You know what struck me first about the Thistle London Trafalgar Square? It’s actually *on* Whitcomb Street, which means you’re literally a two-minute shuffle from all the Trafalgar Square chaos, but you don’t have to deal with the constant tour bus rumble right outside your window. Smart positioning, honestly.
The building itself has that classic London hotel feel – I mean, it’s not going to blow you away with cutting-edge design, but there’s something reassuring about the traditional setup. The lobby’s got this warm, lived-in atmosphere that doesn’t feel stuffy or overly formal. Check-in was smooth when I was there (though I’d imagine it gets hectic during peak summer months with all the theater crowds). The staff actually seem to know the neighborhood well – they pointed me toward a brilliant little coffee spot on St. Martin’s Lane that I never would’ve found otherwise.
Here’s what really works about this place: the location is ridiculously good for exploring central London on foot. You’re right there for the National Gallery, obviously, but what I loved was being able to walk to Covent Garden in about five minutes, or duck into Chinatown when you want decent late-night food. The West End theaters are all within easy walking distance too – we caught a show and were back in the room within ten minutes of curtain call. The rooms themselves are… well, they’re London hotel rooms, so don’t expect massive space, but they’re comfortable and actually quieter than I expected given how central you are. The beds are solid, and the bathrooms are properly updated (always a gamble with older London hotels).
What I appreciated most was how the hotel feels like it belongs in the neighborhood rather than trying to be some isolated bubble. You’ll hear a bit of street noise during the day – it’s Westminster, not a countryside retreat – but it settles down nicely in the evenings. The area gets pretty lively on weekend nights with people heading to and from Leicester Square, but honestly, that’s part of the charm of staying right in the thick of things. Parking’s going to cost you if you’re driving, but really, why would you drive here? The Charing Cross tube station is practically around the corner, and you can walk to most of the major sights anyway.
It’s one of those hotels that delivers exactly what it promises – solid four-star comfort in an absolutely prime location, without any pretense or unnecessary fuss. The 7.8 rating feels about right to me; it’s not going to be the highlight of your London trip, but it definitely won’t disappoint either, and you’ll spend most of your time out exploring anyway.