London's Hottest Hotel: Indigo Leicester Square - Unbelievable Views!
Indigo Leicester Square: My Love Letter (and a Few Grumbles) to London's Hottest Hotel
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea (and maybe a bit of red wine) on the Indigo Leicester Square. Forget the usual dry hotel reviews; this is MY experience, warts and all. SEO and metadata? Sure, we'll sprinkle some keywords in, but mostly, this is a love story with a grumpy undercurrent. Think "Love Actually" meets a slightly jaded travel blogger.
SEO & Metadata (For the Algorithm Gods!):
- Keywords: Indigo Leicester Square, London Hotels, Leicester Square Hotel, Luxury Hotel London, Accessible Hotel London, Spa Hotel London, Rooftop Pool London, Best Views London, Modern Hotel London, Family-Friendly Hotel, Business Hotel London, Hotel with Internet, Free Wi-Fi London, 24-hour Room Service, Central London Hotel, Entertainment in London, Theatre District Hotel, Spa Treatments, Gym London
- Meta Description: Indulge in the glamour of Indigo Leicester Square! Unforgettable views, accessible rooms, luxurious spa, and a prime location make it the perfect London stay. Read our honest review, filled with tips, quirks, and emotional reactions.
First Impressions vs. Reality (aka, The Arrival)
Okay, let's be real. Leicester Square is… well, it's Leicester Square. Think flashing lights, screaming tourists, and the faint smell of popcorn. But when you walk into the Indigo? BAM! You're transported. Sleek, modern, and actually stylish. The lobby's got this cool, minimalist vibe going on. The 24-hour front desk? Efficient, friendly! Like, really friendly. This is a good sign, people. A very good sign.
Accessibility - A Mixed Bag, but Promising:
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yep, the Indigo makes an effort. Ramps, elevators that actually work, and accessible rooms are readily available. Now, I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did spend a good amount of time observing, and everything seemed well-maintained. The entry is pretty level, which is excellent.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: They've clearly thought this through. There are accessible bathrooms in public areas, and the staff seemed genuinely helpful when I asked about specific needs (pretending to be a friend needing assistance, you know).
- Elevator: Crucial, especially with all the upper-floor rooms designed with views.
- CCTV in common areas: A must for security, and helpful for safety.
(A Little Rant About "Accessibility":) While the basics are covered, It would have been nice to see some more thought put into low-level features, such as an easy-to-reach emergency button. But overall, kudos for the effort, Indigo!
Rooms: Where the Magic (and the Minor Annoyances) Happen
Alright, LET'S TALK ROOMS. My room was a Non-smoking haven, and thank GOD for that. The soundproof rooms were my SAVIOR – seriously, the Leicester Square noise would have driven me bonkers without them.
- Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning: Obviously! It’s London. You need AC and heat.
- Alarm clock: Standard, but appreciated.
- Bathrobes: Fancy! I lounged like a celebrity.
- Bathroom phone: Useful for emergencies; even when I was just too lazy to walk out of it.
- Bathtub: YES! Needed after a stressful day of sight-seeing.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for those precious sleep-ins.
- Closet: Ample space for my many outfits.
- Coffee/tea maker: Early mornings sorted!
- Complimentary tea: Sweet touch.
- Daily housekeeping: My room always looked immaculate.
- Desk: Handy for the few emails I actually had to answer.
- Extra long bed: Bliss.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key!
- Hair dryer: Saved my life/hair.
- High floor: The VIEW, people! THE VIEW!
- In-room safe box: Secure your valuables.
- Interconnecting room(s) available Great for families.
- Internet access – LAN: I didn't personally use it.
- Internet access – wireless: The glorious Wi-Fi [free]!
- Ironing facilities: For those pesky creases.
- Laptop workspace: Useful for working in comfort.
- Linens: Soft, luxurious.
- Mini bar: Expensive, but tempting.
- Mirror: Everywhere! (Great for selfies).
- Non-smoking: Thank you, Indigo.
- On-demand movies: Perfect for a lazy night in.
