Like most Motel One outfits, it is light on the amenities, but the decor and architecture are very inviting. The endorphin-blue interiors and warm lighting, bathing everything in this place with a comforting glow really make it easy to relax. Chatting with the bartender while sipping drinks at the bar, having tea in the lobby in the wonderful overstuffed chairs, or just people-watching through the large glass windows out front make this a comfy place: till you get to your room. The rooms here are lovely--but small! There is very little space to walk around in them, and despite the INCREDIBLE panoramic view I had of the Gherkin and the surrounding London urban landscape ( from my 12th floor corner-room with gigantic full-length windows on two of four walls!), I found it uncomfortable to stay in the room for more than a couple of hours per day. But the view from that room is unforgettable, and after a day out, I had no problem staying in and enjoying it at night with the lights of the city aglow ...
One major architectural flaw is that the check-in desk is immediately off the elevator hallway. Especially if you have been called to the part of the desk which is the furthest in (toward the elevators) you'll be in the way of people going to or getting off the elevators. If you're the one getting on or off the lift, expect to play dodge-the-suitcases-and-travel-bags just about each time. This is the one difference between this Motel One and others, like the one in Vienna just off the Westbahnhof, the public spaces of which are much roomier.
Finally, though, considering its location, Motel One 24-26 Minories, London, is still a bargain. read more