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  5. Reviews of The Academy - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Reviews of The Academy - Small Luxury Hotels of the World 5 stars

21 Gower Street, Bloomsbury, Camden, London, WC1E 6HG, United Kingdom

#355 of 1,005 hotels in London

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 1864 hotel reviews

8.2

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.7

  • Comfort

    8.7

  • Location

    9.3

  • Facilities

    8.0

  • Staff

    9.1

  • Value for money

    7.8

  • Free WiFi

    8.3

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 25 April 2024

    9.0
    Overall, I enjoyed my stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse Single Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    The room was quite tiny, which made it feel a bit cramped. Also, I was frequently disturbed by sounds from the hallway, particularly people walking past.

    Firstly, the location was great. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and I appreciated the Elemis cosmetics provided in the room. The staff were also exceptionally pleasant and accommodating, which made my time there even more enjoyable. Plus, after coming from a chilly hotel, it was a relief to find this one pleasantly warm.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 23 April 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bloomsbury Suite
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Breakfast

    Nice location and atmosphere.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 22 April 2024

    8.0
    Very friendly and helpful staff.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The quality of the food.

    The staff were: very helpful. and friendly.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 April 2024

    9.0
    Overall we enjoyed our stay and would use this hotel again.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    A lift ! But, to be fair we were allocated a room on the ground floor - which was thankfully available. The bathroom was very tight. A little thing - there was no side table near the bed on the left-hand side, probably because the cupboard doors would not open.

    Staff were friendly, helpful and professional. Room was a little small, but clean and comfortable. The small bar and courtyard area were also very pleasant, as were the lounges.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 April 2024

    9.0
    A very warm and welcoming spot perfectly located with exceptional service!
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bloomsbury King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    The lack of a lift was not very convenient but the staff did their best (i.e. carrying bags up and down) to accommodate. We are older but very active so not really a problem for us but I can see how if would be for older or more physically limited guests. Our room was a little smaller than we hoped but not problematically so.

    Such an exceptional staff at all levels! Warm welcoming and focused on addressing every need! We would come back for the staff experience alone! Fantastic location!

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 11 April 2024

    7.0
    It was ok. Suitable for a one night stay. Nice quiet bar area and library.
    • Business trip
    • People with friends
    • Bloomsbury Twin
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Beds are not comfortable. Need updating. Due to the conversion of the property there are a lot of doors, not soft closing so other guests and staff walking around will disturb you with slamming doors.

    Great location.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 9 April 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse Single Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very small room

    Nice breakfast , good location, friendly staff

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 7 April 2024

    7.0
    Excellent small hotel, very comfortable, but better breakfast please!
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse Single Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    For the price (I got a very discounted rate but the usual prices are much higher!) I would expect better breakfast options to be included than just continental. The pastries were a bit stale (or perhaps just low quality) and they didn't even seem to have yoghurt. I would ideally want to see even simple eggs on toast or a bacon/sausage sandwich in there as options.

    Beautiful design and perfect location. I slept really well so the bed must have been comfortable and the staff were very pleasant.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 6 April 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bloomsbury King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The location of the hotel was easy to access main London attractions. The room was very nice, comfy bed and the staff were very helpful.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 5 April 2024

    9.0
    Solid 4 starts, great personnel, food problematic, good location
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse Single Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Food is a real problem in the hotel. Breakfast has a very limited choice of savoury options (mainly bread and salami and cheese-no vegetables, nothing warm). You can order English breakfast for an extra £15/pp. There is a good selection of sweet pastry and fresh fruit though. The bar has a good selection of wines and drinks. The choice of dishes form the menu- unfortunately I wouldn't give it 3 starts. I ordered quiche Lorraine and a young potatoe salad with mayonesse- the quiche was warmed up in the oven but from the packet- completely blunt. Potatoe salad cold, just taken out of a fridge. I had funny sensations with my stomach after this meal and it did not make my journey home comfortable. Would not eat in that hotel ever again.

