City InnWestminster
30 John Islip Street
London SW1P 4DD
Tel: 0207 630 1000
www.cityinn.com
A short but well earned weekend break in London was required; one that would allow easy travel from Wokingham, comfortable and affordable accommodation and that would re-charge my batteries with a stress free stay. Even more attractive was the provision of an underground car park, safe, secure and ideal to load up the results of our retail therapy a mere lift ride away from our room on the 10th floor.
That was the very reason we chose the City Inn in Westminster, just behind Millbank and but a very short walk to the Houses of Parliament, ideally placed for travel throughout the capital city. Ultra modern and stylish this was really a very smooth operation highly organised from start to finish, it offered all we required and a few more innovations not seen before in our hotel travels.
Our room was fully equipped, one of 460 in the hotel, with a highly imaginative layout offering an array of pleasing and subtle touches. Modern light wood furniture was complemented by the cd player, flat screen television and dvd player provided, with a library of opportunities for both music and films available at reception. A matching desk unit, complete with plugs and sockets ensured free internet access if required, ideal for the modern traveller or businessman, with wireless connectivity available in rooms and all public areas including the lounge and terrace bars. The fully tiled bathroom was white, with matching towelling robes, fluffy towels and a most ample supply of shower gel, a large container fixed to the wall as opposed to tiny individual bottles which allow great waste over the course of a year. They also had anti-mist mirrors throughout, straight out of the shower and you can prepare for dinner immediately, not the usual ten minute wait until the mist clears.
Great touch!
Among the many items within the hotel room were the very ones which Sue usually orders when she arrives, or an hour before dinner. A fan of linen, it does not always travel well, and the crumpled look is not what you require when going to dine. Room service is usually required for the obligatory iron and ironing board. Not at City Inn, a purpose made matching cupboard held the items securely and tidily, another neat touch. Another was the provision of a wicker basket of items easily forgotten or mislaid by the traveller. Mouthwash, toothpaste, shoe cleaning kit and food items were available, simply sign against the item and help yourself.
We dined in the much acclaimed City Caf
Previous reviews... Yang Sing Le Raj Britannia Spice Ivy - London Forest Mere Benihana The Rainforest Caf Caf San Marco Sarastro Pizza Express Livebait Restaurant Simpson's-in-the Strand Restaurant Rez Kathmandu 34 ZINC The Moghul Zaffran Barajee Whittlebury Hall De Vere Hook Tandoori Yellow River - Reading The Teak House Thai Restaurant The Bina Mela River Walk Alcazar, Paris Mali Thai - Reading The New Inn - Heckfield Forbury's The Birch, Woburn Fishworks in Chiswick A Fish Called Walter Cookham Tandoori - Indian Cuisine Bistro Roque in Kintbury, Berkshire Bistro Roque, Kintbury in the evening Oasis Eurostar to Avignon Tea at the Ritz Cilantro in Reading Sultan Balti Palace Don Beni, Italian Restaurant The Compleat Angler, Marlow (MacDonald Hotels) Dominos Pizza Sizzling Wok Manray Alcazar The Angel The Italian Job Hunters - Ireland Marlfield House - Ireland Dunbrody Country House - Ireland Ahernes Seafood Bar - Ireland Longueville House - Ireland Old Midleton Distillery - Ireland Waldo The White Lion at Crays Pond Northcote Manor Waitrose The Square Bar & Grill Waldo Strada Spice Route Branston Hall Hotel Vinopolis and Cantina Vinopolis Peak Brasserie Flackley Ash Hotel Carluccio's in Reading Careys Manor, New Forest City Inn, Westminster Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Forest of Bowland Kloosters Hotel, Leuven, Belgium The Tigers Pad Armathwaite Hall Hotel Carluccio Chewton Glen Hotel, Spa and Country Club The Lygon Arms One Aldwych, London Brunello Restaurant, Kensington Agra Palace, Nuneaton Juboraj Bluebells Restaurant & Bar The George and Dragon at Swallowfield TTAVAS RESTAURANT The Last Days of the Raj Vespers - Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke TTavas Restaurant Simpson Sunday Lunch at City Inn Westminster Spice Bollywood Restaurant The Tamarind Tree Pizza Express De Vere Slaley Hall, Oakley Court Hotel The Red House Oakley Court Hotel The White Hart Hotel Restaurant, Dorchester-on-Thames Old Thai House, Newbury Wyndham Grand Harbour Chelsea Hotel Tiger Garden, Eton Cinnamon Tree, Reading Ragdale Hall, Melton Mowbray Ha Ha Bar & Grill Fishworks in Christchurch Nando\'s Reading Westover Hall Hotel The White Hart, Dorchester The Walter Arms, Sindlesham Daruchini, Bracknell Fredrick\'s Hotel, Restaurant and Spa Chennai Dosa, Reading Chennai Dosa, Reading Chennai Dosa Reading Rupali Restaurant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne The Black Boy, Shinfield Spice Bollywood Restaurant, Sunderland The Palm Tree, Reading Breakfast Disaster. |