The Academy - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Hotels
•
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
8.3 (3194 reviews)
21 Gower Street, Bloomsbury , London , gb

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Children allowed

Facilities

Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Hotel has a cozy decor
Friendly and accommodating staff
Excellent central location
High quality breakfast options
Cons:
Noise issues from neighboring rooms
Comfort level of beds varies
Stairs and uneven floors in an old building
Additional charges for breakfast items

Categories

Cleanliness
8.13
Some reviews mentioned cosmetic issues in rooms, affecting the perception of cleanliness.
Service
9.1
Staff received high praise for their kindness and consideration in several reviews.
Location
8.84
Guests highlighted the ideal location for central London, contributing positively to their stay.
Room Quality
7.59
Mixed feedback with mentions of discomfort in rooms and structural quirks, affecting overall comfort.
Amenities
8.12
Good amenities were noted, but some guests found certain aspects lacking, such as noise control.
Value for Money
7.58
Several reviews indicated that the price point did not align well with the experience provided.
Food and Beverage
8.63
Breakfast quality was praised, although some guests noted additional charges as a downside.
Overall Experience
8.4
Overall positive experiences with a few noted drawbacks impacting individual aspects.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 01:16

Property Description

Luxurious Georgian Townhouses Turned Boutique Hotel

Award-Winning Design and Gourmet Dining
Indulge in rooms crafted by New York's Champalimaud Design, featuring marble en-suite showers and bespoke furniture. Start your day with an extensive Continental breakfast buffet or opt for a delicious a la carte breakfast for a small fee. Explore nearby dining options or unwind at the Alchemy Bar's Terrace with Mr. Ma's Afternoon Tea and unique cocktails.

Prime Location for Exploring London
Located just a 5-minute walk from The British Museum, The Academy is your gateway to London's iconic landmarks. Discover Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Covent Garden within a leisurely 15-minute stroll. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Oxford Street, Soho, Chinatown, and Trafalgar Square, all within a mile from the hotel.

Ready to experience luxury and convenience in the heart of London? Book your stay at The Academy - Small Luxury Hotels of the World now!

Important information:

Please note, this property does not have an elevator, and rooms are only accessible via stairs.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LHR

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 16 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 16 years old stay for free when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not possible) and costs GBP 32.50 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 3194 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.13
Service: 9.1
Location: 8.84
Room Quality: 7.59
Amenities: 8.12
Value for Money: 7.58
Food and Beverage: 8.63
Overall Experience: 8.4
Z
Zoe • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
G
Gülfem • solo_traveller • tr
9
Pros:

I had a really pleasant stay at this hotel. Everything was very clean, both the room and the common areas. I stayed in a single room, and considering London standards, the room size and overall space were more than adequate. The bathroom was a little small, but still manageable.

The breakfast was good, although a little more variety would make it even better. The staff were very friendly, welcoming, and easy to communicate with. I also really liked the hotel’s atmosphere — it had the charm of a small boutique hotel while still feeling modern and stylish.

The location was perfect for me, as it was very convenient for the places I wanted to visit in London. I would definitely consider staying here again when I come back to London.

2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
M
Mitchell • couple • us
7
Well located very clean with excellent service but small room and beds.
Pros:

Very clean, comfortable beds, modern bathroom, excellent staff, very good breakfast.

Cons:

Room and bathroom were quite small, and beds although comfy were also narrow and short. Challenging to fit in and also difficult to maintain a cool enough temperature for sleeping.

2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
K
Kay • extended_group • gb
9
2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
G
Gerhardus • couple • nl
8
2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
C
Clinton • solo_traveller • mt
6
Pros:

Charming townhouse; lovely garden.

Cons:

Too many stairs for upper floor rooms. not for the faint hearted!

2026-05-15 • via Nuitee
K
Kerstin • couple • de
9
2026-05-15 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • couple • gb
7
Disappointing
Pros:

The staff were lovely. Good location

Cons:

I’m never normally someone to write a bad review but we were really disappointed with this hotel, it just didn’t feel like a 5* experience at all.
We had to climb right to the top of the building to get to our room, there was no lift and the stairs were pretty old and musty. The room was really hot so we had to have the AC on but it made a constant loud whooshing noise which kept me up in the night. When I tried to open the blinds in the room, the chain just broke off in my hand.

After our first night we left for the day and when we got back to the room at around 3.30pm we were surprised to see it hadn’t been cleaned, because apparently the service ‘runs until 5pm’ but by that point we wanted to use the room to get ready for dinner. Breakfast was also limited and had to pay an extra £15 just for some eggs.

2026-05-14 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
10
Great find, Will definitely return!
Pros:

10 min walk from Euston Station. Staff were excellent, immaculate hotel, continental breakfast was perfect, room was lovely.

Cons:

Price of the wine, a little expensive.

2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
R
Roger • family_with_children • se
9
2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • couple • au
8
Good location. Nice staff. Excellent for a night. Claustrophobic for 3
Pros:

Location great. Good breakfast

Cons:

Tiny bathroom.

2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
E
Emma • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
N
Neale • solo_traveller • gb
2
Just bad !
Pros:

This is not a small leading hotel of the world - if it is I’m Santa !

Cons:

Scruffy

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
R
Ricki • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Lovely staff and hotel decor

Cons:

Shower door handle was falling off

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • solo_traveller • de
9
Cute hotel with a very nice courtyard.
Pros:

Very cute hotel.

Cons:

Check-in process took a bit longer than anticipated. Overall really nice, but for a 5 Star Hotel a bit more organisation would be great.

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
B
Brenda • couple • mx
8
Good location but a bit pricey considering the missing attention to detail
Pros:

Location was excellent; Room was very spacious and had nice common areas to hang out.

Cons:

Not very clean and with a weird smell sometimes; bed was not firm enough and for some reason the bathroom always has a very warm temperature.

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
S
sandra • family_with_children • gb
10
Enjoyable, comfortable and would stay again.
Pros:

Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Hotel was welcoming and comfortable. Nearby carpark. Would stay again.

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
L
Lambert • couple • gb
9
Small is beautiful
Pros:

Quirky, individual decor and layout. Good continental breakfast.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
S
Subtain • couple • gb
6
Nice hotel, good location
Pros:

Good Location, nice and clean, good service.

Cons:

TV wasn’t working throughout our stay reported this on first day and was told it had been broken for the last week was promised it would be sorted the next morning and it wasn’t. Was told parking was a 2 minute walk it was over 10mins

2026-05-09 • via Nuitee