Best Hiltons in London?

[Brissy2]

[FONT=geneva, arial, sans-serif]Hoping someone may be able to comment on the best London Hiltons please. Looking for somewhere "central" to base ourselves (doing the tourist bit) for a couple of days in May 2008. Cheers
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[simongr]

Depends how central you want of course

One piece of advice - AVOID THE HILTON METROPOLE AT ALL COSTS.

 

[turtle]

stayed at the waldorf hilton, and found it very hany, located a block from covent garden, just behind aust house.
Rooms the usual smaller london size, but if you need it they have a great health club downstairs, free to use.
Really its all about location and not having to take atube ride home late at night is a bonus.

 

[Mal]

One piece of advice - AVOID THE HILTON METROPOLE AT ALL COSTS.

Saw this in your trip report. Interested in more info as to why - PM is fine if you don't want to discuss it here! Have an award stay booked later this year (one night only) and just curious as to what you disliked.

Regarding Hilton's in London, I've found the ones I've stayed at to be pretty basic. Stayed at two of them - would have to look up my notes as to which two, although they were nice, I wouldn't have rated them as similar to any other Hilton I've stayed at before.

 

[simongr]

I was there for 2 1/2 weeks - one night wouldnt be too bad As I was there by myself I had a lot of room service and in the main that was diabolical. The location is good for Paddington but is a 30 minute stroll (15 min walk for me) from the start of Oxford street so it is not that close to town. It is also not a great part of London as well - I dint feel unsafe at all - it's justs not got the character of London.

 

[NM]

If I have/want to be in London, then I stay at the Paddington Hilton. They look after Diamond members very well, but do not allow Gold members into their executive lounge. The lounge is small and could not cope with the numbers of Gold members. Have had some very nice room upgrades, even when staying on points stays.

Its very well connected with LHR, the underground and other train lines.

 

[Mal]

Thanks Simongr
I checked my records, and the two Hilton's I've stayed in at London are:

Hilton London Islington
Hilton London Kensington

I liked the Islington. It's a pretty modern (but very basic) Hilton. Probably similar to Hampton Inn's in the US, or Holiday Inn's here. I remember it being close to a tube station, although can't recall which one.

The Kensington was an old hotel, but still reasonable. Service was very average and the room old. A smallish walk from the nearest tube station.

Both were very overpriced, but I don't expect much from London hotels.

As I indicated, I have a one night award for the Metropole coming up soon. Can easily change it, so looking for suggestions as to a better place. Got to be closeish to the tube/Heathrow express so I can get to Heathrow relatively early. The Paddington Hilton is out of my league due to it being a higher award category.

 

[simongr]

For Paddington I would go with the Metropole for one night - it is a 5 minute walk from the Hotel - it is just not somewhere I would vacation at.

 

[JohnK]

Not quite Central London but I stayed for 1 night at Hilton Wembley Plaza and Hilton Olympia in High St Kensington on my recent trip. Both are OK but nothing special. Cannot comment on lounge as I did not have access and did not use room service.

For what I am trying to achieve the Hilton Watford would have been a better choice.

 

[winetraveller]

I have varying experiences on Hiltons in London, and other places as well.

When in London this year I've stayed at the Hilton Kensington, because of it's proximity to meetings, but have been very disappointed.

The room I was given on my last trip was the smallest I've ever stayed in, anywhere (single bed). And as a Diamond member was given no upgrade.

The one at Heathrow is always good, but only convenient if you're on a fly in-fly out.

I recently had cause to complain about the Hilton at Fishermans wharf in SFO, the hotel was very run down (as is the Ken Hilton) and the staff were very rude and unhelpful.

Of late I seen to have always stayed in the Hiltons that are under renovation.

At the moment I've gone back to Marriotts for the moment, although am staying at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC next week.