Imperial Hotel

Originally built in the early 1900s, then rebuilt in the mid-60s, the Imperial Hotel London features an accordion-style facade and shares its space (including several common areas) with its more updated sister property, the President Hotel. The hotel's interior decor is a snapshot of what was once high-end, but now it's more of a period piece. In the lobby, tile floors pair with low-pile patterned carpeting, while coordinating chairs are grouped around wood coffee tables, and Chesterfield sofas sit near the windows. The reception desk is made of wood, and rectangular chandelier lights dangle from the ceilings, with potted plants and a few sculptures finishing off the look. The real standouts here are the restaurants and bars, which are charmingly stuck in time. The Atrium bar offers glittering Art Deco flair, Bar Barella is a blast from the past (the '60s, to be exact, with its funky floral carpeting and velvety chairs), and Coffee & Candy has a classic sweet-shop feel. It may not be the Imperial's heyday, but the hotel is a well-priced mid-range property with lots of extras. It attracts a wide range of business travelers and tourists. 

The Imperial Hotel is situated on a busy road in the bookish and generally upscale Bloomsbury area of central London. Set opposite leafy Russell Square, the neighborhood is filled with pubs, cafes, and restaurants as well as a few retail outlets. The British Museum is a seven-minute walk away, while the popular Oxford shopping street is a 12-minute walk. For sights farther out, Russell Square Station (Piccadilly Line) is a four-minute walk from the hotel, and Piccadilly Circus is five minutes away on public transportation. Buckingham Palace can is about 20 minutes away via public transportation, while Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the Globe Theater take about 25 to 30 minutes away on the tube. The Piccadilly Line goes direct to Heathrow Airport, and the trip takes about an hour. The hotel has on-site paid parking.

The Imperial's 448 rooms present a disjointed mix of styles -- the navy wall-to-wall carpeting, earth-toned brocade drapes, fleur-de-lis bedding, beige bamboo-print wallpaper, and vaguely Art Deco light-wood furnishings each contributes a different design. While not huge, they're well-sized for central London. Bathrooms have large white-tile walls and black-tile floors, and shower/tub combos. 

Rooms are air-conditioned and include small desks and wardrobes, flat-screen TVs, coffee/tea service, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are stocked with individual toiletries. Rooms don't have safes, and not all include mini-fridges, trouser presses, and hairdryers. Single, Double/Twin, Triple, Family, and Executive Rooms are available. Guests occasionally complain about street-facing rooms picking up traffic noise, and courtyard-facing rooms receiving noise from the casino.

The Imperial Hotel and the connected President Hotel share several eating and drinking spots. The Art Deco Atrium Bar serves drinks, light dishes, and afternoon tea, and also features live jazz piano on select nights. Bar Barella has a charmingly 1960s vibe, while the Night and Day bar offers casual dishes and drinks and stays open late. Coffee & Candy has a classic cafe and sweet-shop ambience, and also serves casual dishes (along with hot drinks and candy). Breakfast, with standards like sausage, eggs, and cereal, is included in the rates, and is served in a nice breakfast room.

While the Imperial Hotel itself has few other property features, it shares those of the attached President Hotel, its sister property, with a casino, a souvenir shop, parking, and a car rental facility nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours, laundry and dry-cleaning service can be arranged, and the hotel offers some concierge services like ticket assistance. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.