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Part of the huge Imperial London Hotels chain, the Tavistock Hotel offers 395 rooms at reasonable rates one block North of Russell Square, overlooking lovely Tavistock Square. All six Imperial hotels are located around the British Museum, though we preferred the Tavistock, as it seems large enough to offer a wide range of services, yet small enough to seem personal.
The large lobby and reception area dons a bit of retro charm, mixing deco elements with hints of the '70s. Upstairs, smoking floors (1-4) look like they fell asleep in 1972 and never woke up -- we're talking about unintentional retro here. Rooms are simply furnished and baths are bare-basic, but they work. On the nonsmoking floors (5-8), however, rooms are have been freshened up with new furnishings, carpets, wallpaper, and bedspreads. We would definitely recommend a room on a higher floor, specifically one overlooking the quiet park.
The Tavistock welcomes back an eclectic mix of regulars. We understand why -- it's unassuming, kind of retro, pretty cheap, and quite convenient. During the London subway and bus attacks of July 2005, a bomb exploded directly outside the hotel on Tavistock Square. And still, staff members remain upbeat and optimistic. We like this place.
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