Ibis London Earls Court, London

I stay at the IBIS Earls court about 4 or 5 times a year as i occasionally work in London. It is a big, grey building and maybe does not look that appealing from the ouside, but read on and i will explain why it is well worth staying at, whether you are in London for business or pleasure...

The exterior

As i mentioned, the IBIS is a little drab looking on the outside. The grey building would not appear to appealing on a rainy January day. There are a set of revolving doors at the front (be careful if you have had too much wine!) and a large car park to the rear.

The reception area

The first thing that strikes you when you enter the IBIS is the large chandelier in the lobby, it really is impressive but does not make you feel out of place if you have just arrived in your jeans. There is a seating area in the middle, with newspapers and information on attractions in the local area. The couches are comfortable but you will be lucky if you get one as they are usually all taken. There is a small bar to the right which serves botled beers, wine, juices and tea and coffee. The check in area is to the left and always seems to be quite crowded, you may have to wait 10- 15 minutes before you are dealt with. However, check in time is swift and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. There is no porter service as standard. You can request a daily newspaper, extra tea, coffee and fresh milk( if you cant stand the little plastic tubs of "Tastes just like milk"!) toothpaste, brushes etc... at the reception and they always appear happy to oblige. 8 meeting rooms are located in the hotel and they can provide seating for up to 1200 people. There is also free WIFI access for guests staying on business purposes.

The rooms

There are 504 rooms at this IBIS and also 2 handicapped rooms which are on the first floor.
The rooms are large and spacious and typically comprise of a double bed, bedside tables, dressing table with large lights, small table with two chairs, tea, coffee and hot chocolate making facilities, extra bed linen, large double wardrobes with trouser press, hairdryers and the obligitary Gideons bible.
On the dressing table, there are menus for the hotels restaurant and information on attractions around London.

The bathrooms are also large, with WC, sink, bath and shower (this IBIS has baths but i have stayed in the Euston IBIS before that only had showers). You are supplied with shower gel and shampoo in little sachets although i have never used them -i dont smell, i just bring my own! There is also small tablets of handsoap. Towels are provided and changed daily if you wish, however they are a little on the small side.
Most of the rooms i have had have had a view of the car park. This doesnt bother me in the slightest but it would maybe not be for you if you like a nice view.
The rooms always appear nice and clean and the maid service usually comes round about 9 - 10 in the morning to replace towels, tea coffee etc... However they do respect the Do not disturb signs if you leave them out.

The restaurant

The restaurant is big, airy and serves a buffet menu. There are plenty of tables, with the food in the middle of them all.
Breakfast - Breakfast is served from 4am til noon, with a chioce of continental - Croissants, cold meats and cheeses, yoghurt, fruit etc.. or Full english - Sausages, bacon, mushrooms etc... try the scrambled eggs, they are to die for! There are 2 tea and coffee making machines and 2 juice machines (orange and grapefruit) and you can drink as much as you like. The food is plentiful, piping hot and topped up regularly.
Dinner - Dinner is served every evening between 7pm and 10.30pm. Dinners in the restaurant are usually comprised of cold meat/ cheese platters, hot soups etc... To be honest, the restaurant seems very overpriced ( around £8 for a buffet platter) and never seems to be very busy. Most people prefer to eat at the bar, from the bar snacks menu

The bar

The bar is always very busy, but you can usually find a seat somewhere. The bar snacks menu is very extensive and they serve sandwiches, steaks, chicken dishes etc... I had the Chicken caesar salad last time i went which was a very large portion with plenty of grilled chicken for a very reasonable £5.95.
The food is quick to arrive (10 minutes) and service with a smile is guaranteed.
The bar is very relaxing, with the lighting turned down low and intimate and plenty of little cosy booths and corners.
However, the bar prices are astronomical! But i do live in the midlands where prices are a lot cheaper than London, so maybe this is the norm down south? Expect to pay £5 + for a glass of white wine and £3+ for a pint of lager. The only thing that softens the blow is the free popcorn and twiglets that you can help yourself to at the ends of the bar.

Room service is also available 24 hours a day and comprises of most of the meals on the bar menu.

The Staff

The staff at the IBIS are a really friendly bunch of people. There are many people with many different nationalities working there which makes for some really interesting conversation if you are a late night bar straggler! Nothing appears to be too much trouble and you are always greeted with a warm and friendly smile (even at 4 in the morning). They will willingly call you a taxi and have a good knowledge of local tube lines and London attractions.

Other info

The IBIS is located 500m from the Earls court exhibition centre and therefore can get very busy when there is a particularly popular event on there. It is about 2 minutes from West Brompton station and 5 minutes from Earls court station.
It is an ideal base to explore London as Buckingham palace, Madame Tussuads, Marble Arch and the Science museum are all very accessible from here. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in the near vicinity, including an amazing chinese restaurant at the end of the road.
Prices are typical for a London hotel. Expect to pay between £60-£80 for one night midweek, more at weekends.

The Hotel IBIS Earls Court is located at:
47 Lillie Road
Earls Court
London SW6 1UD

0207 6100880

Andrea x