Hotel Reviews

Trying to find calm amidst the current political storm in Britain is a big ask in this day and age. Rarely is there a moment’s peace in Westminster, with the House of Commons increasingly turning into a nightmarish, dystopian vision of itself. Step into Conrad London St. James and you will find the first of many wonderful artistic expressions of the UK’s current political climate. The House Always Wins, sculpted by Evil Ed and Dan Robotic, merges characters from film,...

They say when life gives you lemons you should make lemonade, but I don't much care for that. Why make lemonade when you can make a gin and tonic, or sip limoncello on the edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula after eating lemon pepper fettuccine with a fresh lemon sauce? Set into the banks of the Amalfi Coast hotel Santa Caterina is home to a plethora of lemon groves that ascend the cliff providing fruit all year around for use in...

Mumbai is a big, bonkers, beeping-horn-of-city with traffic jams made up of roaming goats, honking rickshaws and knackered, red, London-style double-decker buses. However, India's most populous city is also home to some of the biggest smiles and best street food you'll find anywhere in the world. As well as some pretty nice hotels - Soho House recently opened here. TLE visited the city to check out one of Mumbai's newest hotel additions, THE Park Mumbai. The ultra-modern boutique hotel, located...

Gloucester Road is an area in West London that's packed with hotels - possibly due to its quiet, leafy surroundings and proximity to Central London. TLE recently spent the night at the newly-renovated ibis Styles Hotel to see how much bang for your buck you get for £150 in this popular area. Location 4/5 Gloucester Road is a quiet location within easy reach of Oxford Circus, Soho and Covent Garden. The ibis Styles Hotel, with elegant Victorian facade, is less...

There are a few choice things Britain does well – like the NHS, afternoon teas, manners – and stately homes is certainly one of them. The Luton Hoo Hotel is a palatial Grade I-listed mansion house dating back to the late 18th century, and it’s still painstakingly preserved. Traverse from the overflow cark park to the house, and the pathway is adorned with plaques sharing its eventful history: in 1947, Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip enjoyed the honeymoon there, and...

The five-star Bankside Autograph Collection hotel doesn’t disappoint. Minutes from Blackfriars station, it’s nestled in the heart of authentic London. You’ll be greeted by friendly staff seated in an open desk area. This in itself created a warm, open welcome and eliminated the distance often created by standard hotel receptions. Staff go over and beyond, ready to assist at every opportunity and proud to talk about the hotel, art and local area. The hotel is surrounded by culture, art and...

Boasting over 120 distilleries Scotland is home a veritable tapestry of whiskies that stretch from the border to the tips of the Outer Hebrides. Every malt and blend holds unique characteristics largely derived from their provenance, but few people get to visit them all. To get a flavour you need to head to a gateway to Scotch whisky and kick off your experience in the hands of the Glasshouse Hotel and a man who has, Ken Hanley. Based in the...

It's unlikely you have heard of Petit St Vincent, but you ought to have. This exclusive James-Bond-style private island - think Daz-white beaches, paisley turquoise and blue seas and a scattering of hand-crafted bungalows - is part of the southern Caribbean’s Grenadine island chain. Accessible only by a tiny propeller plane, then a speed boat, even the journey there makes you feel like you’re on a secret mission. But once you’ve arrived, your assignment is all but done. From there...

That The Merrion Hotel houses Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Ireland’s only two-star Michelin restaurant, says plenty about its character and reputation. Forget gimmicky quirks and trending changes, this place is known for being as traditional as 18th century townhouses get, and super fancy with it. Following the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama, Bruce Springsteen and Cameron Diaz among many others, we decided to spend a night at this city centre institution, to find out whether it lives up to its...