The Royal Horseguards

Excellent location and very good staff

I had been looking forward to finally staying at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. After all, it has iconic status – one of London's great historic hotels, with almost 150 years of history behind it. Unfortunately, I left disappointed. The location is superb. Right in the heart of Whitehall, just around the corner from Westminster, Covent Garden, and Trafalgar Square. The staff are welcoming, friendly, and repeatedly ask if everything is to your satisfaction. But there's no escaping the fact that this is a fading icon – a jewel from another era that, sadly, no longer shines. The hotel has clearly attempted to modernise the lobby, bar area, and perhaps even the corridors on the guest floors. Unfortunately, it hasn't been a successful transformation. The furniture is bland and generic, more reminiscent of a conference centre than a grand historic hotel. To make matters worse, the lobby is filled with loud techno music blaring from the speakers. It bears no relation to the building's architecture, history, or the sense of character and soul it once possessed – qualities that should surely be among the hotel's greatest assets to preserve. I had booked what was described as a Deluxe Room. The size was certainly generous, and it included an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer, and a Nespresso machine. The hotel also advertises a complimentary minibar, which in reality consists of one can of cola, three bottles of mineral water, one chocolate bar, and a single bag of crisps. That's the Royal Horseguards idea of a minibar. In fact, the hotel makes quite a number of promises on its website, which perhaps explains why the disappointment was so great. You're told that your room will overlook either the river, the city, or the gardens. Instead, I found myself looking into an internal courtyard, directly at the hotel's large air-conditioning units. (Photo) The room itself was in need of some care and attention. The wall-to-wall carpet was stained, the sheer curtains had turned yellow with age, and the furniture felt thoroughly outdated. The bed, however, was large and comfortable. After a day of work in London, I returned to the hotel in the afternoon and was surprised to find that my room had not been serviced. The bed remained unmade, and the bathroom looked exactly as I had left it that morning. I later discovered that housekeeping only begins servicing rooms late in the afternoon. Perhaps you can request an earlier clean, but it still seems rather unusual for a hotel of this standard. Another thing that puzzled me was the complete lack of security. Anyone can walk in directly from the street and take the lift to the guest floors. There are no key-card restrictions or security checks whatsoever – surprising for a hotel that claims to be five-star. There were certainly positives as well. The staff are genuinely friendly and helpful, the bed was spacious and comfortable, the television offered a wide selection of channels, my room was remarkably quiet, and of course the location is outstanding. Perhaps that's precisely why it feels so frustrating. The hotel has been blessed with magnificent historic surroundings and an extraordinary legacy, yet instead of embracing and celebrating them wholeheartedly, it settles for half-hearted modernisation, uninspired interior design, and intrusive background music. Add to that a website that promises more than the hotel ultimately delivers, and the result is an experience that falls well short of its iconic reputation.

A beautiful hotel situated only a short distance from Embankment tube station. The room and the hotel overall were clean and very well presented, offering a truly luxurious experience. Service throughout my stay was excellent, and breakfast provided a lovely selection, including a freshly cooked option. The staff were consistently friendly and welcoming, contributing to a thoroughly pleasant stay.

What an excellent visit to the Royal horse guards Hotel. The concierge Team took us on his historic tour of the hotel visiting the amazing public rooms, marble staircase, and Churchill study, who knew that was all there. Beautiful room well appointed and nice size. Excellent breakfast. Only minor point was one of the lifts was out of order for our entire visit meaning they often queues to get into the lift. We will be back for sure.

Our seven-night stay at the Royal Horseguards was nothing short of exceptional. We honestly couldn’t imagine a better place to stay in London. The hotel’s rich history and stunning architecture made us feel as though we had stepped back in time. Waking up each morning in such a beautiful historic building made our London experience even more memorable. What truly sets this hotel apart, however, is its people. Every member of the team welcomed us with genuine warmth, kindness, and professionalism, making us feel valued from the moment we arrived until the day we reluctantly checked out. A special thank you to Abeena at the Front Desk, whose warm smile always made us feel at home. To Janet, thank you for your cheerful personality and infectious energy you brightened our days every time we saw you. We are also grateful to Ms. Teodora, who gave us such a wonderful welcome during check-in and made every effort to ensure we had the best stay possible. Our mornings were made even better by the fantastic breakfast team. Thank you for your attentive service and for always making us feel so well looked after. A special mention to Bakthiyor for your friendliness and outstanding hospitality. Finally, our deepest appreciation goes to the wonderful Director of Rooms, Mr. Jorge Alexandre Coutinho. Your attention to detail, genuine care for your guests, and willingness to go above and beyond did not go unnoticed. It is because of thoughtful leaders like you that the Royal Horseguards feels so much more than just a hotel—it feels like home. You played a significant role in making our London trip unforgettable, and leaving was genuinely difficult. Thank you to everyone at the Royal Horseguards for creating memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. We will most certainly be back, and we cannot recommend this remarkable hotel highly enough.