Following Google maps to find the Amba Hotel in London’s Charing Cross, I stared at the screen on my iPhone which told me I had arrived at my location. I was stood in front of Charing Cross station blasting the ‘stupid’ mapping app under my breath as I realised that the hotel was in face right under my nose as the entrance sits to the side of the station entrance.
Once inside I could not have been further away from the hustle and bustle of the train station or The Strand outside, the check-in was seamless and I was impressed by the restored traditional decor which had been injected with a few modern twists which nicely complemented the design. I settled into my studio suite on the 4th floor which was spacious and well-appointed. The room was comfy with a large and very comfortable kingsize bed if not slightly corporate in style. From the window I had a lovely view out the front of the station over the city including sites like the BT tower and the Coliseum.
Business travellers are the core target for this hotel and they serve them well with a decent workspace, plug points a plenty and ultra fast wifi (which was easy to use). There was also a Nespresso machine for the coffee heads out there and a selection of complimentary snacks and soft drinks in the mini-bar which I always think is a lovely touch.
For me the key things that win me over in any hotel is a decent bed (check) and a decent shower. Well the Amba Charing Cross definitely has both. The bathroom was sizeable, white and sparkling clean with a walk in shower and separate bath. Double check.
Being a fitness head I made my way to the gym in the basement which is open 24 hours and accessed with your room key. As far as hotel gyms go it was rather small with the usual focus on cardio machines but also featured a bench and a few fee weights. In short there was enough to see you through a day or two but for a longer stay I would recommend finding somewhere a little bigger to train (there is a Gymbox on St Martins Lane, only a few minutes walk away).
For a short visit to London whether you are on business or leisure it is hard to beat the location of the Amba Charing Cross Hotel with excellent transport links (national rail and underground stations are directly outside) and great location, just a short walk to Trafalgar square, the river, Thames, Westminster and Covent Garden.
Our rating 4/5
Rooms from £240 per night
