Look, I’ve walked past The Sumner Hotel dozens of times on Upper Berkeley Street without really noticing it – which, honestly, is part of its charm. It’s one of those proper London townhouse hotels that doesn’t need to shout about itself, tucked between Marble Arch and Oxford Street where all the tourist chaos happens, but somehow managing to feel like a quiet refuge from all that madness.
The thing about this place is location, location, location – but not in the way estate agents bang on about it. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Marble Arch tube, which means you can actually get anywhere in London without the usual faff. Hyde Park is right there when you need to escape the city noise (and trust me, you will), and you know what’s brilliant? You can walk to Selfridges in about three minutes, but the hotel itself sits on a side street that’s surprisingly peaceful. I mean, you’ll still hear the occasional bus rumbling down the main road, but it’s nothing like staying directly on Oxford Street where the noise never stops.
What I really appreciate about The Sumner is that it feels authentically London without trying too hard. The staff actually seem to know the neighborhood – they’ll tell you about the little Pret around the corner that’s never crowded, or which pub nearby does decent fish and chips. The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid four-star place – nothing groundbreaking, but everything works and the beds are genuinely comfortable. The bathrooms are a bit compact (well, it’s London, what do you expect?), but they’ve got good water pressure, which is honestly more than you can say for half the hotels in this city.
Here’s something most people don’t mention – the building’s got character but it also creaks a bit, especially the older floors. It’s not annoying, just… atmospheric, I suppose. Very much part of staying in a converted Georgian townhouse. The breakfast room gets proper sunlight in the mornings, and while the continental spread isn’t going to blow your mind, the coffee’s decent and there’s usually fresh fruit that doesn’t look like it’s been sitting around for days.
The 7.5 rating feels about right, actually. It’s not trying to be the Savoy, but it does what it promises without any nasty surprises. Check-in was smooth when I was there, no queuing about or confusion with bookings. The lift is tiny – very typical for these converted buildings – so if you’re traveling with massive suitcases, be prepared for some strategic maneuvering.
Bottom line: if you want to be in the thick of things but still be able to sleep at night, and you don’t need a hotel that Instagram-worthy rooftop bar or marble everything, The Sumner works really well. It’s London hotel accommodation done properly – comfortable, well-located, and staffed by people who actually seem to care about whether you have a good stay.