Open for exactly a year and a day from the moment I've written this review, this branch of Halifax…read moreis probably one of the best branches I've seen from the banking chain, I often find Halifax branches to be pretty basic and lack modern features even in major cities and locations from Liverpool to Manchester which was one of the reasons I left the bank, especially compared to Lloyds Bank who are a part of the same banking group and often have nice branches both old and new. On the other hand, this Halifax store in a way contradicts everything I know about the brand, located on New Oxford Street and is basically opposite Tottenham Court Road station, while also being close to brands such as McDonald's and Starbucks. The branch inside has probably the largest amount of comfortable seating I've seen in London, and while the greeter didn't seem too friendly (he was just stood there rather than acknowledging customers), the store overall did have a greater amount of cash machines which were modern and easy to use than other Halifax branches. Free wi-fi, like any other bank and the opening hours, are great too and are probably the best I've seen in London at a location outside of a shopping mall, being open at retail hours (similar to Metro Bank), open for 12 hours between 8 am and 8 pm during the week, closing 2 hours earlier on Saturday and being open at retail hours (11 - 5) on Sunday. Other cool features I didn't try include Travel Zone (exchange foreign currencies - I personally don't like this approach as I bank with Monzo who offer me free FX paying in real time with my card) but it's useful for those who like paying cash and The Kitchen area (good to grab a coffee) The features of the branch are made clear online, but in the store less so, and the staff didn't seem too friendly or eager to help so those are the banks biggest flaws, but still for a Halifax store this branch is fantastic, above average for a regular bank too and surely warranting a four-star rating for the opening hours and modern, cool, innovative features alone.

Nationwide is the UK's largest building society, I called at this branch after I had some trouble…read morewith Natwest across the way, the branch is located on Portman Square and is fairly close to Oxford Street, London. The branch is open at the standard draconian hours of banking which really shouldn't be the case in a central location in a city like London, open only on weekdays: working 9-5 what a (bad) way to do your bankin'. The branch inside is pretty small, and there isn't really any seating, the queuing system to get help seemed to be poorly managed and the store seemed to be understaffed, with probably the least staff I've seen in a Nationwide branch. They did have cash machines to do your banking activities such as requesting a mini statement, and paying in and withdrawing funds, two infact, which was so much better than Natwest across the way who had a machine older than my grandma, which couldn't process the new style polymer banknotes, which entered circulation THREE YEARS AGO - in 2016. Useful location of Natwest, one of the better banks in Portman Square but still below average for a bank in terms of facilities, service and opening hours. 2*

4 stars because I think Nationwide are pretty awesome overall, and this branch does a decent job of…read morekeeping my affections in place. You can come here for all the usual stuff - deposits, cash, new bank accounts. Staff have always been chatty, friendly and once or twice they even crack a joke. It's a nice experience. However, they don't have a mortgage service here and that's a shame (hence the loss of a star). It's also surprisingly hard to find a Nationwide branch anywhere in the city which is open outside of 9-5 Monday to Friday and that's tricky when you work full time, but want to talk to someone in detail about a mortgage or insurance product. I'd love for this branch to offer more services and private meeting rooms - even if just for one or two days a week or one evening, which would mean I don't have to take a day off to go to Fenchurch St to have my appointment. Also in this day and age, banks should be open longer, or on a Saturday morning at least.

Ashford has seen so many financial institutions close down over the years such as Nationwide…read moreBuilding Society, Midland Bank/HSBC Bank and Lloyds Bank that Barclays is one of the few to remain though is permanently under the threat of closure. The bank was refurbished about 6 years ago to give it a more modern appearance, its generally quieter than the Staines location but the service is inconsistent depending on who you get at the till, some staff are more helpful than others. It will be interesting to see which is the last bank left in Ashford with Nat West holding on for now.

