You know what struck me first about The Soho STAR? It’s tucked away on Poland Street in this perfect sweet spot where you’re absolutely in the thick of Soho madness, but somehow the street itself doesn’t feel completely chaotic. I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from Oxford Street’s shopping insanity and about the same to those tiny Soho pubs that somehow fit thirty people in a space the size of most people’s living rooms. The building itself has this boutique hotel vibe that actually feels genuine – not like they just slapped some trendy furniture in a chain hotel and called it a day.
Honestly, what impressed me most was how they’ve managed to nail that tricky balance of being properly central without the constant noise that usually comes with it. Sure, you’ll hear the occasional late-night reveler stumbling home from Dean Street (it’s Soho, after all), but it’s not like staying next to a construction site. The rooms have this clean, modern thing going on without being sterile – sort of what you’d hope a London hotel would look like if you designed it yourself. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too, none of that overly complicated process some places put you through. The staff actually seemed to know the neighborhood when I asked about places to grab coffee that wasn’t Starbucks (there’s a brilliant little spot on Berwick Street Market, by the way).
What really sells this place for me is the location intelligence – you’re close enough to Tottenham Court Road tube that you’re not dragging luggage forever, but far enough from the Oxford Circus chaos that you can actually think straight. Plus, and this might sound silly, but there’s something satisfying about being able to walk to proper theater shows, dive into Chinatown for late dinner, or just wander through those narrow Soho streets without any of it feeling like a tourist expedition. I stayed during a pretty busy weekend in autumn and while the area was buzzing, the hotel felt like a proper retreat from it all. The 9.1 rating honestly makes sense – it’s one of those places that just works without trying too hard to impress you with gimmicks. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want when you’re dealing with London’s beautiful madness.