LONDON - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 178

a backdrop for such films as Howard's End and The Saint because filmmakers were
drawn to its soaring archways and classical central courtyard.
252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN. www.marriott.com. & 020/7829-9888 or 800/468-3571 in the
U.S. and Canada. Fax [phone] units. £169-£374 double. Rates include English breakfast.
AE, DC, MC, V. Tube: Holborn. Parking £35. Amenities: 2 restaurants; 2 bars; babysitting; concierge;
health club & spa; room service. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, Internet (£15 per day), minibar.
Expensive
Montague on the Gardens English country-house style within sight of the
British Museum makes the Montague a winning combination for traveling culture
buffs. It's a little way back from the busy West End streets but still just a short walk
from the theatres and the shopping of Oxford Street and Covent Garden. Guest rooms
are individually sized and decorated; most aren't huge, but all are cozy and spotless.
Some beds are four-posters, and most sport half-canopies. Bi-level deluxe king rooms
feature pullout couches and would be classified as suites in many other hotels.
15 Montague St., London WC1B 5BJ. www.montaguehotel.com. & 020/7637-1001 or 877/955-1515 in
the U.S. and Canada. Fax [phone] units. £135-£175 double. AE, DC, MC, V. Tube: Russell Sq.
Amenities: 2 restaurants; bar; concierge; health club; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fax (in some
rooms), hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Moderate
Arosfa Tiny but very well appointed, this refurbished Georgian townhouse
is a cut above the usual Gower Street hotels. It's in a prime location, within walking
distance of the British Museum, the British Library, and Theatreland with neat but
unspectacular rooms and a popular lounge—a great place for finding out what's going
on locally. Summer visitors should ask for a room at the front of the hotel; they're
air-conditioned. We also like the triple in the basement, easily the roomiest on offer.
83 Gower St., London WC1E 6HJ. www.arosfalondon.com. & 020/7636-2115. Fax [phone]
units. £65-£160 double. Rates include English breakfast. MC, V. Tube: Goodge St. In room: TV, hair dryer,
Wi-Fi (free).
Inexpensive
Harlingford Hotel Made up of three 19th-century townhouses, the Harling-
ford is an eccentric array of staircases and meandering hallways set in the heart of
Bloomsbury. It's run by a management team that seems genuinely concerned about
the welfare of its guests, unlike some of its close neighbors. Double-glazed windows
cut down on the street noise, and all the bedrooms are inviting. The most comfortable
rooms are on the second and third levels, but there are some steep stairs and no eleva-
tor. Avoid the rooms on ground level, as they are darker and have less security.
61-63 Cartwright Gardens, London WC1H 9EL. www.harlingfordhotel.com. & 020/7387-1551. Fax
020/7387-4616. 43 units. £112 double. Rates include English breakfast. AE, MC, V. Tube: Russell Sq., King's
Cross, or Euston. Amenities: Tennis courts (in Cartwright Gardens). In room: TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Thanet Hotel The Thanet stands out among the swathe of similar hotels in this area:
The place is always packed, so it must be doing something right. It no longer charges
the same rates it did when it appeared in England on $5 a Day , but it's still an affordable
option on a quiet Georgian terrace between Russell and Bloomsbury squares, and close
to the British Museum, the theatre district, and Covent Garden. For the most part,
rooms are small and adequately furnished. However, standards vary considerably within
the hotel in size, amenities, and Wi-Fi access—so ask to see your room first.
8 Bedford Place, London WC1B 5JA. www.thanethotel.co.uk. & 020/7636-2869. Fax [phone].
16 units. £110-£115 double. Rates include English breakfast. AE, MC, V. Tube: Holborn or Russell Sq.
Amenities: Breakfast room. In room: TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free in lower-floor rooms and public areas).

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