My famly and I (two adults three children) stayed for two nights at 51 Buckingham Gate on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th January 2007. This hotel is an apart hotel and I thought would be great for my kids aged 10, 8 and 6. The apartments themselves are a good size and are made up of two bedroom, two bathrooms, lounge/dining area and a small kitchen. From the website it looks incredibly plush but the rooms we had whilst adequate were pretty tired and the bathroms a wee bit of a throw back to the 80's. We asked for an extra bed in one of the bedrooms and this was not there when we arrived. It did appear on request but was set up in the lounge and with a little effort, my wife and I managed to get it to fit comfortably into one of the bedrooms, why the housekeeping staff did not do this I do not know. The restaurants attached to the aparthotel are not particularly family friendly and are very expensive. On the website they also said there would be a gift for our kids, bathrobes for our kids , tv console games and colouring pencils and books for the kids none of which materialised. Having said all that I would stay again and if you decide to book, make sure you insist on a recently refurbished room.

Was in London with family for 4 days/nights at end of Sept. Booked a lovely 2 bedroom suite with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a large living room. Apartment contained 1 master with king bed and bath, other room had a queen with bath (shower only). We had a small kitchen which was well stocked and had an oven, toaster, microwave, etc. Also had a washer/dryer which was nice as we were able to do our son's laundry. Relative to other hotels in London where I stayed for work before, the apartment was huge by London standards. We were on the 4th floor so we cleared the buildings around us. Although no real views, we did get sunshine in the morning which was nice treat. Although the apartment could have used some renovating (some areas looked worn), it was still cozy and comfortable. We were able to stock up and eat breakfast in the apartment which was nice since our 2 year old son felt like he was at home. The staff were very helpful in any requests. Maid service twice a day. Linens and towels were very high quality. Molton Brown products were restocked every morning. We enjoyed our stay at 51 Buckingham and would suggest to anyone with small children. Location was great, short walk to Victoria station where one could get the tube or buses and cabs were abundant.

Our family of four visited London the week after Christmas and we spent five wonderful days at 51 Buckingham Gate. From the moment we arrived, the staff treated our family, and especially our two girls (ages 8 and 11) like VIPs. A doorman descended on the car to take our bags, two staff from reception welcomed us and the butler showed us to our two-bedroom apartment. Before long, our jet-lagged family was relaxing in the library with the breakfast buffet. A great way to start the holiday! We chose 51 Buckingham gate based on location, reviews and the value for the money. Our two-bedroom apartment was large by any standard, huge by London standards. The sitting room was over 500 sq. ft. and had plenty of room for a family to stretch out and relax. Each bedroom easily accommodated the very comfy queen-sized beds plus furniture. I notified the hotel in advance that we had kids and they had kid-sized robes and small gifts waiting for them. The baths were of standard size for London. linens and towels were of high quality. Our kitchen included an oven, microwave, four-burner stove, toaster, two types of coffee makers, a clothes washer/dryer and even a breadbox! Dishes and utensils for four were supplied although I’m sure they would provide whatever is needed. The staff at the hotel is truly among the best I’ve experienced. Sergio, the head butler is kind, helpful and clearly loves his job. He can be Jeeves one minute and the kind-hearted grandfather the next. My kids fell in love with him! My daughters got up early one morning and I found them in their little robes getting breakfast served in the library by an obviously happy Sergio – an image that will certainly stay with me! The concierge staff, led by Nelson, is great and their suggestions saved us considerable time at the various tourist attractions(they got us first-row balcony seats for the Lion King among other things). Correspondence with the hotel and concierge staff in advance of our visit was returned very quickly and professionally. Day or night, the hotel responded to all questions and requests promptly. For a family trip or long stay in London, 51 Buckingham Gate is wonderful. We had a rate of 335 pounds/night (from the hotel’s web site) which is comparable to the cost of two double rooms at other four or five star hotels. Considering the additional space and kitchen, it looks like a much better value. Having the kitchen likely saved us 80 pounds a day on dining costs – and after a long day out, the kids much preferred a pizza and DVD to a restaurant meal. The amenities provided by the Crowne Plaza across the courtyard appeared to be sufficient although we didn’t have time to use the exercise or spa facilities. On any future trips to London, our family will look no further than 51 Buckingham Gate.

