The Academy

We had a fabulous stay at this hotel. All staff from the minute we arrived provided an exceptional level of service. We also loved the style, decor and ambience of the hotel. You may struggle at this hotel if you are very elderly and/or have mobility issues as the building is old and some stairs narrow - including those leading down to the breakfast room. That gives the building more character however. No long, wide impersonal corridors. ||Continental breakfast was free for our booking. Cooked breakfast is available for an additional fee. That was very clearly stated on the booking and was perfect for us. We don't eat huge breakfasts and don't usually 'get our money's worth' from a set price full breakfast. Continental choices were excellent with the full range of fruits, yoghurt, meats, cheeses, pastries, cereals and toast etc available. Plant based yoghurt available on request. ||Excellent small bar leading to a lovely courtyard with outside seating which is a lovely feature in central London. Location was perfect for us and the whole place 'had character'. We wouldn't hesitate to stay at this hotel again.

I attended a corporate event today and we used the courtyard for the evening. Service was first class from the beginning until we finished around 8.30pm. A variety of canapés and drinks were served during the evening. Staff were amazing, everyone was with a smile. Sandra, the hotel manager was impressive and has a good knowledge of the hotel. I would definitely recommend this hotel.

The hotel is very charming, it's in an old building but it's beautifully decorated and very clean. The info is clear, there is no lift and lots of stairs which are quite narrow. The garden area is lovely and quiet and the rooms small but very comfy. Great location. The not so good, our room was exceptionally hot and there was no way to turn bathroom heater off, felt lots of the little things like the shampoo were not very eco and the air con unit made such a racket I just couldn't sleep. The breakfast is only continental and that is clear on booking, you can get a full breakfast for a cost. It is fine, not mind blowing. Staff generally very polite and helpful. Recommend if you like old school and comfort, not for people with disabilities who cannot do stairs. Quick tip cheaper if you book directly with the hotel.

It was my first time in London, and I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of people than the staff at The Academy. I'd like to give a special mention to Felix, who was an amazing host and helped me out with my booking when I knew no one else in the city -- thank you Felix! The interiors are beautiful and romantic too, I'd definitely book again given the chance.

We enjoyed an excellent 4 night stay at The Academy. The Bloomsbury Suite was well priced and a lovely environment. The staff were attentive and friendly. The included continental breakfast was good. The staff went the extra mile to help us celebrate an occasion that we were in London for.

We have stayed in many hotels and found The Academy to be just like a small, family run hotel. It was excellent. The staff could not have been friendlier and more helpful, particularly Felix and the ladies in the breakfast room. The bar and garden are beautiful and the room was spacious, spotlessly clean and the bed very comfortable. We would not hesitate to stay again.

Unusual review as it's written by a Londoner who didn't stay at the hotel but was hosted by its manager Felix and its staff. If you're travelling from abroad or it's your first visit to our city, rest assured you will not find levels of kindness and attention that Felix arranged for my lunch meeting at The Academy. I thank him and his staff for their impeccable attention to my requirements. Above and beyond. Thank you.

⸻ I had a lovely stay at The Academy Hotel in London. The property is charming, quiet, and very well maintained. It’s in a fantastic location — close to the train and within easy reach of many key spots in the city. The breakfast was decent and a nice way to start the day. One important note: there are stairs throughout the hotel, so it may not be the best option for guests with mobility issues. Also, I was surprised by a 5% checkout fee that wasn’t mentioned upfront — it would have been better to know about that in advance. Overall, though, it’s a comfortable and well-located hotel, perfect for travelers who value peace and a boutique atmosphere.