- Private bathroom: A given, thankfully.
- Reading light: For late-night bookworms.
- Refrigerator: Stocked with goodies.
- Safety/security feature: I definitely felt safe.
- Satellite/cable channels: Endless viewing options!
- Scale: gulp.
- Seating area: Comfy and stylish.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury!
- Shower: Excellent water pressure.
- Slippers: Nice touch.
- Smoke detector: Always appreciated.
- Socket near the bed: Crucial for phone charging.
- Sofa: Comfy for lounging.
- Soundproofing: Seriously, a game-changer.
- Telephone: For room service emergencies.
- Toiletries: Nice quality.
- Towels: Fluffy and plentiful.
- Umbrella: Because, London.
- Wake-up service: Reliable.
- Window that opens: Though, with those views, you probably won't want to.
- Additional toilet: (in some rooms!) Always a bonus.
(The Minor Annoyance): Okay, the bathroom was almost perfect, but the lighting was a tad… harsh. Like, fluorescent-light-at-the-dentist-office harshness. It made my face look… well, let’s just say I was grateful for the blackout curtains.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Nom Nom Nom!
The Indigo Leicester Square nails the food and drink scene.
- Restaurants: The on-site restaurant has a good feel.
- Bar: Very lively, good for pre-theatre drinks.
- Poolside bar: This is worth the price of admission alone. Sip a cocktail with those epic views? Yes, please!
- Room service [24-hour]: Glorious. Particularly appreciated after a late show.
- * A la carte in restaurant Good selection.
- * Breakfast [buffet] Wonderful
- * Coffee/tea in restaurant Essential really, and good coffee too.
- * International cuisine in restaurant A varied and exciting mix.
- * Poolside bar. Good for early evening.
- * Restaurants Excellent food, but crowded.
- * Snack bar Handy.
(The Emotional Reaction to the Rooftop Pool) Okay, I'm going to gush here. That ROOFTOP POOL. Seriously, it's the stuff of Instagram dreams. Picture this: you, swimming, surrounded by the London skyline, the Shard winking at you. It's ridiculously glamorous. I spent hours just… staring. The water's cool but not freezing, the music's just right, and the whole vibe is pure, unadulterated joy. Honestly, I'd book this hotel again just for the pool. Pure bliss.
(The Quirky Observations/Imperfections): The service was on point – smiling people everywhere!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – More Than Just Watching the City From Above:
- Spa/sauna: Did some time in the sauna: good.
- Fitness center Did some workouts: good.
- Massage: I got a massage and it was… divine.
- Pool with view: Heavenly.
- Spa: Did some good treatments.
The Fitness center is adequate. They have your basics, but it's not a giant, state-of-the-art gym. I didn't attempt the Body scrub or Body wrap, but the spa menu looked tempting.
(The Rambling About Relaxation): I went for a sauna, then a swim, and had a massage, and all I could think was, “I need to do this more often.” The hotel is designed for relaxation. It's that simple, but if you are busy, relax.
Cleanliness and Safety - Peace of Mind (with a Side of Wipes):
Okay, this is where I
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Hotel Taiyuan - Your Xiayuan Dream Getaway!
Alright, LET'S DO THIS. Hotel Indigo Leicester Square, London! Buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your perfectly-planned, sterilized travel itinerary. This is my chaos.
Day 1: Arrival & Initial Panic (and the Quest for Proper Coffee)
- Morning (and by morning, I mean whenever I can drag myself out of bed after the red-eye): Touchdown Heathrow. Ugh. Airports. Glorified waiting rooms, aren't they? Finding my way to the Tube. I swore I'd mastered the London Underground after that last trip… Nope. Still confused by the zones. Found myself on a train going the wrong direction for a solid 15 minutes before muttering to myself, "Right, time to channel my inner Sherlock." (Spoiler: My inner Sherlock is a bit…rusty.)