51 Buckingham Gate is located a block from Buckingham Palace adjacent to the Crowne Plaza, although it is treated as a separate facility. You enter a small courtyard through a private gated entrance. There are three buildings. We were lead into the center one containing a small reception area and shown a 'library' where you take meals/tea. We were then escorted to the front building to our rooms. The entrances are ordinary rather than luxurious and the elevator is very slow. We had a two bedroom suite, which was actually a one bedroom suite interconnecting to a junior suite. The junior suite is brilliant.. a small sitting area and tiny kitchen separated from a king-bedded room by glass doors. The color scheme is attractive.. the kitchen quite impressive.. but the rooms need more light, the contemporary furniture is uncomfortable and the magnificent bath is quite chilly. The one bedroom suite has a large well equipped kitchen complete with a washer-dryer and the hotel provided complimentary cereal, milk, bottled water etc. Unfortunately, the living area is too small (half the size of the kitchen) and again the contemporary furniture is uncomfortable. The beds are comfortable with nice linen and there is plenty of closet space. While the rooms had their pros and cons, the hotel staff is wonderful. From the moment we made our reservations, the concierge was offering us assistance. Everyone is very kind and very attentive. Our rate through Virtuoso included breakfast and we chose to eat in the 'library'. The staff was fantastic.. handling our every request.. I simply cannot say enough about how good the service was at this hotel. The hotel is also very private. Each floor contains 4-5 suites.. we rarely ran into people except in the library. Some 'celebrities' were staying in the hotel and they were treated graciously without fuss or fanfare, dining among us like 'ordinary people'. So here's how I would boil it down: Location is good.. close to Buckingham Palace.. although very quiet. Covent Garden is the current happening spot where you'll find people walking about at all hours. Westminister is very quiet in the evening but quite convenient. The facility: the hotel is very nice. It is contemporary not traditional so if you're looking for 'old' London.. this is not it. Nor is this not a hip hotel. Nothing boutique about it. You get something more like a luxury apartment.. very nice space and a kitchen for your money. While 51 doesn't have a bar, you can walk into Crowne Plaza for its bar and its restaurants too. The service: exceptional. Truly exceptional. One other observation: this is a great location for families because of the apartment style living. The staff is very kind to children... has a free DVD library for them to sort through...and handled the kids who turned up at meals very well. Value: London is terribly expensive right now. We paid nearly gbp500 a night (around $850 a night). Yes, we found that a bit pricey. We were offered a two bedroom suite at the Baglioni (chic luxury) for gbp430, the Durley (traditional) gbp270, the Langham (traditional) gbp400, the Landmark (traditional luxury) gbp525 and the Soho (boutique luxury) gbp725 to give you a comparison. In hindsight, we might have opted for less expensive alternative (Durley or Baglioni) given how little time we spent in our rooms. Good luck with your travel plans!

We arrived quite late - spending 2 nights...hotel is a member of Virtuoso so we took advantage of their amenities, i.e., one way airport transfer (arrival for us), daily breakfast, 1 afternoon tea, 1 30 minute spa treatment, tkts for the London Eye.. We stayed in one of their jr suites - nice modern decor - fully equipped kitchen, large bathroom. Was able to visit one of their 1 bedrooms too - 900 square feet! Hotel is located in a Victorian coach court - right across from the Crowne Plaza and their spa - signing privelages allowed. Very helpful concierge... Hotel is located in Westminister area - walking distance to Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben... recommend: we ate at Pizza Express around the corner - great little restaurant - relatively reasonable for London these days. right outside of the hotel to the left can be purchased underground/bus passes - nearby Spar market. This is a definite recommend operation - great for long or short stays...

We went to London with our 5 and 9 year old children for the second week in February. Perfect time to visit London (a little cold, but the daffodils are blooming). The best part was this hotel. It is apartments with a full service concierge. This hotel is also in the perfect loction, 2 blocks to Buckinham Palace. We walked with our children to the London Eye, Aquarium, Westminster Abby, to many things. The concierge was so helpful, told me about a little supermarket a few blocks away. We were able to cook our own meals or order room service - we did both. The front desk got us wonderful seats at the Palladium to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, tickets for the London Eye, always asking us if we needed anything. The rooms were huge. Our apartment had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a separate den, dining area and kitchen. Great place to relax after a day of touring. All rooms were spacious, modern and clean. We have traveled quite a bit. And, this hotel is at the top of my list for places to return. This is an excellent choice for families!

Location was very good. The standard of service was high and place was very friendly. Unfortunately, the decoration of the rooms (very dark - too many cold colours) and woefully inadequate heating both in the bedrooms, sitting rooms and in bathrooms during the recent cold spell had conspired to let the place down. The gym is small - and the cardiovascular workout equipment dated.