The Dilly

The hotel is renowned for its unbeatable central location right at Piccadilly Circus, making it an ideal base for exploring London's major attractions, theatres, and shopping areas on foot or via nearby public transport. The staff are frequently praised for their exceptional friendliness and attentiveness, often going above and beyond to enhance guest stays. While the hotel boasts a charming historic ambiance and spacious rooms, many reviews note that the decor in some areas, particularly the rooms, appears tired and dated, suggesting a need for refurbishment. The excellent breakfast and the presence of a well-equipped gym and pool are also recurring positive themes. This hotel is ideal for sightseers, theatre-goers, shoppers, and families due to its central position and room sizes. Couples also find it suitable for a romantic getaway. To enhance your stay, guests should be aware of potential elevator wait times due to frequent outages and inquire about room views, as some overlook construction sites or have limited natural light.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers a range of facilities, including a well-equipped gym spread across multiple floors with modern machines, and a swimming pool that is often praised for its size and dedicated lane for lengths. Some guests, however, found the pool area less inviting or the water temperature too cool. The lobby area is frequently admired for its stunning decor, often adorned with fresh flowers, and provides complimentary water and sweets. While free Wi-Fi is available, some guests reported weak signals. A recurring issue is the reliability of the elevators, with one or two often being out of service, leading to long wait times and inconvenience, especially for guests on higher floors. Rooms typically include a Nespresso machine and kettle, though some guests noted the absence of a fully stocked minibar.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on room comfort is mixed, with many praising the comfortable beds and spacious rooms, often noting them as large for London standards. However, a significant number of reviews highlight that rooms appear tired and dated, with issues such as worn carpets, chipped paint, grubby walls, and non-working plugs or light switches. Noise levels are a frequent concern, stemming from street noise, banging doors in corridors, and sounds from neighboring rooms. A major point of contention is the air conditioning, which many guests reported as not functioning properly or being loud, often leaving rooms uncomfortably warm as windows typically do not open or offer limited views. Bathrooms are consistently described as old, outdated, and sometimes small, with issues like stained tiles, leaking showers, poor water pressure, and a lack of ventilation.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast experience receives widespread praise, described as excellent with a wide selection of both hot and cold items, including freshly made omelets and a variety of pastries, fruits, and cereals. Guests appreciate the beautiful terrace restaurant setting where breakfast is served. The hotel features an on-site Indian restaurant, Madhu's, which is highly recommended for its food quality and atmosphere. The bar areas are generally well-regarded for their ambiance and cocktail offerings, though one review mentioned a rodent issue in the bar adjacent to the restaurant. Room service, however, garners mixed to negative feedback, with some guests reporting it as mediocre, slow, or even failing to deliver orders, and others finding the options overpriced.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is consistently highlighted as its strongest asset, placing guests directly at Piccadilly Circus. This prime spot offers easy walking access to numerous major London attractions, including theatreland, Regent Street shopping, Trafalgar Square, and Covent Garden. The convenience of having a tube station (Piccadilly Circus) just a minute's walk away is frequently mentioned, providing excellent connectivity to other parts of the city and direct links to Heathrow Airport. While the location is ideal for pedestrians and public transport users, some guests noted that it can be congested for taxis or ride-sharing services. Parking is available but is often described as difficult and expensive.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise for their exceptional friendliness, helpfulness, and attentiveness. Many guests highlight individual staff members who went above and beyond, providing warm welcomes, quick check-ins, and personalized assistance. The team is noted for their professionalism and willingness to accommodate requests, often making guests feel special through complimentary room upgrades or thoughtful gestures like decorating rooms for birthdays and anniversaries with balloons, flowers, and treats. Guests appreciate the proactive service from concierge and front desk staff, who offer local advice and ensure a comfortable stay, even in challenging circumstances.

Additional Information
Guests frequently comment on the hotel's overall condition, noting that despite its historic charm, many areas, particularly the rooms, appear tired and in need of refurbishment. There are mentions of ongoing construction projects nearby, which can lead to noise and vibrations in some rooms, impacting guest comfort. While the hotel is marketed as a five-star establishment, a significant number of guests feel that the current condition and certain aspects of service do not consistently meet five-star expectations, often rating it closer to a three or four-star experience. The hotel is generally accommodating with early check-in and luggage storage, and some guests appreciate the pet-friendly policy, though finding suitable outdoor areas for pets can be a challenge.