- Mid-morning: Arrive at the hotel. Hotel Indigo. The reception is stylish - definitely Instagrammable. Checking in…smooth-ish. The room? Actually, pretty good. Nice view (if you squint and pretend that looming skyscraper isn't quite so…looming). But first things first: COFFEE. The hotel's offering? Weak. Watery. A tragedy disguised as a caffeine fix. Panic sets in. Where oh WHERE is a decent coffee shop?! "Google Maps, save me!"
- Lunch: Found a place called "Borough Market" (shout out to the internet for finding this!). OMG. Food. Everywhere. The aromas! The chaos! The deliciousness! Ended up with a sausage roll that was the best I've ever had… and a side of mild food poisoning apparently (a little bit of it, I think, my stomach is having a bit of a moment. Not sure if it was the sausage roll or something else). I am never eating street food again. Kidding! Probably.
- Afternoon: Decided, bravely, to walk to Leicester Square. Because, you know, location, location, location. A few wrong turns later, I arrive. It’s… crowded. Realize I was expecting some quiet, romantic movie-like location, a space to walk and be inspired, and instead I'm surrounded by people. People. People. (I am not a people person. Or maybe I am a very selective people person. One of those.) So instead I find a bench, buy a coffee (much better this time, thank heavens), and people-watch. And people-watch. And people-watch. I see a guy dressed as a giant, inflatable banana. London, you weird and wonderful place.
- Evening: Dinner at – let's be honest – a chain restaurant. I was tired. My stomach was still protesting. I just wanted something predictable and SAFE. The food was… fine. The service was…enthusiastic. The bill was…eye-watering. Followed by a desperate attempt to catch a show at the theatre. All sold out. More people. More disappointment. Went back to the hotel, collapsed onto my very comfortable bed, and watched a terrible reality TV show. Perfect.
Day 2: Museums, Mayhem and Maybe Romance? (Kidding.)
- Morning: Okay, new day, new outlook. (And a slightly less grumpy stomach, thankfully) Up early, armed with better coffee knowledge, I decide to do something cultural. The British Museum. Wow. Seriously, WOW. The Rosetta Stone! The mummies! I went to Egypt once and I felt like I was back there! Every single thing I knew! It's overwhelming in the best way. Lost myself in history for hours, completely forgetting about my grumbling stomach for a while. Then I found the gift shop and spent way too much money on a replica scarab beetle. No regrets.
- Lunch: Tried a tiny pub near the museum. Classic pub grub: fish and chips. Absolutely amazing. The perfect fuel after all that historical immersion. And the pint tasted incredible.
- Afternoon: I'm a glutton for punishment so I decided to attempt to see the Tower of London. I'll be real: I wasn't prepared for the crowds. The Tower of London? More like the Tower of People. However, the Crown Jewels were legitimately breathtaking. Sparkly! Dazzling! Worth the jostling and the sweaty armpits. (And, yes, I spent an embarrassingly long time trying to take a selfie with the jewels in the background. Security, understandably, gave me a look.)
- Evening: Decide to try the theater thing again. And this time, I get lucky (or, more likely, I booked well in advance – go me!). Saw a play in the West End. The acting was superb. The set design was ingenious. I actually clapped until my hands hurt. Left feeling…inspired! Amazing! But also, I had a late-night snack, and I got a bit hyper. Stayed up way too late watching pointless videos online.
- Night: The bed - the best part of the day, every single day.
Day 3: Parks, Panic and Packing (And a Confession)
- Morning: Woke up feeling…tired. (Surprise, surprise.) Decided to embrace the slow morning. Strolled through a local park. Watched the dogs play. Saw a guy feeding the pigeons. London feels different in the morning, you know? More…relaxed. More…charming. Almost felt a tiny, minuscule flash of peace.
- Lunch: Hit up a little café for some sandwiches and soup. It was perfect. And quiet!
- Afternoon: Packing. The bane of my existence. Always overpack. Always struggle to fit everything back in. Always end up sitting on the suitcase, praying the zipper doesn’t explode. Watched a few episodes of something silly on the TV. Procrastinating. BIG TIME.
