Thistle Holborn The Kingsley

Recent Reviews: 3728

• User:Dawn A

  Trip type: Family

  Terrible & unhelpful

  15 Jun 2026

  Tried on two occasions to order Champagne to a room for guests all ready staying for a special occasion . Reception Staff were unhelpful and not interested and could not fulfill my request .

• User:mari0nm0rris

  Trip type: Couples

  Stopover after theatre.

  26 May 2026

  Unfortunately, TripAdvisor won't allow me to give 4.5 stars.This hotel is the perfect location for a west end theatre trip, it was so nice just being able to walk back to the hotel after an evening performance rather than rushing for a tube hoping to catch the last train back.We had a warm, friendly welcome from Arty when we arrived, hoping to drop our bags off before going to the British museum. As our room was ready, he let us check in early. The double room was spacious, spotlessly clean with a lovely walk-in shower and very efficient air conditioning (much appreciated in this unexpected heatwave). Unfortunately, when freshening up before the theatre, the toilet flush failed to cut off, and the constant running water was not only noisy but seemed to effect the temperature in the shower. We reported this to the lady on reception (Yin?) on our way out at 5pm. My husband didn't think she believed him, whilst I thought that she just did not understand the problem. But she assured us that it would be sorted before our return. When we got back, we were disappointed to discover that the toilet was still running and went back to reception. The same lady then told us that the maintenance team had left before we'd reported the issue and would send somebody in the morning. We weren't happy with that as a solution as not only was it noisy but meant both the toilet and shower were unusable. So another lady on reception found us another room. Unfortunately there were no other double rooms available so were given a twin room. The twin room was definitely inferior to the double we'd moved out of. It was considerably smaller, and this wasn't helped by the twin beds being separated by a bedside table. The layout also meant that the fixed reading lamps shade's protruded almost a third of the way over the pillow. Instead of a walk-in shower the room had a bath with shower over. This would have benefitted with an additional grab rail to assist with getting in and out, along with a nonslip mat automatically being put down. I know there were signs up saying to ring down and a non slip mat would be brought up, but I didn't realise how slippy it was until I was halfway through showering. The USB charging ports in this room did not work, but when we went down for breakfast, Arty kindly took my husband's phone and charged it.Breakfast was excellent, a good choice of traditional cooked food, continental and pastries all well presented and kept restocked. The restaurant staff were good, efficiently clearing the tables without making you feel rushed.We would book a double room in this hotel next time we visit the West End and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends and family.

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• User:Rich a

  Trip type: Solo travel

  Beat my expectations

  16 Apr 2026

  OK I'm going to write a long review, and it's positive. You'll have to decide for yourself whether there are better options for the same price and neighborhood, it's never easy to choose. My stay was in the first half of April 2026.I traveled solo but still booked a double room to avoid the notoriouly tiny single rooms of London hotels in general. The room I ended up with was on the second floor (third floor to Americans) in the back, and was very quiet day and night. There was plenty of space, the perfect amount for me: drawers, closet, safe, good TV, comfortable and clean bed, and importantly an excellent bathroom with strong hot shower (rain shower as well as hand-held option), and problem-free toilet and sink with strong water pressure. High-end large towels (I stayed six nights and never even needed to use the second set of towels that had been laid out). So the room was a plus, in fact it was better than I had feared based on previous London visits to other hotels.As for the restaurant, I only used it once, the first night for dinner (fish n chips). Not inexpensive, but comparable to restaurants in London. The food was good, the service pleasant. I never used the breakfast (I didn't prepay for breakfast either), because I was not leaving my room until 10:30 AM each morning.Decor: some are saying it's dated, but to me that was a plus. It's not dated in a bad "this is dirty" way, it's dated in a "this is a classic London hotel" way, with a grand staircase and hallways that aren't some boring modern function-over-form variety.Staff: I had nothing but friendly banter with the reception staff and bartender. No rudeness detected at all. In fact, we shared some laughs.Location: very handy because about a 7-8 minute walk (less if you walk faster than I do, which is likely) to two differnt tube stations: (1) Tottingham Court Rd station (on two main tube lines in central London, and just two stops away from Paddington station, which I had to use several times during my 7-day, 6-night stay), and (2) Holborn station, on the Central Line, which was useful for getting back from certain locations.For walking from the hotel, you have the British Museum just 5 minutes away by foot, and Shaftesbury Avenue almost across the street, leading to Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Oxford Circus. The High Holburn area is also an easy walk.Now late at night, which is when I was aways returning after going out to concerts etc, while it was convenient to take the tube back, it was a mental adjustment to realize it's safe, because especially on Sunday night everything is shut, even the pubs, and virtually no one but you is walking the final five minutes to the hotel from either direction. But I made the mental adjustment, realizing that it was actually quite safe, and that all kinds of solo pedestrians were doing the same, albeit few of them. Then again, if you don't plan on strolling back close to midnight, you'll never have that sensation of empty-ish streets.I don't have enough experience to persuade you to choose this hotel and not another one in the same price category with the same star ranking, but I can let you rest assured that this will always be a worthy option. It felt good coming back to this place each night, and was just what I needed from a hotel room.One tip when arriving the first time from Tottenham Court tube station: don't accidentally turn left on Bloomsbury Street, as I did, because it's not the right street. You wan to continue straight on New Oxford St., and gently veer left later on, onto Bloomsbury Way (not Street). :-) Umama Nadeem, Guest Services / Front Office at Thistle Holborn Hotel, responded to this review Dear Rich,Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and detailed review. We truly appreciate the care and consideration you put into sharing your experience, and we’re delighted to hear that your stay exceeded your expectations.It’s wonderful to know that you were pleased with your quiet, spacious room and found it comfortable and well‑equipped, particularly the bathroom facilities, water pressure, and overall cleanliness. We’re especially glad that the room compared favorably to your previous experiences in London and provided exactly what you were hoping for during your six‑night stay.Thank you also for sharing your impressions of the hotel’s classic décor. We love how you described it as a “classic London hotel” rather than dated, and it’s reassuring to hear that the character and atmosphere added positively to your experience.We’re pleased you enjoyed your dinner in the restaurant and found both the quality of the food and the service to be on par with London standards. Your kind comments about the reception and bar team, and the friendly conversations you shared, have been passed on — they will be delighted to hear they made your stay more enjoyable.It’s great to read how much you valued our central location, both for public transport and for walking to nearby landmarks such as the British Museum, Covent Garden, and Soho. We also appreciate your honest perspective about returning late in the evening — your reflections will be helpful to future guests, and we’re glad you ultimately felt safe and comfortable in the area.Thank you as well for sharing your helpful arrival tip from Tottenham Court Road Station — thoughtful touches like this truly reflect the generosity of your review.We’re honoured that the hotel felt like a welcoming place to return to each night and that it provided exactly what you needed from your stay. Your feedback on value is also appreciated and helps us continue refining our offering.It was a pleasure having you with us, and we would be very happy to welcome you back on any future visit to London.Warm regards,Umama

