The Royal Trafalgar - A Thistle Hotel, London

Whitcomb Street, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2H 7HG
4

A modern hotel set in a superb and quiet location, in the cultural and geographical heart of London. This 116-room hotel, including 80 air conditioned rooms, bo... more

 

£ Rooms from £145 (≈ $247) per night
Enter your dates of stay to see rooms to book

7/10 Overall rating

Category Average Rating
7/10 Check-in process
7/10 Your room
6/10 Working order of facilities / equipment
7/10 Order and cleanliness of the hotel
6/10 Performance of staff
7/10 Overall experience
7/10 Overall value for money
  • 10/10 Jeremy ( Mature couple) 

    from Comber , GB  on  January 16, 2008

    "I have stayed in this Hotel for a number of years now and like its convenience to both Picadilly at the top of the street and Leicester Square at the bottom of the street. Because it is situated in a side street there is no noise outside and thus makes for a good nights sleep.The beds are comfortable and firm.The food is well prepared and tasty. The staff are helpful and friendly.This is a good value for money hotel and we always enjoy out stay." (97675232)

    Central location but very quiet. The staff are friendly and efficient.

    Nothing

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful:

  • 6/10 Anonymous ( Solo business traveller) 

    on  September 22, 2008

    "Hotel is in a good location, Room Mini Bar was listed among room facilities but not available. The staff were excellent. Paint was peeling in some sections of the room" (107266118)

    Location, Friendly staff, Good food

    Sports channels not available in room, smell in corridor on 6th floor, no printing facilities for guests

  • 7/10 Julie ( Young couple) 

    from Northampton , GB  on  August 26, 2008

    "Polite and friendly reception staff" (107136965)

    Location for Prince of Wales theatre and closeness to Trafalgar Square

    Couldn't open any windows in the room

  • 9/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  August 19, 2008

    "Really good" (107114586)

    Overall, we were delighted with the hotel, and the staff were lovely, extremely helpful.

    The only thing which was disappointing was breakfast on our second (and last) morning. There was not nearly enough hot food and everyone was having to go to and from the buffet for one item at a time as it came through, which made for a very strange meal. Breakfast the first morning was brilliant, though!

  • 9/10 Anonymous ( Solo business traveller) 

    on  August 14, 2008

    "very good" (107125870)

    location - central, close to my destination upgrade offered with out asking ggod quality breakfast

  • 4/10 Rachel ( Group of adult friends) 

    from Southend on sea , GB  on  November 14, 2007

    the beds were comfortable

    the room was very outdated, very small for a twin room. the bathroom again was very outdated, with tiles missing on the floor. The cupboard doors were falling off.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful:

  • 10/10 Alan ( Solo business traveller) 

    from Freiburg , DE  on  August 3, 2008

    "Very good - it is hard to find a reasonable, quiet quality hotel in London" (107123791)

    Location, quiet, good quality, good price

  • 8/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  August 1, 2008

    "Had a good stay in this hotel and would recomend to others for the location, staff helpful and breakfast very good. " (108040628)

    well placed in central london, breakfast good. staff helpful and hotel kept clean .

    rooms small and had to ask for room with air con as not all rooms have this, confirm this when you are booking. Staff gave us a room with air con without any problems.

  • 4/10 Anonymous ( Solo business traveller) 

    on  July 5, 2008

    location

    no means of making tea coffee in room computer down at reception!

  • 7/10 Anonymous ( Other) 

    on  June 30, 2008

    "Has great potential to be great but typical large chain hotel syndrome, understaffed by probably badly paid staff and not well managed." (108084261)

    Check-in staff were very good and curteous, good location for westend..

    Room service was not good, had to chase breakfast, when it arrived orange juices were apple juices (apparently they ran out!!!) and two teas were only one tea, croissants were stale. Only one barman at the bar during busy evening..

  • 10/10 Julie ( Other) 

    from Manchester , United Kingdom;GB  on  November 29, 2006

    "I found the hotel staff to be friendly and helpful, the hotel was very clean. This is the second time I have stayed at this hotel as it is in a convenient location for theatreland." (3305115631)

    Convenient location

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful:

  • 2/10 Peter ( Young couple) 

    from Flaxton , GB  on  June 24, 2008

    "I have no review as we didn't end up staying there." (99245782)

    There were no good points.

    Upon my arrival at the hotel we were told that, due to a computer glitch, there were no double rooms available so we didn't end up staying there.

  • 9/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  May 30, 2008

    "Excellent central location. Nice quiet bar." (97709519)

    Excellent and quiet central location

  • 6/10 Kristian ( Group of work colleagues) 

    from Helsinki , FI  on  May 9, 2008

    Location is good.

