Originally known as Hendon Manor, it dates back to the 1500s and was mentioned in the Doomsday book. It first opened its doors as a hotel in 1911, after being used as a girls’ school since 1852. Before life as a school, the building was owned by David Garrick, an 18th century English actor and playwright.

Set in its own private grounds, this elegant Georgian building offers every modern convenience in a beautiful classical setting. A majestic pillared entrance and paved driveway lead into the hotel, which has an atmosphere of a warm and welcoming country manor house. Staff are warm and courteous. Their attentiveness adds to the general feeling of well-being when you stay in this hotel.

Each of the 57 luxurious rooms is individual in character and traditionally designed. All rooms include modern comforts, such as satellite television, hairdryer, iron and ironing board and tea/coffee making facilities. In addition, many rooms enjoy fantastic views out over the vast gardens.

This tranquil location is ideal for a relaxing break, while offering an ideal base for exploring London.

The lobby has a tiled floor and tall house plants scattered around the plush purple chairs. On the property are three meeting rooms, all outfitted with modern amenities. A restaurant, called Barkston Bistro, is where guests will take their complementary breakfast, although other meals are served there throughout the day. The modest chandeliers keep the charm of the Victorian house, and a full English breakfast is available for a small fee. In addition, there is a lovely pub, Le Rendezvous Bar.

The 93 bedrooms in the hotel are tidy, cozy, and quiet. They provide adequate room for guests to freely move about, and plenty of storage space for those who will be sticking around for a bit. The floor length bedspreads and the frilly curtains provide that extra charm that won’t let guests forget that they are in lovely old England. The spacious tiled bathrooms are perfectly for families when scrambling in the morning. Some rooms are outfitted with desks and couches, while still others have gorgeous traditional fabric headboards. With such and amazing location and oodles of charisma, the Barkston Gardens Hotel is where those looking to stay in London should absolutely check out.

The hotel offers options to help with the expense, such as the choice between ensuite rooms and basic rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Some even feature a mini-fridge. All rooms include a writing desk, available hair dryers, coffee and tea-making services, television with digital cable, and wireless internet for a small fee. Much of the furniture is IKEA; the modern rooms will provide a cozy and bright place to curl up at the end of a day of vigorous culture-absorbing…or working, on a business trip, if that’s your slant.

But at the end of a day of sightseeing or working, there is plenty to be had from the area: Dining establishments abound with unending varieties of cuisines; and to find a really great pub for a pint, a conversation, or a cocktail, simply walk in a straight line and keep your eyes open. Seriously…keep your eyes open. It’s important.

Restful wood tones and stylish furnishings welcome you into your guestroom. Chrome-accented bathrooms and glass basins echo the futuristic style of the lobby. Feel pampered in an Executive Room with the privileges of complimentary breakfasts, refreshments throughout the day, complimentary bottled water and bedside chocolates.

Award winning, fresh European dining is just steps away in the onsite JB’s Restaurant. JB’s bar features a wide range of cocktails and wines for your pleasure.

For a quick getaway in the morning, MIX Express Gourmet serves a tantalizing list of smoothies as well as freshly-squeezed juice and coffee. For a pleasureable daytrip, ask your Concierge to arrange for a tour of the 1514 Hampton Court Palace, 20 miles outside of London. During the Christmas holiday season bring your ice skates for a spin on royal ice.

Requesting a room upgrade to executive or suite status for a spectacular view of Big Ben and Parliament, complimentary breakfast, evening drinks, snacks and a morning newspaper. A welcoming gift fruit and water tray sets the tone for a pleasurable stay. Crisp furnishings and neutral tones invite you to relax.

Super on-site dining in the Chino Latino Brasserie, Bar and Lounge offers an array of Pan-Asian entrees and great cocktails. The Concierge can recommend nearby restaurants for outside dining ranging from traditional Italian to exotic cuisine.

While in the area, take s short walk to the Tate Britain Gallery. Originally opened in 1897, it’s a way to spend a pleasant day with British masters or engage the current year’s controversial modern art represented by the Turner Prize Exhibition, featured at the gallery from October to January.

Many enticing nearby London attractions will lure you from your home. Satisfy your shopping desires with trips to Oxford, Bond and Regent Streets where department stores and upscale specialty stores promise to fulfill your every wish. Madame Tussauds beckons 300 metres away, A London tradition since 1835 where you can spend the day with Shakespeare, the Beatles, or Drew Barrymore. After finishing a day with celebrities, escape to the 1828 London Zoo. The Snowdon Aviary is especially exciting.

