London Calling: A Family Stay at Holiday Inn London – Regent’s Park

Holiday Inn London Regent’s Park family stay: By Rachel Ducker

There’s just something about that phrase, “London Calling” that sums up a weekend in the capital, and when we saw it dotted around our hotel, Holiday Inn London – Regent’s Park over the weekend, it seemed to perfectly describe our family stay.

Getting to London with three children is always an adventure in its own right, and choosing a hotel that makes everything just a little bit easier from the moment you walk in the door really can make all the difference. For us, this hotel was in a great location with family-friendly rooms and all the little touches that make a big difference when travelling with little ones.

Located on Carburton Street, only a few minutes walk from Great Portland Street and Regent’s Park Tube stations, it’s ideally situated for getting around London. Regent’s Park and Oxford Street are within walking distance, while Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, the British Museum and the West End are all easily reached from this spot.

We packed in a lot during our weekend visit – from the Mundo Pixar Experience to the Original Kids Tour of London – but one of the great things about this hotel is its location; it provides a central base to retreat back to in between activities.

Rather than feeling like we couldn’t go back to the hotel until the end of the day, we could head back, give everyone a break, put everyone’s bags in the room, and then head out again. When you’re exploring London with little ones, that’s invaluable.

Family rooms that truly work for five

We stayed in interconnecting rooms, which gave our family of five so much more space than would have been possible with the traditional hotel room arrangement.

There was space for suitcases, clothing, coats, books, toys, and everything else that – somehow! – comes with three children when you’re travelling. Having the rooms connected meant we could retain that sense of being a family unit, but still have enough space for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.

The rooms were clean and modern and well-maintained, and everything was of a high standard – plus, after a long day exploring the city, the beds were comfortable too.

Rooms at the hotel include air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi, TV, in-room safe and daily housekeeping, while connecting rooms and cots are available on request.

There were also teddy bears for the children in our room when we arrived, which was a lovely touch, especially for the birthday boy (five) who was visiting us. Little things like that really do make children remember.

Easy from the moment we arrived

This was another aspect of the stay that I appreciated – everything felt so straightforward.

The self check-in process was seamless, meaning we didn’t have a long wait while trying to check-in with three children in tow and bags to carry. We could arrive, settle in quickly and start our weekend of sightseeing almost immediately.

This feeling of ease continued throughout our stay. The hotel is modern without being stuffy, and has a very relaxed atmosphere that is especially suited to families.

The hotel also has an open lobby restaurant and bar, on-site Starbucks and 24-hour room service, so if your day out walking is rather more than you want to fit into one trip, you can stay in and enjoy a meal at the hotel without any hassle. Children under 12 also eat for free when dining with a paying adult, which is another genuine benefit for families.

Breakfast – and the pancake machine

Breakfast was another highlight. Self-service, with a good variety, again makes a difference when you have children because you’re all able to choose your own breakfast and eat at your own pace.

But for me and the kids, the best part was the pancake machine.

Push a button and watch your pancakes being cooked in front of you. There’s something really satisfying about that, and it was the biggest hit with the children, too.

It was a fun way to start the day, rather than just a standard breakfast, and it was easily the best way to get everyone fuelled up for another day of sightseeing around London.

A genuinely family-focused location for sightseeing in London

For me, the biggest advantage of staying at the Holiday Inn London – Regent’s Park is the combination of location and practicality.

You’re close enough to the capital to get around easily, but the hotel feels just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of some of the more touristy spots.

The Great Portland Street and Regent’s Park tube stations are both close by, while the West End and Soho can even be reached on foot in around 15 minutes.

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is 12pm which is also very helpful in trying to organise a weekend around children, suitcases and London sightseeing.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, totally. If you’re looking for somewhere glamorous and theatrical then, as ever in London, there are plenty of hotels that cater exactly to that, but when travelling with children, sometimes what you need is somewhere fresh, modern, welcoming and incredibly easy to find.

And that’s exactly what I found here.

Our connecting rooms gave us the space we needed, the breakfast was very good, the location was just right for getting around London, and the whole stay felt set up around comfort and convenience.

Most importantly, it gave us somewhere to truly recoup between adventures in London rather than just somewhere to sleep at night.

If you’re planning a sightseeing weekend in the capital with children, I would happily recommend Holiday Inn London – Regent’s Park as a great family base-camp.

London was calling and we answered!

Factbox

Room types: 364 rooms, including inter-connecting rooms; cots free of charge
Family facilities: Inter-connecting rooms, cots available, self-service breakfast, kids’ meal choices
Food & drink: Restaurant and bar, Starbucks coffee shop, room service
Area highlights: Regent’s Park, London’s West End, Oxford Street and Madame Tussauds Time to city: Five-minute walk from Great Portland Street or Regent’s Park Tube stations Address Carburton Street, London W1W 5EE
This hotel is featured in: The best family-friendly hotels in London Best hotels for sightseeing weekends in London Best hotels for families in London