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• User:The_Reluctant_Guest

  Trip type: Family

  Nostalgia

  10 Apr 2026

  We stayed here for one night purely for a touch of nostalgia. As a child, we would often come to the Kingsley at New Year because of its fantastic location, so we decided to return and relive some of those memories. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The staff were welcoming and pleasant throughout, which made a real difference. We made sure to book a suite similar to the one we used to stay in, although back then, I think it was simply classed as a family room. One small disappointment was that it no longer has the spa bath, which we remembered fondly. Everything was clean, and there was something genuinely special about being back and reflecting on those childhood moments. Whilst the hotel has changed, there are still some parts that are the same, which made the experience feel warm and meaningful.While I’m giving this a 5-star rating for the nostalgia and the personal significance of the visit, taking a more objective view, it would probably be closer to 3 stars compared to many modern hotel offerings today that we stay in. That said, for us and the mindset we brought with us, it was absolutely a 5-star experience. Umama Nadeem, Guest Services / Front Office at Thistle Holborn Hotel, responded to this review Dear Gilbert,Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a heartfelt review of your recent stay with us.It was truly lovely to read about the memories you hold from visiting The Kingsley as a child and how meaningful it was for you to return and reconnect with those moments. We’re delighted that your stay brought back those memories and that aspects of the hotel still felt familiar and special to you.I’m especially pleased to hear that our team made you feel welcome throughout your visit and that you enjoyed staying in a suite reminiscent of your earlier stays. Your kind words about the atmosphere, cleanliness, and overall experience are greatly appreciated.We also value your balanced and honest perspective when comparing us with modern hotel offerings. Feedback like yours is incredibly helpful as we continue to evolve while maintaining the character that long‑standing guests remember fondly.Thank you once again for choosing to return to us and for sharing your experience. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the future.Kind regards,Umama

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• User:Kim_mum_7

  Trip type: Family

  Wonderful afternoon tea!!

  31 Mar 2026

  Beautiful hotel and exceptional food and service!! We were well looked after by Zeeshan who went the extra mile to make sure the day was lovely! The food was tasty and filled us up. Brilliant time- thank you! Umama Nadeem, Guest Services / Front Office at Thistle Holborn Hotel, responded to this review Dear Kim,Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing to enjoy afternoon tea with us.We’re delighted to hear that you had such a lovely experience and that you enjoyed both the food and the service. Your kind words mean a great deal to us. I’m especially pleased to hear your praise for Zeeshan—he’ll be absolutely thrilled to know he helped make your afternoon so special and memorable.It’s great to know that you found the food tasty, satisfying, and the overall experience enjoyable. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback across all areas; it’s truly appreciated.We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again very soon.Kind regards,Umama

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