Having a busy month in December with various stays in Sintra, Dublin and London, we didn't have a very high budget for our trip to London.
After some consideration we chose the Holiday Inn Express Swiss Cottage.
We arrived at London Gatwick late morning and had bought our Gatwick Express train return tickets online. They were
59.10 GBP (ca. 77 Euro or ca. 96 USD). The journey takes only around 30 minutes, so we didn't book first class, which would have doubled the costs. The train can sometimes get very crowded, so first class is maybe worth it, if you want to travel more comfortable and have as perk refreshments included. The train terminates at Victoria Station. It was really humming with people. From Victoria we used the Tube, taking the Victoria Line to Green Park and changing to the Jubilee line. We got off at Finchley Road, which is the nearest stop from the hotel, and you can see it as soon as you leave the tube station.
The Holiday Inn Express Swiss Cottage is opposite the O2 Centre, a shopping mall. It opened in 2005 and has a modern facade. The entrance is small. There is a big public space, used for the bar, breakfast area, internet access and the reception.
Our check in was quick and the member of staff friendly. We were offered as Intercontinental Hotel Group's Priority Club Platinum holders a late check out until 14.00 hours instead of 11.00 a.m. We accepted and took the elevator to the 6th floor.
As Platinums we also received a welcome letter and two bottles of still water. Would we have stayed during the week a newspaper would have been also included.
Our room was overlooking the O2.
It was medium in size and had the typical Holiday Inn Express colors in red and brown. There was a writing desk, flat screen TV with regional channels (To our surprise over 50), a larger than usual bed and a chair. The bathroom was small with shower, sink and bathtub. There was no safe or mini bar, but we didn't expect this.
The room was overall very comfortable. Even though the room was on the highest possible floor the traffic noise was fairly loud. It didn't inconvenience us, but light sleepers should consider requesting a room at the back of the hotel.
Breakfast is served until 11.00 am on weekends and consisted of coffee/tea, milk, juice, plain yogurt, fruits, pastries, scrambled eggs, cold cuts and much more.
The quality was good and the variety okay, so we were happy.
Check out was efficient.
We liked the location and used the time to explore the neighborhood. There is a Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Iceland and some restaurants like Weatherspoon's, Pizza Express, KFC, Yo Sushi, Indian and Chinese, nearby.
The location is also suitable for sightseeing. Thanks to the tube Green Park station and with it Buckingham Palace is only three stops away.
Our purpose was different, though.
We went to see the Sigmund Freud sculpture in front of the Tavistock Clinic, the Swiss Cottage - after which the area is named - and St. Thomas More Presbytery. We didn't manage to go the Freud Museum, but there is going to be a next time.
After some consideration we chose the Holiday Inn Express Swiss Cottage.
We arrived at London Gatwick late morning and had bought our Gatwick Express train return tickets online. They were
59.10 GBP (ca. 77 Euro or ca. 96 USD). The journey takes only around 30 minutes, so we didn't book first class, which would have doubled the costs. The train can sometimes get very crowded, so first class is maybe worth it, if you want to travel more comfortable and have as perk refreshments included. The train terminates at Victoria Station. It was really humming with people. From Victoria we used the Tube, taking the Victoria Line to Green Park and changing to the Jubilee line. We got off at Finchley Road, which is the nearest stop from the hotel, and you can see it as soon as you leave the tube station.
The Holiday Inn Express Swiss Cottage is opposite the O2 Centre, a shopping mall. It opened in 2005 and has a modern facade. The entrance is small. There is a big public space, used for the bar, breakfast area, internet access and the reception.
Our check in was quick and the member of staff friendly. We were offered as Intercontinental Hotel Group's Priority Club Platinum holders a late check out until 14.00 hours instead of 11.00 a.m. We accepted and took the elevator to the 6th floor.
As Platinums we also received a welcome letter and two bottles of still water. Would we have stayed during the week a newspaper would have been also included.
Our room was overlooking the O2.
It was medium in size and had the typical Holiday Inn Express colors in red and brown. There was a writing desk, flat screen TV with regional channels (To our surprise over 50), a larger than usual bed and a chair. The bathroom was small with shower, sink and bathtub. There was no safe or mini bar, but we didn't expect this.
The room was overall very comfortable. Even though the room was on the highest possible floor the traffic noise was fairly loud. It didn't inconvenience us, but light sleepers should consider requesting a room at the back of the hotel.
Breakfast is served until 11.00 am on weekends and consisted of coffee/tea, milk, juice, plain yogurt, fruits, pastries, scrambled eggs, cold cuts and much more.
The quality was good and the variety okay, so we were happy.
Check out was efficient.
We liked the location and used the time to explore the neighborhood. There is a Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Iceland and some restaurants like Weatherspoon's, Pizza Express, KFC, Yo Sushi, Indian and Chinese, nearby.
The location is also suitable for sightseeing. Thanks to the tube Green Park station and with it Buckingham Palace is only three stops away.
Our purpose was different, though.
We went to see the Sigmund Freud sculpture in front of the Tavistock Clinic, the Swiss Cottage - after which the area is named - and St. Thomas More Presbytery. We didn't manage to go the Freud Museum, but there is going to be a next time.
©2012
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