You know what struck me first about the Covent Garden Piazza? It’s actually right there in the thick of everything – and I mean everything. When you step out the front door on Long Acre, you’re literally a two-minute walk from the buzzing Covent Garden market with all those street performers and tourists snapping photos. But here’s the thing that surprised me: despite being smack in the middle of one of London’s busiest areas, the rooms are surprisingly quiet. I mean, you’ll still hear the occasional late-night reveler stumbling down the cobblestones, but it’s not the constant traffic drone you’d expect.
The hotel itself has this modern, clean-lined feel – think contemporary European rather than stuffy British traditional. The lobby’s got these nice touches like local art on the walls and staff who actually seem to know the neighborhood (one guy gave me a spot-on recommendation for a hidden wine bar on Floral Street that I never would’ve found otherwise). Honestly, the 8.1 rating feels about right – it’s solid without being spectacular. The rooms are well-designed, maybe a bit compact by American standards, but that’s London for you. What I really appreciated was the attention to details that matter when you’re actually staying somewhere: proper reading lights, enough outlets for your devices, and – this might sound silly – but hooks and surfaces where you can actually put your stuff instead of living out of a suitcase on the floor.
Location-wise, you’re golden here. Neal’s Yard with all those colorful buildings and organic shops is practically around the corner, and if you’re into theater (which, let’s face it, most people coming to this area are), you’re walking distance to pretty much everything in the West End. The Tube connections are fantastic too – Covent Garden station is right there, though honestly I found myself walking to Leicester Square or Holborn half the time just because the streets are so interesting. One heads up though: if you’re driving, forget about it. Parking around here is basically impossible and expensive when you do find it. But that’s actually fine because you won’t need a car – everything’s walkable, and when it’s not, the Tube will get you there faster anyway. The breakfast was decent – nothing that’ll blow your mind, but proper coffee and fresh pastries, which is really all you need before heading out to explore. I’d definitely stay here again, especially if I wanted to be right in the heart of things without paying West End hotel prices.