Jesmond Hotel

The family-owned and operated Jesmond Hotel is situated among a row of attached Georgian townhouses with a dark brick facade, cream-colored trim, a black wrought-iron gate, and a checkered entrance. Inside, the hotel maintains period charm with molded details, tall ceilings, and vintage gold frames on the wall. Decor is limited, though, and the lobby, which sits in the entryway, is largely functional. Neutral cream-colored walls meet a basic hotel carpet, and the area includes a seat, a public phone, brochures, and London maps posted on the walls. The first landing features a small armchair and table with books. Part bed-and-breakfast, part budget hotel, this location is ideal for tourist who want a home base from which to explore London. The property is sometimes also used by family members of patients staying at the nearby University College Hospital.

Situated on main road among other hotels and across from the University of London in Central London’s cultural and literary Bloomsbury area, the Jesmond is in walking distance to restaurants, shops, attractions, and plenty of public transportation. The British Museum is a five minute walk from the hotel, and Oxford Street is 15 minutes away on foot. The nearest London Underground (tube) station is a four minute walk, with plenty more stations nearby, so guests can get to most London sights in a half hour or less.

• Four-minute walk to Goodge Street tube station 
• Five-minute walk to The British Museum
• 15-minute walk to Oxford Street
• 10 minutes to Trafalgar Square via public transport (20 minute walk)
• 15 minutes to Palace of Westminster via public transport
• 20 minutes to Tate Modern via public transport
• 20 minutes to Buckingham Palace via public transport
• 25 minutes to Tower of London via public transport
• One hour to Heathrow Airport via public transport
• One hour to Gatwick Airport via public transport

Rooms at the Jesmond Hotel fit from one to five people, and nine of the rooms have their own en-suite bathroom, while the other six have a private sink and shared showers/toilets. Rooms are simple, sparse, and small, but also incredibly well-priced for such a central city location. The rooms are designed for practicality, and guests find them comfortable and clean to use as a home base from which to explore London. White walls, patterned wall-to-wall carpet, neutral beige curtains and bedspreads, and light wood furniture make up the minimal look. Some rooms have a painting on the wall, while others have a period molded or marble fireplace. En-suite bathrooms are small but modern and clean, fully tiled in neutral colors with wet-room style showers, mirrors, sinks, and toilets. Bathrooms come with towels, hand soap, and in-shower soap dispensers. Amenities include tea- and coffee-making facilities, a flat-screen TV, an alarm clock, a hairdryer, and free Wi-Fi. Maid service comes daily. There is no AC and no in-room mini-fridges. Light sleepers should bring earplugs -- rooms facing the street can get street noise (back rooms are quieter) and the walls between rooms are thin.

Guests enjoy the hotel’s ample free breakfast, which is served in a basic but tastefully decorated room that doubles as a lounge. The room has lightwood floors, tub chairs, and cafe tables. Seating is positioned around a wall-mounted TV with a DVD player and its own small library of DVDs, and the room also contains a computer for guest use (no printer, though). For breakfast, guests can choose from fresh fruit, cereal, tea, and coffee from the buffet and can also get a cooked, full English breakfast with bacon, sausage, baked beans, and eggs. The hotel also has its own garden -- a rarity among Central London hotels. This small but beautiful courtyard area behind the hotel features a well-cultivated garden with flowers and trees, a few small walkways, and a sitting area. Laundry service is available for an extra charge. Guests should note that the building does not have an elevator.