While my family and I were in London, we were actually staying at a nearby hotel in Bloomsbury. As we walked around the neighborhood everyday, we kept passing this cute little sign on the sidewalk in front of a hotel advertising high tea. My family *loves* high tea, so we decided to pop in and give it a whirl. When we entered the hotel, I was surprised to see a very formal, fancy atmosphere - definitely not what I expected. When we asked about the high tea, a waiter told us that it would probably be a couple of hours before they could serve us. Apparently, on the website it says that you have to make a reservation because everything is freshly made. Our helpful waiter seated us and told us that if we were willing to wait, he would talk to the chef and see how soon he could bring us our tea/towers. Being a family of 5 people, European restaurants often have trouble sitting us all comfortably, but this waiter went out of his way to put three tables together outside so that we could have enough room. After awhile, he came back and told us that the chef could have everything ready in about an hour, but that he could give us our tea ahead of time. Having nothing better to do for an hour, we decided to stay. Boy, am I glad we did! The hotel was having a special where we could get one complimentary glass of Prosecco or juice with our tea for free! Additionally, our food was ready well within the hour and each got individual pots of tea. Because it's London, while we were eating it started to rain, but the hotel had umbrellas that were heated, both sheltering us from the rain and keeping us warm - it was wonderful. As for the food itself, the tower was three levels, with the bottom being your traditional sandwiches, and the middle scones and strawberries, but the top layer was different. Inspired by a prominent writer who lived in the area, the top plate had egg tarts and sesame balls, which were both unique and delicious. While we were stuffing ourselves, the waiter brought out yet *another* plate (pictured below) full of delicious sweets. Seriously, everything was SO good. Overall, the back garden area where we were sitting was lovely, the service was so spectacular that it turned a very awkward situation into a wonderful one, the china was beautiful, and the food was remarkable. It was pretty expensive, but, in my opinion, worth every penny.

I actually liked this hotel, I stayed here 2 nights on a business trip. It's not cheap, but hotels in London are not inexpensive. It was $343 a night (inclusive of tax) but you can probably get it cheaper during low season or if you book with more advance notice (I booked this a week ahead of time) Granted maybe my 4 star review is a bit inflated because I had stayed in an equally priced hotel with a much worse location and terrible rooms and bathroom (see my Thistle Barbican review for a comparison) just the night before, so almost anything was a huge upgrade. Location - Located on Gower St., this area is great and feels safe. It's just a few blocks away from Tottenham Court Road, about 15 min away from Euston St. if you have to take the train (Midlands and Virgin Trains). It's about a 15 min walk from SoHo and Covent Garden, which have all the best restaurant and food options. Rooms - The rooms are definitely not modern or renovated, but the place has a nice old English feel to it with dark colors, a couch, several chairs, a tea set, big gold mirrors, and dark wood. I had a king size bed which was 2 twin sized beds strapped together - the bed was comfortable and the sheets felt crisp and clean. I think I got lucky and got upgraded to a suite which was really large and comfortable with a couch, 2 chairs, a desk, and a king sized bed. They also give you a free bottle of water and some fruit. There's a small refrigerator too. Bathroom - The bathroom was fine - nothing fancy. I didn't shower there or use the amenities since I went to Barry's Bootcamp and showered there after working out. They do have amenities for you and a small vanity kit which was a nice touch. I wasn't grossed out with the bathroom though, which is always a plus. WiFi - The WiFi is not super fast, but it's functional. They will give you some papers with voucher codes on there that will work for 24 hours per device. The few cons: - No elevator, so if you have trouble climbing stairs or don't want to, you may want to get another hotel. Someone helped me carry my luggage up the 3 flights of stairs, but if you have tons of luggage you may want to go elsewhere. - My room faced Gower St. which was a bit loud at time with traffic/buses/cars. The view from the window had a ton of construction/scaffolding, so if you want something with a gorgeous city view or park, you may want to look elsewhere. All in all, I would stay here again. I found my stay to be comfortable and the location was excellent. Definitely not new and modern and fancy, but it had an old-school charm.

We have visited The Academy in London twice, once before the renovation. It was quaint before in an old world sense, but now, wow! The new deco is sophisticated and beautiful, they have an extensive breakfast, and a cute cosy bar where you can get exquisitely mixed cocktails- they're quite famous for them. Our suite had a view of the street (but still very quiet), a comfy bed, a slick bathroom, large TV w/ many channels and a frig w/ free amenities. The staff is helpful, gracious, and competent, helping us get to an important appointment when our scheduled transportation didn't arrive.We will always choose to stay here in the future.

WOW! Had a wonderful stay here. The staff are the best in the business. The decor is beautiful. Our room was rather...bijou. I'm a strapping 6footer & after seeing the bathroom it was clear that my fake body tanning was NOT gonna happen (pale & interesting is 'in', right?). I did have to brush my teeth with my head wedged between the sink & the bathroom shelf but after giving feedback to the manager (he is a star!) it was something they were in the midst of changing. Prime location. Boutique hotel. Can't recommend enough. I usually stay at the Bloomsbury Hotel nearby (around a dozen times), but the Academy will be my go to place for the future.