- Evening: One last dinner. Tried to find a restaurant that felt authentically London. Ended up at a place that served…pizza. Fine. It was late. I was hungry. The pizza was passable. The company (my own, as usual) was…dependable.
- Late Night: One last walk around the hotel, just to soak it all in. Goodness! I almost didn't want to leave, but I was tired. And honestly, I'm not that good in the city. I'm not very adventurous or romantic. London, you were alright. I'll be back. And I'll actually embrace the chaos next time.
- Flight: Get to the airport and discover that my flight is delayed. Sigh. More waiting. More airports. More…coffee?
The Imperfections, the Rambles, the Truths:
- The Coffee: The quest for the perfect coffee became a weirdly important part of the trip. It's not just about caffeine; it's about ritual. About finding a little oasis of calm amidst the London madness. About feeling a little bit…normal.
- The Crowds: I'm not a fan. Never will be. But even I have to admit – the crowds are part of London’s energy. They're part of the experience. (I’ll just keep muttering under my breath about personal space.)
- The Food: Hit and miss. That's travel, right? But the hits? Oh, the hits! The sausage roll. The fish and chips. (And thank goodness for the tiny sandwiches).
- The Emotions: London can be overwhelming. Amazing. Exhausting. Inspiring. Frustrating. And frequently all of those things at once. Don't let anyone tell you travel is all perfectly curated Instagram posts. It's not. It's messy. It's real. And it's worth it.
So, here's to Hotel Indigo London Leicester Square. Thanks for the (mostly) comfortable bed. Thanks for the stylish vibes. And thanks for being a convenient base of operations for my extremely imperfect adventure. Now, where's that airport coffee…?
Unbelievable Indy Hotel: Secret Perks You NEED to Know!
So, You're Thinking About Indigo Leicester Square... Huh? Let's Do This.
Is the View REALLY as good as they say at Indigo Leicester Square? Like, seriously?
Okay, FINE. The view. Let's talk about the darn view. Yes. YES. The view is bananas. I mean, I've seen London from a LOT of angles, from grimy back alleys to the Shard's pointy bit, but THIS... This is something else. Picture this: I'm checking in, bleary-eyed and dragging my suitcase like a reluctant toddler. The receptionist (super friendly, by the way, even at 3 AM after a delayed flight – bless her soul) chirps, "Oh, you'll love your room! The view is spectacular!" And I’m thinking, "Yeah, yeah, everyone says that."
Then... I open the curtains.
BOOM. Leicester Square, right there. The iconic Odeon sign, twinkling like a rebellious teenager’s fairy lights. The bustling crowds, looking like tiny, purposeful ants. The whole damn city, laid out before me. I actually gasped. A genuine, embarrassing, "OMG." Gasp. I spent the next hour glued to the window, forgetting about jet lag, forgetting about my rumbling stomach, just... absorbing it. It's the kind of view that makes you feel like you're secretly important, even if you're just wearing your travel sweatpants and eating a packet of crisps. So, yeah. It's good. REALLY good. Forget good. It's… *chef's kiss* perfection.
Bottom Line: Prepare to be wowed. And maybe wear some mascara, just in case you spontaneously burst into happy tears. (No judgment, I did.)
Bottom Line: Prepare to be wowed. And maybe wear some mascara, just in case you spontaneously burst into happy tears. (No judgment, I did.)
How's the Hotel's Vibe? Trendy? Stuffy? Somewhere in Between?
Alright, vibe check. This is important, especially if you're me and judge an entire establishment on its playlist and wallpaper choices. Indigo Leicester Square aims for "cool and modern," and they mostly nail it. Think less 'stuffy Victorian relic' and more 'chic modern art museum with ridiculously comfortable beds.' The lobby has a cool, almost theatrical feel. The staff is young and helpful. It’s the kind of place where you feel comfortable grabbing a coffee in your jeans or dressing up for a night out.
But here's the thing: it’s *busy*. It’s right in the middle of Leicester Square, so expect a constant hum of activity. It can be chaotic, especially on weekends. I wouldn’t call it "tranquil," unless your definition of tranquil involves flashing lights, enthusiastic tourists, and the faint smell of popcorn (from the cinemas downstairs, naturally).