    I stayed one night in a single room and it was great. I asked for a quiet room and I have got one overlooking the back yard. One thing: the windows were really dirty, in 5 star hotel this is frankly not acceptable. The bed was comfy, the room and bathroom spotlessly clean. The room was a good size single room with all the facilities in place. The stuff is a credit to that place- nice, polite and helpful. Could not fault them in anything.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 5 April 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No spare blanket and duvet thin. Toiletries not aromatherapy as described.

    Location, breakfast, size of room, decor.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 1 April 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse Single Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very small rooms

    Great location and lovely breakfast

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 31 March 2024

    8.0
    Shared a very comfortable twin room with family member and enjoyed the stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bloomsbury Twin
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Over heated

    Great location in Bloomsbury. Short walk to West End, shops, restaurants, bars. Chic interior. Excellent breakfast included. Helpful staff.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 30 March 2024

    9.0
    Great Location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bloomsbury King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room we had for our first night was tiny and on the top floor with a minute shower room. There were also fifty nine steps which we both found tiring (we are both in our 70s). We asked to move the following morning and had a room about 3 times the floor area and on the ground floor.

    Superb location close to the British Museum and walking distance from King's Cross and Euston stations. Very friendly and efficient staff. Good breakfast although extra cost for a cooked breakfast if required. Great coffee and good fruit juices. Our second room was lovely, large with decent sized bathroom with good powerful shower. The beds in both the rooms were very comfortable.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 28 March 2024

    8.0
    Nice small hotel in great location but not a 5 stars
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    You’re really paying for location here. The hotel is nice but it’s not in any way a 5 stars hotel. If you stay here just be prepared for stairs… loads of them to access the top floors and no lifts.

    Location - this is a nice small hotel in the city centre, near tube stations. The hotel is well decorated, staff is lovely. Rooms are small but comfortable. Breakfast is basic continental with fresh products and you can pay more if you’d like the English breakfast… but don’t expect any mimosas or fancy options.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 March 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Would have liked a desk in the room.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 March 2024

    9.0
    Great hotel in a brilliant location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bloomsbury King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    No lift/elevator which some might not like but didn’t bother us.

    Very friendly staff and great location for walking into the west end. Some people might not like the lack of a lift if they’re on a higher floor but didn’t bother us. Really nice dining room, bar and rear garden.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 24 March 2024

    9.0
    Brilliant staff and a great location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The staff were friendly and helpful. We were celebrating a ‘big’ birthday and they went out of their way to make it special. The location of the hotel was great. It was easy to walk to many places of interest and most of the theatres. The continental breakfast was fresh and plentiful and we had fresh bottled water in our room each day. There was also coke, lemonade etc if required. The room was very comfortable and reasonably quiet considering we were in the capital city.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 23 March 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    My sink was blocked and wouldn't drain away properly. My room was located in the basement on the far wing of the hotel and it felt very eerie for a single woman travelling on her own.

    The hotel is beautiful and in a great location.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 March 2024

    8.0
    Lovely stay
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Some minor maintenance issues in the room - it would be good if management did a proper walkthrough.

    Friendly staff Comfy bed

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 March 2024

    8.0
    Efficient, central location with good staff and attractive interiors.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse Single Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Road can be noisy as it's popular with noisy cars to show off and the window is not very sound proofed. Room was quite small, single bed was a bit small for me. And you may have several flights of narrow stairs so be aware if you have heavy luggage

    Great location near tube stations, restaurants and shops in central London. Nice staff and pleasant reception and drawing room. A lot is made out of small spaces, Breakfast was nice and well provisioned.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 March 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bloomsbury Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Location, breakfast, great room Bloomsbury suite, helpful efficient staff.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 March 2024

    8.0
    Great location, stylish yet classic
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No lift

    Very stylish, very convenient

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 March 2024

    7.0
    Not a Small Luxury level hotel.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Townhouse King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Room size and facilities - not equipped as it should have been, most of the small items were missing. Breakfast was quite simple and a bit modest you could expect at Small Luxury hotels with high price. Staff was partly ignoring us.

    Very good location when coming from Heatrow with Elisabet line. This was the best feature of this hotel.

    Stayed in March 2024

Showing 1 – 25

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