Now that you have worked up an appetite, you can return to your hotel for an intimate meal at Sherlock’s Grill. The staff prides itself on personal, prompt service. The restaurant is a three-time recipient of the coveted Automobile Association Red Rosette Award.

The pampering begins before you even step foot in London. Once you’ve booked your stay, your confirmation number gives you access to the Hyatt’s E-Concierge. This service allows for the smoothest check-in possible.

All 444 guest rooms are spacious, light and airy. Double-glazed windows ensure a tranquil refuge from London’s bustling streets. Room features include modern, marble bathrooms, plush bathrobes, 25 inch or larger TV, mini bar, complimentary bottled water, coffee/tea maker, individual air conditioning control, in-room safe, an oversized work desk, high-speed Internet access, daily newspaper, evening turndown service and 24-hour room service.

For additional pampering, stay at the Regency Club, a private floor offering VIP accommodations, complete with a private concierge, boardroom usage and a lounge for Continental breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés..

There are two restaurants and one bar onsite. Overlooking a charming garden, The Montagu provides a relaxed setting for dining from an imaginative menu filled with fresh local ingredients. Open from 6:30am till 10:45pm, The Montague serves breakfast, lunch, traditional afternoon tea and dinner. The Locanda Locatelli is a Michelin star Italian restaurant specializing in the finest Italian cuisine. Chef Giorgio insists on the finest ingredients, much of which is imported directly from Italy. Pasta, as well as a selection of regional Italian breads is prepared fresh daily on premises. Locanda Locatelli was voted Best Italian Restaurant at the Restaurateurs’ Restaurant Awards for three consecutive years. The Churchill Bar is warm and inviting – the perfect place to relax after a hectic day. Photographs and illustrations of Sir Winston Churchill adorn the walls. A fully stocked bar, The Churchill offers patrons 86 different varieties of malt whiskies, as well as a large selection of cocktails, wines and light snacks. There is live music between 7.00pm and midnight, Tuesday - Saturday.

The Churchill health club is onsite and open 24 hours, 365 days a year. The Churchill Health Club features state-of-the-art weight and cardio machines, TVs, sauna, showers, and lockers. Guests also have access to an outdoor tennis court and jogging track in the private gardens of Portman Square.. See the concierge for details.

Business amenities include 12 meeting rooms, high-speed Internet ports and a Business Center which offers a wide range of support solutions including secretarial services, translation services, pcs, copiers, fax machines and audio-visual equipment.

Property amenities include: valet parking, express check-out, cell phone/mobile rental, multilingual staff, currency exchange, complimentary newspapers, laundry and dry cleaning service and babysitting or child care. The Albemarle Theatre Desk is located on the Lobby level and provides ticket booking services.

Named after Winston Churchill, The Hyatt Regency – The Churchill was Sir Winston’s choice of housing during World War II. His rooms have been carefully preserved and guests are able to visit the Cabinet War Room and his bedroom. Shortly after becoming Prime Minister in May 1940, Winston Churchill announced: “This is the room from which I will direct the war.” Additional photographs of Sir Winston are located in The Churchill Bar.

Centrally located, The Hyatt Regency – The Churchill is just steps from Selfridges Department Store, Oxford and Bond street shopping, the Marble Arch and Hyde Park. Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Square and West End Theaters are nearby.

The hotel is just minutes from Paddington Station where express train service takes only 15 minutes from Heathrow Airport. Nearest tube stations are Marble Arch, Bond Street and Baker Street.

Apartments ranging from roomy studios to 3-bedrooms are available, with every residence offering roomy floor plans and kitchens.  The apartments are lavishly appointed with contemporary décor featuring designer furniture and fabrics, comfortable sitting rooms, and plush king size beds.  Indeed, the spectacular apartments match perfectly with the appearance of the exterior of Dolphin Square (home of the Dolphin House Hotel), the spectacular façade of which opens up to a quaint tree-lined sidewalk in the heart of some of London’s most exclusive real estate.

Whether you are visiting London for business, pleasure, or both, there is no better way to experience all the city has to offer while enjoying a luxurious, comfortable stay than at the Dolphin House.

