Charing Cross Hotel | London

I have been meaning for quite sometime to write about the hotels I stayed at while in Spain and then the one in London. My affection for hotels runs deep (I've actually reviewed quite a few on here) and plus, I'll take any excuse to let the travel related posts continue! 

The refined and charming Charing Cross Hotel sprawls over the eponymous Underground station in the heart of London, located on The Strand adjacent to Covent Garden, steps from Trafalgar Square, Victoria Embankment and the West End.The Victorian style architecture embodies classic elegance and the interior design matches with a polished luxury that also manages to feel cozy and homey. Our stay occurred from December 9-12th so naturally the spirit of the holidays shined through in the decor. Charing Cross was well dressed for the occasion!The front desk staff were extremely polite and the always helpful concierge was a constant source for restaurant recommendations and other general questions. He was very thorough, offering to make us reservations on the fly and taking the time to point out spots on the map and give us directions. The hotels central location makes for an ideal home base as it is within easy strolling distance to most of the major sights and shopping districts. And when we did not feel like walking, everywhere we wanted to eat or explore was a short cab ride or Underground trip away.The elevated hallway that we walked over to get to-and-from our room is an eye catching point on the exterior and was done up tastefully on the interior with twinkling strands of white lights fronted by sheer curtains. Every corridor is illuminated with red glass candles, adding to the elegance as well the understated coziness. Up a sweeping marble staircase carpeted in a deep red and gold pattern and down the glowing hallway over the street, a sleek room featuring modern furnishings with gray, maroon and navy accents awaited.It was clean and comfortable, boasting two twin beds with fluffy white linens, and a glistening bathroom stocked accordingly with mini bath gels and creams. Décor points included a leather purple chair with unique floral upholstery and fun iridescent black lamp shades.  Appreciating the simple luxuries, I always feel the need to capture the pristine looking space I'll be calling home for the next few nights. This means snapping loads of photographs upon arrival and/or throughout the stay.We didn't have an in house mini bar (just an empty fridge, stocked to order) but we did have a hot pot and a coffee and tea spread accompanied by packets of gingersnaps. This was most appreciated, as coffee is an essential start to my day! (And the empty mini bar was easily remedied by a trip to the neighboring convenience store.)While we did not experience the food at The Brasserie, we did enjoy a nightcap at the sophisticated Elanor's Cocktail Bar in the form of champagne cocktails. If you're looking for 4-star accommodations in central London, Charing Cross is a fantastic choice.

Charing Cross - A Guoman Hotel 
The Strand 
London WC2N 5HX