You know what struck me first about The Montague? It’s tucked into this perfect little Georgian terrace that you’d walk right past if you weren’t looking for it – which is actually brilliant because it means you’re not dealing with tour groups clogging up the lobby. I mean, you’re literally across from the British Museum (I could see people queuing from my third-floor window), but the street itself feels almost residential. Montague Street has this lovely quiet vibe that’s honestly rare in central London. The building itself has that classic Bloomsbury charm – all red brick and white trim – though I’ll be honest, the entrance is smaller than you might expect for a 4-star place. Not fancy-schmancy, just… refined, I guess.
What really gets me about this place is how they’ve managed to feel both proper and relaxed at the same time. The staff actually remember your name after day one (shocking, I know), and when I mentioned I was heading to the Foundling Museum, the concierge gave me this whole spiel about the best route through the garden squares. Speaking of which – the back garden is absolutely lovely, proper English garden vibes with those big old plane trees, and you can actually hear birds instead of traffic when you’re out there having morning coffee. The rooms are what you’d call “characterful” – mine had this gorgeous original fireplace and windows that actually opened (revolutionary concept), though the bathroom was definitely on the cozy side. But honestly, the bed was fantastic, and I slept like the dead even with Russell Square being so close by.
Here’s the thing though – this isn’t the place if you want sleek and modern. The decor leans heavily into that English country house aesthetic, lots of florals and traditional furniture, which either works for you or it doesn’t. What definitely works is the location – you’re a two-minute walk from Goodge Street tube, five minutes to Russell Square, and right in the heart of literary London. I spent ages just wandering around spotting the blue plaques (Virginia Woolf lived literally around the corner). The neighborhood gets pretty quiet after evening rush hour, which is perfect if you’re not looking for nightlife right outside your door. Parking is typical central London nightmare stuff, but you really don’t need a car here anyway. I’d definitely come back – it’s got that rare combination of actually feeling like London while being genuinely comfortable, and the staff make it feel more like staying with particularly posh friends than just another hotel room.