    Restaurant and bar service not good. No snacks or anything to eat after 21.45.The staff was not service minded.

  • 7/10 Anonymous ( Family with older children) 

    on  February 16, 2008

    "The staff are very helpful and friendly and the reception area is pleasant. The location is excellent for sightseeing. The bathroom lets the room down a lot and was very grubby." (97018030)

    The staff were very helpful and friendly. The reception area and bar are very nice. The location is excellent for sightseeing.

    The bathroom was very grubby and uninviting.

  • 9/10 Anonymous ( Family with young children) 

    on  January 27, 2008

    room and service

    in room tv

  • 4/10 Anonymous ( Group of adult friends) 

    on  December 12, 2007

    "I would like to have known the size of the room before we stayed." (97207646)

    The location. Comfortable beds.

    Very poor quality for a four star hotel. Room was very small and breakfast was not included which is incredible seeing as we paid £200 for the room. Peolple checking in on the day had cheaper rooms with breakfast included. Service was very slow we waited over 2 hours for replenishment of our tea and coffee supplies and left before they arrived.

  • 10/10 Lynda ( Mature couple) 

    from Peacehaven , GB  on  November 21, 2007

    Clean hotel and cosy room,efficient and friendly staff.Good location for theatre and shopping - Knightsbridge and Oxford Street.

  • 9/10 Lesley ( Other) 

    from Ellesmere port, cheshire , GB  on  October 28, 2007

    The room was a good size as were the beds!

    The breakfast.

  • 4/10 Jacqui ( Young couple) 

    from Birmingham , GB  on  October 17, 2007

    The reception was clean and staff very friendly

    The rooms smelled of smoke. The rooms are very dated. Furniture was tatty. One of the rooms we booked was too hot. Light bulbs flashing in both rooms.

  • 8/10 Anonymous ( Group of adult friends) 

    on  July 17, 2007

    "The one night stay was very good, the only complaint I have is the fact that when having breakfast in the morning, the service was a little on the slow side, with regard to getting tea, toast, and when the tea did arrive, we had to send the waitress back for milk." (97325183)

    The room was clean, the beds very comfortable, the air conditioning system, which in the summer is a boon and other hotels do not have this.

  • 9/10 Anonymous ( Solo leisure traveller) 

    on  May 15, 2007

    location, cleanliness, helpful staff

  • 10/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  January 14, 2006

    "An excellent hotel with a first class service. Highly recommended." (3304087015)

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful:

  • 7/10 Anonymous ( Solo business traveller) 

    on  May 14, 2007

    "They had no record of my reservation, and said that they didnt recognise the booking. Fortunately, they made a new reservation, and honoured the price. Not good" (99818094)

    good price for central london. Good room. Breakfast included

  • 6/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  March 7, 2007

    "Hotel is in a good central location. It was ideal for us as we were attending the theatre. We booked a deluxe room, but it was very basic, albeit clean and tidy, and quite compact." (99417916)

    Hotel clean and welcoming. Staff friendly. Good location.

    We booked a deluxe room, but were very disappointed with the standard. That and the fact it was tucked away in a corner of the corridor.

  • 5/10 Anonymous ( Group of work colleagues) 

    on  December 22, 2005

    "Overall is okay. but need more of the facilities such as refrigerator in the room eventhough it's winter season as guest might needs to store drinks, fruits and milk." (2959204)

    easy access to places. Not so crowded but still in the centre of activities.

    breakfast (more selection & daily change.)

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful:

  • 7/10 David ( Mature couple) 

    from Cheltenham , United Kingdom;GB  on  November 22, 2006

    "Your quotation included VAT and newspaper. When chcking in no paper was offered and when checking out VAT was added." (99772525)

    Shower was ineffective - porr control over temperature meant only warm water.

  • 4/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  October 17, 2006

    "Would like to have known the room size and when it was last decorated before congfirming the booking. The good thing about the hotel is its location." (99820317)

  • 3/10 Guy ( Solo business traveller) 

    from Kenninghall , United Kingdom;GB  on  June 24, 2006

    "Good central location but as a conseqeunce you pay more and get less. Hotel is dated and a little shabby. Had a twin room on the 4th floor - adequate but no air-conditioning. Although there was a window that opened it was too noisy outside to try and sleep with it open and therefore I had to sweat instead. Bathroom cramped and also dated but adequate. Other people's doors slammed really loudly although this seems a problem in most hotels." (3304890662)

    Central location.

    Dated, expensive and no air-conditioning in room. Breakfast not included in price.