Location and personal are good. Booked hotel as 4 stars on Priceline auction. It's definitely NOT 4 but 2 stars hotel. Shabby room in refurbished old building, no elevator for three story. Slow internet connection, tiny room - couldn't have a chair if luggage is opened. I rather pay more but stay in livable place.

Tiny room. Cold shower. No drawers. Nowhere to unpack. Horrific breakfast.. awkward service. It is basically a hostel.

I chose this place based on location and WiFi. I don't typically like cookie cutter hotels and usually find that I can choose something of the same price or cheaper with much more character. The Academy seemed perfect. When I arrived, everything was pretty nice, staff was friendly, location good, etc. They walked me to my room, and obviously this building has been divided and not originally intended for a hotel. Fireplace bricked up, bathroom kind of an afterthought, heater doesn't seem to work but the building is kept a decent temperature so that's alright...it has character. Now for the WiFi... If you don't care about WiFi, this might be your place. It is decent to say the least. If you rely on or even wish to open Google, find somewhere else! It occasionally works and mostly at really off hours. I'm pretty sure they have the entire hotel connected to a dial up connection or something equally as horrid. According to the menu in the room, you can pay £15 to get prioritized bandwidth (aka if you don't buy it, it doesn't work). It's not acceptable to advertise free high speed internet when there isn't. And like I said, if you don't care, this place is fine.

Warning! A greedy and unaccommodating operation. Book at your own risk. I booked a three day stay through Travelocity but had to cancel the trip two days before the departure on account of the flu, high fever and all. It took several international calls to reach a manager, who not only refused to refund, but also refused to give credit for a rescheduled stay, even after requesting and receiving a medical certificate from my doctor. Instead, they took my money and gave me nothing. Travelers, beware. There are plenty of hotels in that neighborhood. Stay somewhere else!

This 4-star hotel is stunning & conveniently located close to Goodge Street tube station right near the heart of London's west end. The hotel itself is a Georgian townhouse - well is about 5 that have been joined together). This hotel just screams luxury. Each room is en suite & the beds are the comfiest I have ever slept on. All rooms are also air conditioned which certainly helped when we visited as it was the hottest weekend for a long time. Breakfast is included in some deals & if you like you can have it delivered to your room. There is also 24 hour room service. If you want a bit of luxury then try here. I went for my honeymoon & it was fantastic. The staff are excellent & will cater to your every need. You can get some good deals on the website - to me it was worth every penny.

So we choose this hotel based on high reviews on another website. We are regretting that choice. Yes it's a great location but the room was horrible. First off we had noises coming from the pipes that kept us awake. Then certain lights wouldn't work. The bed was awful and I swear I'm still having back issues from that. Then the house keeping wouldn't provide any additional soaps. I wrote a couple of notes to do so. They did after the second note. Whenever we would bring up issues the person behind the desk wasn't very thrilled with us. I know they are happy we left. I know I am.

Near Russel Square Station on Underground. Our room was small but clean and had all the basic amenities. The courtyard is nice. We had no use for the hotel kitchen since there is plenty to eat in the neighborhood.

Just returned from a 5 night stay at The Academy Hotel. The pluses: a very convenient location near Russell Square and Goodge Street Underground Stations as well as a short walk to the British Museum. Downhill from there. The room that we stayed in was tiny; make that VERY tiny but that wasn't the least of it. That WiFi that was promised; well, it never worked. The front desk seemed swamped with people inquiring about the service and the answer was always the same, "we're checking with IT." The truth is that in 5 days I had about 30 minutes of WiFi and wound up blowing my International Plan in my attempt to check in with work. Breakfast was plentiful but just ok and served in their dining room that was underground. (After being in a tiny room with almost no outdoor light I was starved for daylight! The bed was fine, the room was quiet but the overall ambience was just so-so and I think you can do better for the price. As for their technology - totally unacceptable.

This is a beautiful boutique hotel in a perfect location. It's within a few blocks of the Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road Tube stations. There are many great cafes and restaurants with walking distance. The staff was absolutely perfect accomodating our group of 10. I cannot thank Paul and his staff enough for helping us with everything. I know many of us WILL be back.