We had a great stay at the Georgian House Hotel, my friends and I were raving about it for days after. The have a lovely decor with friendly staff, prompt room service and house keeping. It's located in a great area, too! We walked everywhere and felt right at home upon return.

This Bed and Breakfast was a great price in a great location. The Georgian House Hotel is located near Victoria Station in the area of Pimlico. From here you can walk to many sights, or take the tube. Our room was a double with a private bath in the main house on the 4th floor. The room had a phone, TV, and hairdryer. There is no lift--being 7 months pregnant I was getting my stairmaster workout in!

The rooms were a bit small, but then you really aren't there for the room. The hotel, as it is called, takes over two townhouses, with another building around the corner which they call an annex. The annex is supposed to be quieter because it is off the main road. This books up fast as there are only a few rooms. If you're staying here, you'll have to walk to the main building for breakfast. There are a combination of rooms with and without private baths. They also offer a student rate. The staff was very friendly. Although the wallpaper was a bit dingy, they had remodeled a bit. Breakfast was in the basement--at a reasonable time as well. You didn't have to get up at 7am to eat. It went from 7:30 to 10am so at least you could get down there by 10 and still enjoy a relaxing breakfast. As in most of London, decaf coffee came in the form of Nescafe Packets. There was no decaf tea to be found.

The Westminster/Pimlico area is central, quiet, historical and cheap. It''s home to some of London’s best B&B bargains, and the Georgian House Hotel has been leading the charge since 1851.

It occupies three adjoining 1850s houses in stately St George’s Drive, and a smaller townhouse in nearby Cambridge Street. Serena von der Heyde, great great granddaughter of the original owner, is the manager and lives and works in the area.

After agonising over accommodation choices, we found the property in a British Tourism Association publication titled "Budget B&Bs in London" and liked the sound of their policy to provide "…warm, helpful service; clean, comfortable and attractive rooms; and a top quality English breakfast." Well, on balance we reckon we got that, and more. Here’s just three episodes from our week-long stay:

How long will you be in the wardrobe, dear?
Our double was GBP46 a night – large, bright and clean, high ceilings with decorated cornices and French windows opening to a small balcony overlooking the street. Modest furnishings provided the essentials along with telephone, television and tea and coffee making. Karen unpacked her travel bag, expecting to hang a few wrinkled artefacts ready for an assault of the city, only to find the wardrobe came with hot and cold running water.

This was our introduction to the London shower closet. We wondered about the plumbing and salt damp in these old Georgian buildings, not to mention the risk of sleeping directly under someone’s shower on the (not so stable) floor above.

Breakfast beverages
Full English breakfast. That means you leave full, very full. Sausages, eggs, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, cereal, toast, porridge, pastries… They’re all served in the crowded downstairs breakfast room by attentive and friendly (mainly Spanish) staff. Then there are the beverages; different teas, coffee, even chocolate. But I wanted orange juice. I like it. And after eight hours sleep I get thirsty.

Herein lies a curious traveller’s axiom: "Any fruit juice served at breakfast must be served in the smallest glass available." Any other time it''s a tall glass with ice, sometimes even a little umbrella. I still chuckle at The Georgian’s adaptation of the axiom…

The first glass held two mouthfuls. My request for another was met with an incredulous look – and a smaller glass. My third attempt revealed what resembled a shot glass. I would have coffee tomorrow.

Trevor the Brave
Our days were spent discovering the city, and often we’d be walking home and see our balcony windows open, curtains waving. Trevor was visiting again. He was the local electrician, hired to rewire the building - starting in our room - it’s just a pity nobody told us.

We’d sit and chat over a cuppa. Trevor was Scottish and his claim to fame was being an extra in Braveheart, which apparently involved "lots of running around, screaming and face painting."

Give the Georgian House a go, I guarantee a memorable stay.

The building was built in 1851 by William Chinnery Mitchell and the hotel is run by his direct descendants.
The rooms are fairly small, at least my single was, but you have the option of an ensuite if you wish. The room comes equipped with a phone, TV, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities. From what I recall there were 4 floors plus the basement level but there is no lift so be prepared to haul your suitcase up the stairs. Full English breakfast was included in the price and is served in the basement level of the hotel.
There''s a small lounge on the ground floor and internet access is available through one computer.
This hotel is very close to Victoria Station, within walking distance.
Georgian House Hotel