Planning a trip to London and wondering whether City Sleeper at the Royal National Hotel is worth the extra cost over the standard Royal National rooms? During my latest trip to London, I stayed here for four nights with my mum, and after previously staying in the standard Royal National rooms, I was curious to see if the City Sleeper upgrade was actually worth paying for.

Here’s my honest experience, from the location and rooms to the biggest downside you should know about before booking.

First Impressions & Location

City Sleeper at Royal National Hotel isn’t a separate hotel, but rather the recently renovated premium section of the Royal National Hotel, which is part of the Imperial London Hotels group.

If you’ve ever walked past the Royal National, you’ll know it’s absolutely enormous. It’s one of London’s biggest hotels and is particularly popular with school groups and tour groups, meaning the main lobby is often incredibly busy.

One of the biggest advantages of booking a City Sleeper room is that you have your own dedicated reception desk and entrance, tucked away from the crowds. Check-in felt much calmer and more personal, and we completely avoided the long queues that often form at the main reception.

Is City Sleeper at the Royal National Hotel Worth It? My Honest Review — Seperate Reception

For me though, the biggest selling point of this hotel is without a doubt its location. Situated in Bloomsbury, you’re within walking distance of many of London’s biggest attractions. The British Museum is only a few minutes away, while places like Covent Garden and Oxford Street are also easily reached on foot. During our stay we actually walked to most places, which allowed us to discover so much more of the city along the way.

The neighbourhood itself is one of my favourites in London. Bloomsbury feels lively but safe, and being home to the University of London gives it a nice student atmosphere. There are also some fantastic places to eat nearby, including Fortitude Bakehouse, which I’d highly recommend if you’re staying here.

Just around the corner you’ll also find The Brunswick Centre, a small shopping centre with supermarkets, a drugstore, cafés, restaurants and other handy shops. It’s ideal if you need to grab snacks, toiletries or a quick meal after a long day of sightseeing.

Transport connections are another huge advantage. Russell Square Underground Station is only a short walk away and sits on the Piccadilly Line, making it easy to reach many parts of London or connect to other Tube lines. Goodge Street, Euston Station and King’s Cross St Pancras are all within walking distance as well.

We actually arrived in London by Eurostar at St Pancras International and simply walked to the hotel with our suitcases in around 15 minutes. It was quicker than taking the Tube, completely free, and surprisingly easy with carry-on luggage.

Although the area feels very safe, do keep in mind that you’re staying right in Central London. If your room faces the street, there will naturally be some traffic noise.

Our City Sleeper Room

We stayed in a Standard Twin Room overlooking the courtyard. The room itself felt modern, fresh and much nicer than the standard Royal National rooms I’d stayed in about a year earlier. Those older rooms definitely felt dated, complete with old bathtubs and even bidets, whereas the City Sleeper rooms have clearly been renovated with a much more contemporary look and feature a modern walk-in shower.

The beds were very comfortable and we both slept well throughout our stay. The room also included everything you’d expect for a city break, including free Wi-Fi, a television and plenty of storage space. Housekeeping did a fantastic job each day, and the room was spotless every time we returned after exploring London.

One thing worth mentioning is that I have noticed newer-looking standard Royal National rooms appearing on Booking.com recently, so it seems like they may slowly be renovating the rest of the hotel as well. I can’t say how those compare to the City Sleeper rooms or whether they’re priced differently, but it’s something worth looking into when booking.

One thing the City Sleeper rooms don’t have, however, is air conditioning. Since we visited in October this wasn’t an issue at all, but if you’re travelling during one of London’s warmer summer periods, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

The Biggest Downside: Noise

If there’s one thing I wish I’d known before booking, it’s just how noisy the hotel can be.To be fair, I’d already seen this mentioned in plenty of online reviews beforehand, so we came prepared with earplugs. I’m very glad we did.

The sound insulation is honestly the worst I’ve experienced in a hotel so far. We could clearly hear our neighbours having full conversations, meaning they could probably hear us too. Throughout the night you could also hear people walking along the corridors, doors closing, luggage rolling past and guests returning to their rooms.

If you’re a light sleeper, I’d definitely recommend packing earplugs. For us, it wasn’t a dealbreaker because we expected it, but it’s certainly something worth considering before booking.

Facilities

Although we didn’t use many of the hotel’s facilities ourselves, City Sleeper at Royal National Hotel offers plenty for guests.

There’s a breakfast buffet available to book, two on-site restaurants, a bar, luggage storage and of course the convenience of a 24-hour reception thanks to the size of the hotel.

Since we were out exploring London from morning until evening every day, we mainly used the hotel as a comfortable place to sleep.

Price: Was It Worth It?

We paid €774 (£660) for four nights during the October school holidays. At first glance, that’s certainly not cheap. But then again… this is Central London. You’re mainly paying for one thing: location.

The rooms themselves are comfortable and modern, but this isn’t a luxury hotel with spa facilities or rooftop pools. Instead, you’re paying for the convenience of being able to walk to many of London’s most famous attractions and having excellent public transport connections right outside your door. Considering London hotel prices, I actually think it offers pretty decent value!

Who Would I Recommend This Hotel To?

I think City Sleeper at Royal National Hotel is an excellent choice for:

First-time visitors to London
Families wanting a central base
Anyone who plans to spend most of the day sightseeing rather than staying in the hotel

The location genuinely makes exploring London incredibly easy. Personally, that’s exactly why I booked it. I was travelling with my mum, who hasn’t visited London nearly as often as I have, so I wanted us to stay somewhere within walking distance of the city’s biggest sights without constantly relying on public transport.

If I were travelling on my own, however, I’d probably make a different choice. I’ve visited London many times now and tend to explore neighbourhoods outside the main tourist areas. Because I’m already familiar with the city’s transport network, I’d probably choose a slightly more luxurious hotel a little further from the centre where you generally get much more for your money.

So while I’d absolutely recommend City Sleeper at Royal National Hotel for first-time visitors, repeat visitors may find better value elsewhere depending on the type of trip they’re planning.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed my stay at City Sleeper at Royal National Hotel. The location is fantastic, the renovated rooms are a huge improvement over the older Royal National rooms, and having a separate City Sleeper reception makes the experience feel much calmer despite the hotel’s enormous size.

The biggest downside is definitely the lack of sound insulation, so if you’re a light sleeper, don’t forget to pack earplugs.

Would I stay here again? Yes, if I were travelling with someone visiting London for the first time and wanted to stay right in the heart of the city. If I were travelling solo or looking for a more relaxing hotel experience, I’d probably stay slightly further out and get more luxury for the same budget.⭐ My rating: 4/5 stars.

Ready to Book? If City Sleeper at Royal National Hotel sounds like the right hotel for your London trip, you can book your stay here👉 https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/city-sleeper-at-royal-national.com or https://www.expedia.com/London-Hotels-City-Sleeper-At-Royal-National-Hotel

Xo Bug Girl

Instagram: @thebuggirladventures

Is City Sleeper at the Royal National Hotel Worth It? My Honest Review