  • 3/10 Anonymous ( Group of adult friends) 

    on  May 19, 2006

    location was fantastic

    the hotel was dirty dungy and most definately not the five star thistle i have peviously stayed in !! very very disappointed

  • 6/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  May 18, 2006

    "Good position for site seeing,breakfast far too expensive, bathroom looked the same as when we stayed 20 years ago" (3304274303)

    Standard rooms were very standard

    Bathroom should be updated

  • 3/10 David ( Solo business traveller) 

    from Glasgow , United Kingdom;GB  on  April 11, 2006

    "Location of this hotel is good being just off the square itself. Rooms are OK, clean, good decor etc. No fridge and quite small, but still OK. Queue for checkin a no no (15 minutes! - 1 memeber of staff). Food was to die for, literally, it was horrible. I'd read a couple of reviews before going so new to body swerve the breakfast, but 1st night took the easy option of dinner in the hotel and regretted it. My advice, for breakfast, head straight across the street to Orsini's Sandwhich place. They were very friendly and all food looks quality. Their ciabatta's were exceptional and great value for money. For dinner, there are tons on places very close by. The best I tried was the Tex Mex place and the bottom of the street to the right (don't remember the name, great fajita's)" (3304446062)

    Location

    Food, Staff

  • 3/10 Jennifer ( Same sex couple) 

    from 5 thorncote green , United Kingdom;GB  on  March 20, 2006

    "I should have been told that there was no heating - I would not have booked Thistle. In 2006 in London I find this unacceptable." (3304328820)

    The location is very good, easy access to most places, enjoyed the walks very much

    I have kept the newspapers weather section for the two nights my friend and I stayed at Thistle and it was zero degrees overnight. There is no heating at all on floor 4 - it was extremely cold in the room, which made sleeping very difficult - I did try many times to turn the heating up as I had not been told that there was no heating. On the second night a porter installed a small heater in the room which did help. The hotel gave me a discount on the price but obviously this did not make up for the cold experience.Very disappointed with Thistle although I have stayed many times before obviously only in the summer

  • 6/10 Jean ( Mature couple) 

    from Chatham , United Kingdom;GB  on  March 12, 2006

    "Although we only stayed the one night the breakfast service was very poor. The waiters that served us were very slow,did not get our orders correct and did not seem to have the experience expected in a London Hotel." (3304240240)

    Although the room was clean, bright and very well equipt. We found it very small.

    The Dining/Breakfast Room

  • 8/10 Anonymous ( Solo business traveller) 

    on  January 16, 2006

    transport.

  • 9/10 Anne ( Family with young children) 

    from Scala , Greece;GR  on  January 10, 2006

    large room

    everything was good

  • 8/10 Anonymous ( Solo leisure traveller) 

    on  November 3, 2005

    "The hotel was very centrally situated but quiet and had easy pedestrian access to restaurants, shopping areas and theatres." (2791355)

    Good standard in general.

    Breakfast buffet.

  • 4/10 Anonymous ( Group of work colleagues) 

    on  November 2, 2005

    "We would like to have known they did not have a business center." (2853324)

    The room was clean. The location was very good.

    We expected an environment which we could use the internet, but it turned out they only had 1 PC in the lounge that was not accessible at the moment most needed. The staff were incapable of adjusting the PC environment. It would not be considered a preferable environment for a business stay.

  • 8/10 Ralph ( Mature couple) 

    from La petite blaye , United Kingdom;GB  on  November 1, 2005

    "Overall, good value. Well sited for theatreland, with easy connections to all other tourist attractions. Check in was unfortunate. As we arrived early, we did not expect the room to be ready and where asked to return at 14.00. We returned at nearly 15.00, but room still not ready. Receptionist dealt with the problem very efficiently, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Would certainly return to this hotel again." (2721010)

    Ideally located for both theatres and museums. Rooms where of good size, nicely furnished, well equipped and clean.

    Breakfast Area is too small for the number of potential customers that might require service in the same period of time. Food Breakfast catering.Always running out of things, plates, fruit juices (which was poor quality) and fried eggs like rubber

  • 2/10 Chris ( Solo business traveller) 

    from Cramlington , United Kingdom;GB  on  October 31, 2005

    "Don't expect a fast check-in or check-out; the hotel is seriously understaffed so it took 15 minutes each time. If you wish to complain then don't hold your breath for a duty manager; I waited over 30 minutes only to get a junior member of staff (they couldn't find the duty manager). The room was shabby and in serious need of some paint. The bed was lumpy and hard. The whole of floor 4 had a rather unpleasant smell. Avoid." (2879652)

    Its location

    They had one person on reception when I was checking in and out. Consequently I was kept waiting 15 minutes each time. Get more staff

  • 8/10 Kitty ( Mature couple) 

    from Maidenhead , United Kingdom;GB  on  October 30, 2005

    "as a four star hotel with a good discount price in he area" (2879603)

    a big king size comfort bed

  • 8/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  October 28, 2005

    location and size of room

  • 5/10 Anne ( Family with young children) 

    from Sidney , Canada;CA  on  October 23, 2005

    superb location

    I must say that the overall attitude of the staff was poor, there was little or no service , ie no help with bags or calling of taxis, we were travelling with a small child and would have appreciated a bit basic service,.I visit uk several times a year from Canada, and will probably not use this hotel again.

