The Leonard Hotel

Hotel Description

Honestly, The Leonard caught me off guard – and I mean that in the best way possible. You know how Seymour Street feels like this forgotten little pocket between the chaos of Oxford Street and the grandness of Marble Arch? Well, this place sits right in that sweet spot where you get all the convenience without the tourist madness literally on your doorstep. I actually walked past it twice before spotting the entrance (classic London understated signage), but once you’re inside, there’s this immediate sense that someone actually thought about what travelers need.

The thing about four-star hotels in this part of Westminster is they can go either way – trying too hard to be fancy or just phoning it in because location does half the work. The Leonard sort of splits the difference in a way that actually works. The lobby’s got character without being stuffy, and the staff seem to know their stuff about the neighborhood. I mean, the front desk guy told me about a proper pub around the corner on Crawford Street that I never would’ve found otherwise. The rooms themselves are what you’d expect for the price point – not huge (this is central London, after all), but they’ve clearly been updated recently and everything functions properly. The shower pressure was surprisingly decent, which honestly matters more than fancy toiletries when you’ve been walking around the city all day.

What really sold me on this place, though, was how it sits in the neighborhood. You’re maybe three minutes from Marble Arch tube station, which gets you anywhere fast, but you’re also walking distance to some genuinely good spots that aren’t completely overrun. Marylebone High Street is right there with its weekend farmers market and those little independent shops, and you can cut through to Regent’s Park without dealing with the Oxford Circus crowds. The hotel itself gets a bit busy during peak tourist season – I was there in July and the small lobby felt cramped during evening check-ins – but that 7.6 rating feels about right. It’s not going to blow you away, but it delivers what it promises without any nasty surprises. There’s something to be said for that level of reliability when you just want a solid base for exploring London without breaking the bank or ending up somewhere that feels like an airport hotel.

Rooms

• Single Room with Shower with 1 single bed for 1 adult
• Classic Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• One-Bedroom Suite with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults
• Deluxe Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed and 2 single beds for 2 adults
• Grand Suite with 1 large double bed and 2 sofa beds for 5 adults
• Two-Bedroom Suite with 1 extra-large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for 6 adults
• Two-Bedroom Suite with 1 double bed, 1 single bed and 1 sofa bed for 4 adults

Facilities