Today’s article is by regular contributor, reader Graham.
In this post:
HOTEL SAINT, LONDON
Fortunately, you do not need to have the patience of a saint to discover the Hotel Saint, situated as it is within a few steps away from Aldgate tube station ( Metropolitan, District and Circle lines) residing in the financial district of London. The West End is only a twenty-minute ride away via the new Elizabeth underground line with Heathrow Airport fifty minutes away. On your doorstep are an array of restaurants and tourist attractions such as the Tower of London and Tower Bridge which is a quick ten minutes walk from the hotel.
Formerly the Dorset City Hotel, the new Hotel Saint has been reimagined with a renovated feel throughout.
Reception
I found the multilingual staff on reception some of the most friendly I have experienced in London. A genuine welcome was given along with any advice about the hotel, nearby attractions, and restaurants. The reception always appeared to be fully staffed with no guest waiting more than five minutes to be attended to.
The Room
The hotel has 254 rooms and 18 suites, one of which the Botolph Junior Suite felt like a home from home. The suite came with a bedroom and a small sitting room both with floor to ceiling windows. My partner adored the plentiful hanging space where you could hang ladies dresses – something that many hotels do not seem to provide anymore.
With plenty of gold coloured furnishings a touch of bling was added to the atmosphere of the room which also came with a Nespresso coffee machine, safe, fridge, a desk that you could actually work on, two flat-screen televisions in each room, very fast free Wi-Fi and good air conditioning. The bed was extremely comfortable and provided a good nights sleep with no noise being heard outside the hotel.
Bathroom
A modern bathroom with a powerful rain shower. The range of in-house toiletries were of high quality along with the towels, bathrobes, and slippers. The bathroom did not feel cramped.
Jin Bo Law SkyBar
The bar on the top floor provides views over London Bridge, the Shard and the Walkie Talkie building. The service did not seem as friendly here as in the rest of the hotel. Their signature cocktail is the “City Jingle” with pomegranate, liquor, egg whites and lemon. There is also an outside seating area which was ideal to relax after a day sighting seeing or doing a touch of business.
The gym
The hotel has a small gym with running machines and various weights which were ideal for a quick workout.
Breakfast
This is enjoyed in the newly renovated breakfast restaurant that opened in April 2024. The Cardinal restaurant serves a full continental buffet and there is also the option of having a cooked hot breakfast too. The quality of food was high with good service and the buffet being replenished frequently.
Conclusion
A good four star hotel that is perfectly located for business and pleasure. The staff are excellent and will do their best to accommodate guests needs. Comfortable, clean and accommodating The Hotel Saint is a hotel I would return to again next time I visit London.
2 comments
Without wishing to be too pedantic, Aldgate is not served by the District Line: that is a short walk away at Aldgate East, or a slightly longer walk to Tower Hill. The hotel’s website says that it is 10 minutes from the Elizabeth Line. I’m not sure how they are calculating that. Taking a Circle or Metropolitan train to Liverpool Street gives an appallingly long change to Elizabeth Line, better to change at Farringdon.
Thanks for the review, key info of course the cost please? Both for your suite and a standard room?