  • 8/10 Anonymous ( Solo leisure traveller) 

    on  October 23, 2005

    "We stayed both Thristle Victoria & Trafalgar Square Hotel during our holidays in UK. When compared, Thristle Trafalgar Square is a modern & clean hotel with friendly & helpful hotel staff (Special thanks to Ms Elisabete Correia). With the convenient location, we can go to the shopping areas (Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Regent Street), dinning areas, including China Town, as well as the attractions, within walking distance. Of course, you can also take the bus or tube (subway) easily. We would like to recommend this hotel to leisure travellers, especially from Hong Kong." (2806411)

    A modern hotel with very convenient location and easy access to the most of the attractons.

    It'll create a better & more friendly feelings if all hotel staff can take the initiative to say, Good morning or Good evening to their hotel guest. Perhaps, it is due to the culture difference between UK & countries in Asia.

  • 9/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  October 23, 2005

    "Having stayed at this hotel before, we chose it again because of its central location. The rooms generally are small, but we were lucky to get an upgrade. Although the room was no smoking, it HAD been a smoking room at some point and the smell was still there, but I don't suppose there's a lot can be done about that. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would go back." (2841226)

    For a London Hotel, the room was spacious. The hotel is very centrally located being only 100 yards from both Leicester and Trafalgar Squares, but not on a main street so hence no traffic noise.

    Definitely the breakfast situation. If you did not arrive early for breakfast then you had to join the queuing system.

  • 6/10 Anonymous ( Young couple) 

    on  October 18, 2005

    "Overall for Central London the hotel itself was good, however, I stay in many hotels all over the world and as a general point the service of the staff is well below par." (2818528)

    Clean and tidy room, spacious for Central London

    The reception service when booking in was poor, it took a long time despite there being just one person in front of us and one member of staff stood behind the desk did not even acknowledge we were there or help his busier colleague. Breakfast arrangements, manic is possibly the word I would use, very little attention to deatil or much in the way of organisation in the team down there.

  • 10/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  August 9, 2005

    "Good hotel that i would visit on a regular basis." (2186274)

    Spacious and air conditioned

    a mini bar in the room would have been nice

  • 7/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  August 9, 2005

    "Being a very warm night we had to sleep with the windows open. Consequently the noise from traffic etc, kept us awake on both nights." (2484642)

  • 10/10 Adrian ( Family with young children) 

    from Doncaster , United Kingdom;GB  on  August 9, 2005

    "The location of this hotel is unbeatable. Theatreland, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Picadilly Circus, Covent Garden and much more are all just a short walk away. Yet amazingly even though Trafalgar Square is almost literally on the doorstep the hotel is tucked away in a quiet but safe, side street location. Staff were all excellent, from the efficient French receptionist to the cheery concierge, and every request was accomodated a smile. Early check-in - no problem, luggage drop - no problem. Room was fine, we had what was referred to as a deluxe studio for a family (2 adults, 2 children). This was a slightly larger than usual double room with double sized sofa bed which the kids had to share. Room was clean and tidy and had air conditioning. Breakfast (if not included in the room rate) was too expensive at £15 per head (£60 for a family of four!!) even with the discount vouchers reception gave it would still have cost £40. Fortunately, there are lots of cafes in and around Trafalgar Square. If your priorities are location and great service and you're happy with a good (but not luxurious) standard of room then this hotel is a great choice and represented good value for money." (2554067)

    The hotel has one of the best locations possible with many major tourist attractions a short walking distance away. The hotel staff were extremely helpful, as always.

    My only complaint would be the price of breakfast in the restaurant. For a family of four your looking at £60, although reception did give us some discount vouchers on arrival - still would have been £40 though.

  • 7/10 Anonymous ( Mature couple) 

    on  July 2, 2005

    Position and convenience. Quiet. Comfortable

    telephone switchboard

The views expressed on this page are the personal opinions of guests and therefore do not necessarily represent the views of Active Hotels, Active Reservations or our distribution partners (About our hotel reviews).

hotel map

Hotels Nearby

Call Centre

book online or call:

+44 (0)870 7120689

Other ways to contact us

Email me great deals & news

Why sign up?

Bookmark with:

What are these?