Excellent location in the heart of London's West End
Just seconds from the Green Park Station
Beautiful restaurant with nicely preserved period features
Family-friendly; kids under 13 eat free in the hotel restaurant
Modern rooms with views of Berkeley St., Piccadilly, and The Ritz
Location well-suited for business travelers who need to move around in the Green Park area
Off-site fitness facility, at a cost
Dated lobby with worn down furniture and garish lighting
Fee for Wi-Fi
Travelers who care little about a hotel's exterior or lobby might be satisfied by a stay at the Holiday Inn Mayfair. Rooms are contemporary and chain-like. In terms of location, it offers equally convenient access to the more business-oriented areas of Green Park, and the more recreational areas of Piccadilly and Berkeley Street. In a city where traffic can be gnarly and cabs are expensive, having the tube just outside the lobby is certainly a huge asset. The bounty of fine dining options just outside the hotel and the perk of having major sites like Buckingham Palace less than a 10-minute walk away is also very redeeming.
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Scene
Schizophrenic style that isn't always bad, but still far from ideal
The lobby of this Holiday Inn smacks of an underground casino somewhere in Southeast Asia. The neon green light band running along the ceiling does little to set an appropriate mood, and the giant rectangular chandelier in the middle of it all feels equally out of place. Luckily, the decor changes completely on the way to the rooms. The hallways are half forest green with dark wood chair rail accents that are somewhat reminiscent of an old hunting estate -- a theme that is resurrected in the rooms, but in a much fainter degree. From the outside, the building's very common brick exterior could be mistaken for that of a hospital, though the hotel's restaurant surprisingly showcases some beautifully preserved period features and very striking chandeliers.
Location
Central Green Park location ideal for the business set
Surrounded by very upscale hotels, including The Stafford, The Ritz, and The May Fair, this Holiday Inn is on a busy main road running just in front of Green Park station. Berkeley Square -- the London hedge fund managers' main watering hole -- as well as various embassies are in the immediate vicinity, which is very well-suited to the business traveler. Several fine dining options including the legendary Le Caprice and Nobu are within walking distance, with a few of these places (Dover Street) also offering live jazz in the evenings. Though the hotel bar seemed to be dominated by the business set, tourists will find the hotel's proximity to the tube and several royal parks to be very convenient.
Rooms
The Executive Room is worth the upgrade.
Executive Rooms are a bit more of a splurge, with larger catty corner bathtubs and higher quality toiletries provided by Seaweed Therapy. Management could have offered something a bit more refined than a Chunky Kit-Kat as a turndown treat, though some chocolate is arguably better than none at all. The pillows in all rooms are labeled with small tags as being either "soft" or "firm," which is a nice touch, and all rooms have a small desk area with a beautifully ornate framed mirror hanging above. Otherwise, the decor is pretty much what one would expect from a Holiday Inn; dark wood, light bedding, neutral carpets, and the occasional framed floral print.
Features
Scant amenities, but still a good value considering the location
Despite being located in a bustling area of town, this 196-room hotel is effectively insulated from outside noise. Though it is lacking by way of extras -- Wi-Fi is expensive and there is no on-site wellness center -- being situated within walking distance to the London Eye, The Big Ben, Parliament, and The Ritz (for high tea) arguably provides plenty of entertainment and some exercise. The main on-site feature is Nightingale's Restaurant, which serves a full English breakfast and classic comfort dishes for dinner; room service is 24-hour. The fitness center is off-site and there's a fee to access it.