Among its many amenities, it offers a friendly and knowledgeable staff that can answer all your questions and will go out of their way to make your stay pleasant. The little bar is decorated like a private club and is open until 1am every night but Sunday, while the Rose Garden Restaurant features seasonal and Country Classic cuisine with herbs grown right in the hotel’s own garden. It serves lunch and dinner, in the pretty Victorian-themed dining room or, weather permitting, of course, out on the Terrace which overlooks the gardens that are open to guests and recommended for a nice ramble. The hotel is family and independently owned, and it shows in the way each room is like a room of a house, each different and each offering little extra touches to make you feel right at home while making each stay at the hotel seem like something new. Also available is a boardroom and a small business center, laundry facilities, daily local papers both in the lobby and delivered to your room, 24 hour front desk, 24 hour room service, concierge services, a multilingual staff, facilities for disabled guests, a luggage storage room, safe deposit boxes at the front desk, tourist information and ticket reservation service, parking facilities for an extra fee, high speed internet access, daily housekeeping services, medical assistance and wake up calls, and, if you are so inclined, babysitting services are available on request.

There are 49 rooms on six floors, which includes a number of small apartments for longer stays and families. All rooms feature private en suite bathrooms and hairdryers, air conditioning, television with cable TV and AM/FM radio, direct dial telephone, a work desk with a lamp, the almost-ubiquitous tea and coffee making facilities so essential to a proper English morning, an in-room safe, an alarm clock and arm chairs for lounging. They are divided into classic and deluxe rooms, with the deluxe ones, of course, being roomier and usually overlooking the quieter garden, rather than the bustling front road. All rooms are lovingly tended and unique. The continental and full English breakfast is served in the breakfast room from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Sunday. You can also have breakfast served in your room.

Buses run from just outside the hotel to Oxford Street and Notting Hill, and the Lancaster Gate station and nearby Paddington station offer access to the rest of London with minimal effort. Within a kilometer of the hotel, and therefore well within easy walking distance, you’ll find Within less than 1 km from the hotel and therefore well within walking distance, you’ll find Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, Oxford Street and it’s main shopping district, Queensway which is known for its very good restaurants, Buckingham Palace (and, in fact, the Household Guard pass through Hyde Park on their way to the Changing of the Guards each day), the Natural History Museum & Science Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, the world famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London Zoo, and the numerous theatres of the West End. If you’re visiting in winter, extremely nearby Hyde Park hosts a Winter Wonderland with London’s largest outdoor ice rink, a giant observation wheel, toboggan slide and a traditional German Christmas Market, and more!

If you are looking for a sweet, homely atmosphere in the middle of Central London with easy access to all the sights, look no further than the Elizabeth Hotel, where you will be made to feel at home for long stays and short stays alike.

The hotel hosts a wide array of amenities, including an on-site halal (approved as religiously proper for a Muslim) Chinese and Malaysian restaurant that serves a selection of traditional and decidedly un-British foods, an on-site Bar, a lounge area, banquet facilities, conference facilities, currency exchange at the reception desk, faxing and copy facilities, laundry and dry cleaning facilities during the week, room service, safe deposit boxes at the front desk, a tour-planning desk, and a full-service spa on site that offers a wide selection of traditional asian relaxation and massage techniques for anyone with at least half an hour to spare. The hotel itself is situated in Leinster Gardens, near bustling Bayswater, and is withing walking distance of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Portobello Road Market and Islington’s Angel Market. It is 15 minutes away from Heathrow Airport by the Heathrow Express bus that runs direct to Paddington Station, which is only minutes from the hotel, and less then a half hour from Gatwick Airport by the similar Gatwick Express which drops off at Victoria Station, where you pick up the Circle Line and get off at either the Paddington or Bayswater Stations.

The rooms are, as noted, freshly redecorated, and offer Cable / Satellite TV and radio, en suite private bathrooms that include hairdryers, an in-room safe, both wireless and wired internet access (at 6 pounds an hour) and with modem/data port connection, the essential tea and coffee making facilities that all hotels should have (and I’ve never understood why some don’t), and direct-dial telephones with voice mail. Pets are not allowed, and children under two years stay free of charge, though the usual clientele is more business then tourist or family.

Within easy reach of all of London’s best sights, not to mention the best shopping in the city, the Holiday Villa Hotel offers a strategic location at a fairly reasonable price, and is notable for it’s cleanliness and it’s emphasis on relaxation and comfort. If you’re willing to edge toward a little splurge, consider staying here, and take full advantage of the spa facilities between seeing the sights.