Metro Bank has got to be one of the coolest banks on the high-street, they were the first bank to…read morelaunch high-street stores in the UK in over 150 years, since then they've grown to around 77 branches, most of them are in London, but they have a growing presence north of the M25. This location in Fulham Broadway is pretty cool, the staff were friendly and attentive and printed my new card in-store, I only had to wait for a couple of minutes. I love how if you lose or have a problem with your card, you can come into store and get a new one, compared to other high street banks that make you wait for days. I was even able to leave, get a few things from Sainsbury's and come back. The store is normally open until 8 pm but as of the time of writing (September 2021), they are still on reduced hours, closing at 6 pm. I do also dislike how like all Metro Bank locations, they lack indoor cash machines, this can often mean the experience of paying in and withdrawing money is quicker, but the staff are friendly and happy to help, as quick as possible. 4* - Friendly service, the bank looked pretty good too, lacking some features but still all in all a good place to bank. Review #3600

This branch of Santander is one of the many banks I visited during my time in London, it is a nice,…read moremodern store and a pretty average of size, right next to Green Park Underground, it is also next to M&S Simply Food and Metro, a rival bank on Piccadilly, London. The store is modern and had a decent number of machines for basic banking, such as withdrawing and paying in cash/cheques and more. The bank had a nice, modern feel to it, and it is probably one of my favourite Santander branches in the city, with Santander branches tending to be a little dull, old-fashioned and uninspiring, this branch in most cases was different. Opening hours (AGAIN) are a big flaw for this bank, it is something I've found common in London to a degree that the branch is only open 9-5 on weekends, again opening an hour later on Wednesday's. It's like living in a foreign land, being 2 hours on the train up north in Manchester, I'm used to banks being open all day Saturday too with the occasional Sunday opening (Lloyds Bank and TSB on Market Street, Manchester), and find it ridiculous that yet again this is another bank which works the old-fashioned, generic hours which really don't suit 2019. Put that in comparison, Metro Bank which is next store is open 8-8 (TWELVE HOURS!) during the week, closing at 6 on Saturday's, and opening at Sunday Trading Hours on Sunday (11-5) 3* - pretty modern bank, average sized in a good location but let down by opening hours and other minor factors.

A small Lloyds Bank store in central London, located on Piccadilly in the Mayfair area of the city,…read morea short walk away from Piccadilly Circus. It is pretty much an average bank, by all means, open weekdays (Shame this bank doesn't have weekend openings at all!). The bank's floor is a satisfactory size with some basic banking machines to conduct banking activities and two separate counters (confusing?) if you have a more complex issue or need a personalised approach, the staff seemed friendly and happy to help. The opening hours aren't great, the bank shuts early than most other banks I'm used to at 4:30 pm, and of course the fact they close on weekends isn't too great either. I did like how the store had an upper floor including a balcony, I presume this is down to it being a listed building and I saw no sign of this part of the building being used, perhaps it's for a staff area, business banking or something? A decent bank, it does have letdowns including having two counters which can get a little confusing and messy, and the opening hours but convenient in its' location, considering it is a short walk away from the Green Park end of Piccadilly (as I recall the nearest other banks where there are a Santander and Metro Bank) 3*

This Natwest branch is located towards the Wesminster area of Victoria Street, so shouldn't be…read moreconfused with their Victoria branch towards the end of the street, which is close to the Railway and Underground Station. From the outside, the bank really does stand out, it is cool and beautiful with modern bricks. Inside and outside the store has a good amount of cash machines and newer ATM's where you can do most of your banking activities, and they also have a counter service too. The bank also has slight twists in the decor which are pretty cool and modern to emphasise the location in Westminster, London such as Big Ben engraded into the wall where some of the banking machines are. The staff didn't seem too friendly or welcoming, albeit this is common for London, it again is a shame to see. This is probably one of the bigger and better banks in Central London, compared to other banks nearby this is vastly superior of which does warrant a four-star rating.

Small brokers outlet set within Bland and Baker accountants. May be small but what it lacks in size…read moreit makes up for in service. Friendly staff, plenty of the normal banking services available. Less queues than there is in the town centre branch, so thats a plus.

nice little branch of the halifax here you can deposit any amoubt of cash as opposed to its main…read morebanks where you cant, nice clean and tidy and the staff are freindly too.