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Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
I recently visited London and had the pleasure of staying at the Hyatt Regency London, The Churchill for 5 nights to start my trip off. It’s been a hotel on my list for quite some time, and the stars aligned on this past trip to stay here. Why? I hit Globalist status, had suite upgrades to apply, and the hotel was offering a stay 2 nights get a 3rd night free, and Hyatt began a triple points promo right before I check in. Long story short, I earned a grip of points, enjoyed a suite, and locked in a rate around $300 a night. A great deal in central London.
One thing I want to take special note of was the service – absolutely impeccable, personal, and noteworthy. I’d return just for this reason alone.
Stay Details
- When: August 2021
- Where: London, UK
- Length: 5 nights
- Room: Base room upgraded to Regency King Suite with Globalist Suite Upgrade
- Status: Globalist
- Benefits:
- Breakfast
- 4pm late checkout
- Regency Club access – closed but other amenities provided
- Points earned: 28,850 ( triple points promo running )
- I’d value these between $500 and $550 ( 1.7 to 2 cents a piece )
- You could book for 25k points a night since this is a Hyatt category 6 property
The Location
Fantastic location facing Portman Square which is a private, key access, just a couple of blocks away from Oxford Street and Selfridge’s. A month prior I stayed at the Hilton Biltmore on Grosvenor Square and this is virtually the same neighborhood just north of Oxford instead of South. Nearby train stations are easily accessible and there are plenty of dining options, including Nobu across the street, and Selfridge’s food court nearby. On that note…I’d highly recommend Mercato which is a restored church that now serves as a gourmet food court.
The Lobby + Check In
My wife checked in for us prior to my arrival and was given keys to the room, from what she said it was swift, benefits explained, and she was impressed. Once I arrived, having only seen the hotel from the exterior, I was thoroughly impressed, as were my parents who were staying in their own suite on the same floor. Not that the exterior of the hotel isn’t impressive, but it pales in comparison with the upscale vibe the interior exudes, which is probably the finest Hyatt Regency I’ve been inside of…much more akin to a Grand Hyatt than a Hyatt Regency in my opinion.
The Room – Regency King Suite
I mentioned I’d applied a Globalist Suite upgrade – I executed this via email with my Hyatt Concierge who applied the suite upgrade. Part of me thought I’d receive an additional upgrade, seeing as though better suites were available over my stay, and I carry top tier status, but alas, I didn’t receive any further upgrades.
The Suite is better characterized as a Junior Suite than a One Bedroom since there aren’t any doors that separate the living from the sleeping space which I found to be kind of a lost opportunity. I’d imagine many travelers coming to London are suffering from a bit of jetlag and if those travelers are with anyone else, having a space that is separate is really advantageous in the middle of the night.
I also think, for the price point, around $300 the room is great and competes. However, if you compare it to what the rates can often climb up to, $500+, the hotel feels a bit tired when compared to say the Biltmore, Marriott Park Lane, Edition, or the new Scotland Yard
Entering the suite, you’ll notice a small collection of Churchill themed books and some wipes
The Living room
Total square footage is 550 give or take and living room features a normal sized couch alongside a flat screen tv.
Nespresso machine…they left me a TON of pods – I was pretty jetlagged lol. Water was also delivered in the morning and prior to bed during turn down. The coffee cups featured Churchill’s profile
The Bedroom
Another flat screen tv, a writing desk, and luggage rack
The writing desk
There was one international plug; however, it didn’t work.
The closet
Robes, hairdriery, safe, and drawer space. For a 550sq ft room, it was an impressive closet.
The Bathroom
Tons of space, a great separate tub and shower, and it also features an old school bidet. While the shower had good pressure and featured a rain shower, whenever they renovate the property I think a reconfiguration could be helpful.
One thing that would be a great improvement would be a dual vanity sink. While a single suffices for a standard room, if you’re offering a Suite, which this one regularly retails $800-$1k a night, it makes it a bit crowded as a couple at this price point.
Regency Club
The Regency Club was closed due to Covid, and instead, they offered breakfast downstairs and an evening canape and drinks selection.
The evening drinks and canapes…
Each night there was a slightly different selection and was definitely something to enjoy. Was it a legitimate meal replacement? I suppose it comes down to how much you’re accustomed to eating, for me personally, it was a light snack prior to a real meal
Breakfast
A great benefit of staying on the club floor or having Globalist status was the inclusion of breakfast in the rate. Both my room and my parents, since they were in a suite as well, had complimentary access.
Breakfast was offered as a combination of buffet and hot egg selections you could order from the wait staff.
Each day I also ordered an omelette was was very well done.
The Gym
Small but sufficient. It seems to be that they converted a guest room. For a hotel this size, I’d have assumed they had a better gym, but perhaps when this hotel is updated in the future it will be enhanced.
The Churchill Bar
I couldn’t recommend this bar enough whether you’re staying on property or not. It has an incredible vice, great cocktails, and an impressive old school vibe.
Overall
I’d return in a heartbeat especially at these prices. In fact, if you’re carrying a Chase Sapphire Reserve, as my parents were, the rate for a Suite was just 30k points a night when factoring in the 3rd night free. How do you beat that really? Downside as they didn’t earn any points. For me…paying direct to the hotel, getting a 3rd night free ( oddly Prive wasn’t offering this rate ) made a ton of sense. I paid $1500 out of pocket for a 5 night stay, and recouped over $500 in point value on the stay, plus added 5 elite nights. You may be wondering why I didn’t book 6 nights and take advantage of 2 3rd night free promos. The 3rd night free promo, started on my 3rd night of the stay, so my first two nights didn’t count.
If you’re looking for a centrally located Hyatt property with good sized rooms, I’d certainly consider this option.
Alcohol can indeed be an “incredible vice”, LoL
Love this hotel and agree about the bar. Makes me really miss my go-to London lodging and all the fantastic places within walking distance. Nice review!