Great St Helen Hotel

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about the Great St Helen Hotel? It’s tucked away on this narrow street that feels almost medieval – I mean, you’re literally surrounded by some of the oldest parts of London here. The building itself sits right in the shadow of the Gherkin, which honestly creates this wild contrast between old and new that somehow works perfectly. When I walked up, I half-expected it to be touristy and overpriced given the location, but it actually has this understated charm that caught me off guard.

The thing about staying in this part of the City is that weekdays are absolutely buzzing with suited bankers rushing past your door, but come Friday evening? Dead quiet. It’s like someone flipped a switch. The hotel staff clearly know this rhythm – they’ll chat your ear off about the area during the week when everyone’s busy, but weekends they’re more relaxed, happy to give you proper directions to places like Leadenhall Market (which is literally a three-minute walk, by the way). The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star – nothing groundbreaking, but the beds are actually comfortable and the bathrooms are recently updated. I appreciated that they didn’t go overboard with fake luxury touches, just clean lines and decent quality everything. The windows can be a bit thin though, so if you’re sensitive to noise, maybe mention it when booking since early morning delivery trucks do rumble through these narrow streets.

What really won me over was how genuinely useful the location turned out to be. Sure, it’s right in the financial district, but St. Helen’s Bishopsgate church is right there (beautiful and surprisingly peaceful), and you can walk to Borough Market in about fifteen minutes if you cut through the right alleys. The staff actually knows these shortcuts – not just the obvious tourist routes everyone suggests. Honestly, for the price point and that 7.6 rating, it delivers exactly what it promises without trying to be something it’s not. It’s the kind of place where business travelers clearly return regularly, and after spending a few nights there, I get why. Sometimes the best hotels are the ones that just… work, you know?

Rooms

• Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Economy Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults
• Budget Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults

Facilities