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Marriott County Hall or Renaissance St Pancras

R

radley

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
129
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9
Location
London
I have a question about Marriott hotels in London - rather than Marriott timeshare properties - but Im hoping I get some help and feedback from you well travelled folks!

I am going to spend a couple of days celebrating my birthday :) in London at either the Marriott County Hall or the Renaissance St Pancras. The stay will be with points and I am a gold member with Marriott. If I stay at St Pancras I have enough points for a Chambers room.

Having not stayed at either hotel I would love some feedback about which of these two you would choose, and why.
Thanks in advance

Radley
 
I can't help you with the REN as I've never stayed there. County Hall is one of the nicest, classiest hotels I've ever stayed. The location is great for walking tours, river cruises and train/subway access. It's also the only Marriott that I would recommend the food. It's pricey but good.

Try to figure out how to utilize the subway/train system before you go. We didn't and the cab fare from the airport was something like $150 for a half hour ride.
 
Hi Jim
I am really sorry to hear that our fellow countrymen charged you such an extortionate fare for the taxi ride from the airport.
If he did it in half an hour though, he must have been a leading Formula One racing driver, so for that experience even I might have paid out $150!
 
We stayed at County Hall and loved it. Would have never had the chance to view Big Ben at night otherwise, across the Thames River, in full glorious view from anywhere in the room thru the big window. Beautiful all lit up at night....almost surreal, especially when you realize repeatedly that you're actually there. And hearing the chimes was a real treat for the ears too.....wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Our teen kids (at the time) said they would never forget it.

It's THE most convenient location for walking and touring the London you read about. So much history around every corner.....Westminster Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye, St. James Park (our favorite), reasonable (easy, we thought) walk to Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Sherlock Holmes Pub (gotta do that), and much more. Beautiful hotel right in the middle of a storybook!!!!

We have also stayed at Marriott Grosvenor Square near Hyde Park.....different feel but equally interesting and beautiful.....close to world-famous Bond Street, where every brand has it's flagship store (Gucci, Versace, Ralph Lauren, etc. etc), and you never know who you'll see shopping-----we saw Rod Stewart.

Never stayed at a Renaissance in London, but we love the brand-----very upscale and contemporary hotels! Have stayed at Ren's in New York Times Sq and a few other major cities. They are very classy. Have fun....London is our favorite city, and we've seen a bunch.
 
I would pick county hall- St. Pancras is recently reno'ed and very beautiful (Victorian high gothic) but not in the middle of the tourist area. Convenience wise the old county hall is much better. We have used London cabs to go from Heathrow and have never been ripped off. If you have a group of four or five it is actually very cost effective and the joy of not lugging cases on and off the tube is well worth it after an overnight flight.

tlwmkw
 
Just a note about London Taxi's. I wasn't ripped off or overcharged. According to their transportation site they charge 45-83 British pounds for the trip. In 2006 that was easily $150 with tip. That's about three times the cost of JFK to Times Square, a trip of equal time and distance.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/taxisandminicabs/taxis/1140.aspx
 
It all depends on what you like. Personally I do not think the location of County Hall is so good. For what we do, Grosvenor Square is much better. However, our favorite was Chancery Court when it was still a Renaissance. Today, I would choose St. Pancras over County Hall if for no other reason than convenience to the Underground system. To fully enjoy and appreciate London, you will be using the Underground a lot. Buy a weekly pass.
 
jimf41 said:
Just a note about London Taxi's. I wasn't ripped off or overcharged. According to their transportation site they charge 45-83 British pounds for the trip. In 2006 that was easily $150 with tip. That's about three times the cost of JFK to Times Square, a trip of equal time and distance.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/taxisandminicabs/taxis/1140.aspx
Click to expand...

If arriving into Heathrow then options for travel to London would be

The Heathrow Express Train to Paddington and then a Black Cab.
The Underground - not my favourite mode of travel.
Use the Internet to find a limo service that will meet you and transport you to your hotel. Should be cheaper than a black cab and more comfortable especially if you have lots of baggage.

My personal choice of hotel would be the County Hall Marriott.
 
There's an added bit to this that I didnt put in my original post - sorry - and that is the fact that I love in London!

Im staying at which ever hotel we choose for a midweek birthday break with my new partner and we are going to pretend to be a tourist and do touristy things, but what I really want is a break without needing to go anywhere!

So I will be using the pool and the spa, the lounge, room service, going out for dinner in Covent Garden without needing to drive or get a cab (a longish drive from St Pancras I know but I do it weekly on my way to work!)

Thanks again for the help
Radley
 
radley said:
There's an added bit to this that I didnt put in my original post - sorry - and that is the fact that I love in London!

Im staying at which ever hotel we choose for a midweek birthday break with my new partner and we are going to pretend to be a tourist and do touristy things, but what I really want is a break without needing to go anywhere!

So I will be using the pool and the spa, the lounge, room service, going out for dinner in Covent Garden without needing to drive or get a cab (a longish drive from St Pancras I know but I do it weekly on my way to work!)

Thanks again for the help
Radley
Click to expand...
County Hall definitely in that case.
 
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