A night in London is always fun. As I don’t live too far away, I always like coming into town and try new hotels – which is useful for those thinking about visiting London.
Ten Manchester Street was, without a doubt, a great find. A little boutique hotel located in Marylebone (possibly my favourite neighbourhood in London), which isn’t far from Oxford Street and all its shopping attractions.
Pre-Arrival
– Was there any pre-arrival communication by the hotel with myself via email or social media?
No! This stay was booked with a day’s notice and there was no time.
– Did I try to engage the hotel via Twitter? Did the hotel interact with me and made me feel welcome/special?
I sent a tweet when I was in the property but got no response.
– Has the hotel tried to gather any personal information (e.g. preferences) prior to my stay?
No, but as I said, no time, really!
Arrival
– The wow factor! What was the hotel decor style?
Ten Manchester Street has a very smart exterior and the lobby is quite compact – as is the whole property. It looks modern and welcoming.
– How quick and efficient was the hotel check-in?
Excellent, and you get to sit down while you do it, which is always a very nice touch.
– Was I addressed by name once reservation has been located? (it is all about the small details, some others are outstanding with this, and I love it, like I do when I board an airplane)
Absolutely. The receptionist was lovely and immediately asked if I would like a glass of champagne. I knew things could only get better from this moment onwards.
– Did I get an upgrade from my confirmed pre-booked room type?
I did indeed. I was booked on a superior double but due to availability, I was upgraded to a Junior Suite.
– Did I feel genuinely welcomed by the hotel staff?
Very much so. Being such a small hotel (boutique in fact), it wasn’t difficult. I was impressed with the staff in general.
– Luggage – how many people did I have to tip before the luggage made it safely to my room? This is cultural, I know
Not an issue – I had an overnight bag and declined to be escorted to my room.
– Wi-fi – was I told anything about it? Was there a charge?
Wi-fi is complementary, which is excellent news!
Room Experience
– First impressions – décor, size and wow factor
I wasn’t so impressed with the lift (which was tiny, but hey!), but the room was faultless. Very tasteful decor, in various shades of beige. It was spacious and I loved how the TV separated the room from the lounge area. Everything matched.
– Welcome amenity
None.
– The bed
I had a nice king size bed which was extremely comfortable. The pillows were great too.
– Closet/Wardrobe – proper hangers or those annoying ones where you need a PhD to get them out one by one? This is a personal pet peeve of mine. I can’t stand them.
All as it should be.
Yes!
– Bathrobes and slippers
Lovely and very soft.
– Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea lovers, nothing to worry about. A Nespresso was there, with plenty of pods, and there were also tea making facilities.
– Free bottled water
Absolutely, still and sparkling, which was a nice touch. I do like my bubbles!
– Magazine selection – had some nice surprises and doesn’t happen often enough!
Very good – I had the latest Sunday Times Travel magazine, a Conde Nast Traveller and more options, which were very useful as I had dinner on my own.
– Power sockets in useful places – we have more and more devices and we know where we want them! By the bed, by the working area.
Not too bad – and there were some by the bed, which is always good.
Bathroom
– First impressions – décor, size and wow factor
I really liked the bathroom – very simple and beige (ha!), but very tasteful.
– Bath, shower and taps – I am looking for Duravits and Hansgrohes (or other fab brands) around the world. How fab was the shower? And a little pet peeve.. was I able to operate the shower without asking Mr. O for help?
Yes yes yes. Hansgrohe Axor taps and shower and Duravit. I was seriously impressed as I wasn’t expecting it. I had a lovely bath and a walk-in shower (my only comment is that the shower leaked outside, which I told the hotel the next day. If we don’t say anything, they will never know!)
– Towels – yes, please! How many and how soft and lovely?
Plenty of towels, not just 2 per person. They were very good too.
– Toiletries – own brand, super brand, baby ones or proper ones? I shall find out!
I absolutely loved the Rituals toiletries. It is a Dutch brand which I really like and was the first time I have ever seen them in a hotel. I love their quirky scents and this was a nice unexpected treat.
– Amenity kit – I don’t want more sewing kits thank you very much, but I will need a shower cap.
Everything you could expect, and more. Really good shower caps, by the way (boys, stop reading!).
– Hairdryer – is it a human one, or just something stuck to a wall that only makes noise?
I used it and it was a proper one.
Breakfast
– Décor of breakfast room
Very nice and cozy – it is the restaurant/bar, which doubles up as a breakfast room.
– The spread (inc yumminess)
Very good – and I was particularly impressed with the variety of fresh bread, which isn’t normal in England (the home of sliced bread, which can still be fresh). I was delighted with my baguette and cheese selection.
– Cost (I have seen a hotel charging €75 for breakfast – a tad much, maybe?)
It was included in the rate.
Bar
This is an interesting one. The hotel invited me to have dinner – which I hadn’t realised, and Mr. O was busy that evening, joining me later. So I did what I never do, just went downstairs and spent some time on my own. The hotel has a very nice “Cigar Patio”, which didn’t stink by the way, and that is where I spent a good 3 hours. It was a nice evening (helped by the patio heaters) and a treat in London. I had a glass of champagne and a glass of wine, and pigged out from the menu, which was great. I ended up with quite an eclectic selection – truffle fries, parmesan and rocket salad and some cheese. But it is what I really wanted and I loved it.
The bar was busy and service was outstanding. As I was on my own, I noticed some extra effort, which was much appreciated. Needless to say, I had the wi-fi and the magazines from the room, which kept me company.
General thoughts
– How good and reliable was the wi-fi?
Very good.
– Did the hotel interact with me via Twitter during my stay?
No.
– Location
Great location (for me). Marylebone High Street is literally around the corner, with great restaurants and shops. Selfridges is a 7 minute walk (I counted, by the way).
– Cost – rooms starting from…
This is the beauty of this place – I think this hotel offers outstanding value for money in the centre of London. We are talking a 4-star + property, modern, comfortable, with great service and location. Doubles start from £149 and suites from £259 + Tax.
– Would I recommend it to my best friend?
Without a doubt. I actually mentioned it to an acquaintance who was coming to London. His response: I found that hotel 6 months ago and have been staying ever since. Boy, was I surprised!
– Would I stay again?
Without a doubt, can’t fault this hotel. Outstanding value for money and everything you need for a good hotel in London. Obviously, you can’t compare this with some of the other hotels that cost £800!
Final thoughts:
Ten Manchester Street was a really nice surprise. I had a great night in and really enjoyed it. The staff and service were outstanding throughout my whole stay. I think this is a winner.
Have you visited this hotel? What were your thoughts?
xo
Mrs. O
Disclaimer: I was a guest of Ten Manchester Street during this stay, but hopefully you will see that this has not influenced my thoughts about the property. For more information about the hotel, visit its official website.