 rooms range from Standard and Superior rooms to Mini-Suites. All have a shower but no bath. Each room has a direct dial telephones with voicemail, in-room safes, hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and remote-control television with PayPerView movie channels.
Four roomy guest lifts run between reception and the 11th floor, to the soothing sound of music, which causes many an eye to turn heavenward with that "god, not again"expression! For those on the 12th floor, a flight of stairs awaits!
The room proved small, clean, and decorated in a modern style. Light wooden furniture fitted into the limited space as craftily as that in any yacht’s cabin. A stand for our case was located in a wardrobe. Slightly staggered room frontages allowed a window view along Tottenham Court Road, with Westminster visible in the distance. The murmur of traffic permeated the room. The shower room had no ventilation, leading to a steam room effect, while the bedroom’s only ventilation was by opening the window.
The next day we went down to Hugo's 165-seat Rotisserie & Bar for breakfast around 9am. A queue wound it way around three sides of the room--the lesson learned, get down early. The breakfast, though, was plentiful, with a warm buffet choice of full English or continental if wanted. The hotel also has a 90-seat Italian restaurant serving fresh handmade pizzas, pasta dishes, and other Italian specialities.
We also had an evening meal in Hugo’s. The evening staff proved more welcoming and service oriented than the morning staff, and seating was immediately available. This restaurant incorporates the main bar of the hotel and serves what I would term pub grub. The half chicken I ordered was dry and overcooked.
Although we didn’t use it, guests have free entry to the YMCA health and fitness centre found beneath the hotel. Accessed by two of the hotel lifts, these offer free use of a 25m swimming pool, sauna, and exercise machines.
In all, it is a serviceable hotel but not one to boast about.