Great Scotland Yard London

The Great Scotland Yard Hotel, a Michelin Key Selected property in London, generally garners overwhelmingly positive reviews, lauded for its luxurious ambiance, prime location, and exceptional service.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Great Scotland Yard Hotel is highly positive, with many guests considering it their favorite hotel in London. Reviewers frequently describe their stays as "exceptional," "luxurious," and a "total treat," praising the hotel's blend of historic charm and modern elegance. It consistently receives high ratings, reflecting strong guest satisfaction.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise several aspects of the hotel:

• Location: Its central Westminster location is a major draw, offering easy walking access to iconic landmarks like Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, and Covent Garden.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's elegant and beautiful design, which respectfully blends rich heritage with contemporary luxury, is frequently highlighted. The extraordinary and often crime-themed artwork, paying homage to its history, adds to its unique character.
• Service & Staff: The staff is consistently described as friendly, professional, attentive, and willing to go above and beyond to accommodate requests.
• Amenities: Features such as the hidden whiskey bar (Síbín), the afternoon tea lounge (The Parlour), a well-equipped fitness center, and complimentary in-room minibars (non-alcoholic drinks and snacks) are often appreciated. A "pillow bar" offering a selection of pillows is also a noted detail.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel are generally described as comfortable, clean, and tastefully decorated with subtle nods to the building's history. While some standard rooms can be relatively compact, particularly for an old building, they are well-appointed and feel plush. Key features include:

• Comfort: Comfortable beds, often on the softer side, with a great choice of pillows are frequently mentioned.
• Design: Rooms feature clever lighting, modern amenities, complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and coffee-making facilities. Many bathrooms are particularly smart, featuring large showers, marble, and Japanese Toto washlet toilets with heated seats.
• Thoughtful Touches: Bedside sockets, ample power outlets, USB-A ports, and high-end toiletries (e.g., Jo Loves by Jo Malone, Scottish Fine Soaps Company) are appreciated details. Some rooms boast balconies or views of Whitehall.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a notable dining experience:

• Ekstedt at The Yard: This flagship restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt, brings a unique "wood-fired 'old Nordic' cooking" concept to London, combining Scandinavian techniques with seasonal British produce.
• Breakfast: Breakfast at The Yard is generally well-regarded, offering both a buffet and an à la carte menu with high-quality, local British produce. Options include continental selections, hot breakfast items like English breakfast, pancakes, waffles, and omelets. While the food quality is good, some guests have noted inconsistent or slow service and a sometimes noisy atmosphere during breakfast, especially with tour groups.
• The Parlour: Offers refined all-day dining and a signature British afternoon tea.
• The 40 Elephants Bar & Síbín: The 40 Elephants bar is praised for its excellent cocktails, and Síbín is a unique hidden whiskey bar.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Great Scotland Yard is a consistent highlight. Guests frequently praise the staff for being:

• Friendly and Professional: Many describe the team as "super friendly and welcoming," "professional," and "attentive."
• Helpful and Accommodating: Staff members are noted for going "above and beyond" to accommodate requests, from check-in to housekeeping. Special mentions include personalized welcomes for children with mini-passports for exploration.
• Efficient: While breakfast service can sometimes be slow, overall service is often described as efficient.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel's location is considered outstanding for tourists.

• Neighborhood: Situated in Westminster, it offers a "quintessential British" experience.
• Attractions: It's within short walking distance of major attractions such as Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square, Whitehall, the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The National Gallery, and the Churchill War Rooms.
• Transport: Public transport links are excellent, with Charing Cross and Embankment tube stations nearby, offering convenient access to other parts of London and airports like Heathrow and Gatwick. Despite being central, the hotel is tucked away on a quiet side street, providing a peaceful retreat from the bustling tourist areas.

7. Value & Pricing

The Great Scotland Yard Hotel is considered a luxury property, and its pricing reflects this.

• Price Range: Cash rates can vary, sometimes as low as $380 per night, but often upwards of $600 or more. It is a World of Hyatt Category 6 property, with point prices ranging from 21,000 (off-peak) to 29,000 (peak) points per night.
• Value: Guests often feel it offers good value, especially when using points or finding lower cash rates, given its prime location, high-quality service, and luxurious amenities. However, some note that the bars and restaurants, while high quality, are not cheap.
• Additional Charges: A discretionary service charge of 5% may be added to the accommodation bill.

8. Common Complaints

While generally well-received, some recurring issues and criticisms include:

• Room Size: A common point of feedback is that some rooms, particularly standard ones, can be relatively small or compact for a luxury hotel, although they are still well-appointed.
• Breakfast Service & Noise: Inconsistent and sometimes slow service at breakfast, along with potential noise from other guests or tour groups, has been mentioned.
• Lack of Hotel Overview at Check-in: Some guests reported not receiving a comprehensive overview of hotel amenities and features, like the speakeasy or pillow menu, upon check-in.
• Bathroom Amenities: While bathrooms are generally excellent, some minor points include a lack of towel hooks in some rooms despite ample wall space, and in one instance, the absence of a heated floor or towel warmer.
• Views: Room views are not typically a highlight, with some overlooking internal courtyards or nearby office buildings. The most interesting sights are often within the hotel itself.

Sources

1. travelingformiles.com
2. booking.com
3. hyatt.com
4. booking.com
5. frequentmiler.com
6. hyatt.com
7. averagejanes.uk
8. luxurytraveldiary.com
9. boardingarea.com
10. youtube.com
11. uk-london.website
12. liveandletsfly.com
13. flyertalk.com
14. headforpoints.com
15. hyatt.com
16. wheeltheworld.com
17. michelin.com