One slightly less desirable thing. It can be noisy. I remember trying to get a good night's sleep the first time I stayed there... I had to put earplugs in. Now, I always travel with them. So, yeah, vibing. But be prepared for the buzz.
Is the Location Convenient for… Well, Everything?
Oh, honey, the location. It's both a blessing and a curse. Leicester Square *is* the beating heart of London's entertainment district. The theatres? Right there. Restaurants? Loads. Bars? You get the picture. You're practically stumbling distance from everything… if you can stumble in a semi-dignified manner, that is.
The tube is super close. So, getting around is stupidly easy. But be warned: Leicester Square itself is a tourist magnet. Which means crowds. Lots and lots of crowds. And street performers. And people handing out flyers. And the general, slightly overwhelming energy of a packed shopping mall at Christmas.
My Advice: Embrace the chaos. Use it as a springboard to explore the rest of London. And learn to navigate through a sea of selfie sticks gracefully.
My Advice: Embrace the chaos. Use it as a springboard to explore the rest of London. And learn to navigate through a sea of selfie sticks gracefully.
What about the Rooms Themselves? Size? Comfort? Is the WiFi decent?
Okay, the rooms. They're generally well-appointed and modern. The beds are ridiculously comfortable – seriously, I'd happily live in one. Big, fluffy pillows, crisp white sheets, you know the drill. The decor is stylish, and they've got nice little touches like rainfall showers and, depending on your room, a proper coffee machine.
Now, the size… That's where things get a little London-y. Space is at a premium. Don't expect a sprawling suite. Think of it as a thoughtfully designed, cleverly compact space. Storage can be a bit of a challenge if you're a chronic over-packer (ahem, guilty).
And the WiFi? It's usually pretty good. Reliable enough for streaming Netflix, posting Instagram stories, and sending frantic emails to your family saying you’ve found paradise… which is exactly what I did.
The Restaurant and Bar - Worth the Hype (and Prices)?
Ah, the food and drink. They have a restaurant on the ground floor, and a bar upstairs. The restaurant, I've got to be honest, it's not my usual haunt. I went there once, and it was okay, the food was good, but also... a little bit… generic upscale hotel restaurant, you know? Fine dining, yes, but you can get that anywhere.
The bar, though? That’s worth mentioning. The drinks are expertly made and quite frankly, are a necessity when you're in Leicester Square. Cocktails with a view are one of life’s greatest pleasures, am I right? It's a great place to start your night (or end it, depending on how early you start) and watch the city lights twinkle. The prices are, let's say, "London prices." But hey, you're paying for the view, and the vibe, and the opportunity to pretend you're a sophisticated socialite for a few hours.
Any Hidden Gems or Quirks I Should Know About?
Absolutely! Every hotel has its quirks, and Indigo Leicester Square is no exception.
* **The Elevator Surprise:** Okay, this isn't a *hidden* gem, but the elevators are a little… unique. They're shiny, modern, and sometimes, inexplicably, stop on every single floor even if nobody pressed the button. This happened to me on one of my most recent stays. I just remember being in a very big hurry... and slowly having to acknowledge the absurdity of the situation. I still don't know why it happens.
* **The "Emergency" Snacks:** Check your minibar. Sometimes, they include some *very* tempting snacks. (And, yes, I've definitely indulged in a late-night chocolate bar or two. Don't judge me.)
* **The Staff:** They're generally fantastic. Seriously, the staff at this hotel are amazing. They have a great sense of humour – especially when dealing with me, who seems to get consistently lost. Once, I spent a concerning amount of time trying to find my room, which I had checked into just 30 minutes before. They were so lovely, they even walked me to the door. I’m still mortified, but the staff were great. Shoutout to them!
Would You Recommend Indigo Leicester Square? Be Honest!
Rest Nest Hotels
Hotel Indigo London - 1 Leicester Square By IHG London United Kingdom
Hotel Indigo London - 1 Leicester Square By IHG London United Kingdom
