This review relates to the London Marriott Marble Arch which is, in fact, just off Edgware Road, about 5 minutes walk from Marble Arch. The Marriott which is situated at Marble Arch is actually called the London Marriott Park Lane. We stayed at the hotel for two nights whilst in London for an art exhibition and a show.

Having cleared that up, the walk down Edgware Road takes just 5 minutes and was interesting. As other reviewers have commented, this is very much the Middle Eastern area of London but it was actually fascinating to walk past the various cafes where men were smoking Middle Eastern pipes and drinking their tea/coffees. The Marriott is also geared to the Middle Eastern market with the “Do Not Disturb” door signs also having a message on them in Arabic. Whilst there were a number of Middle Eastern guests staying at the hotel whilst we were there, many of them seemed to be air crew on a stop over.

The hotel is smart and well furnished and the standard room was pretty typical Marriott. The bathroom, as others have commented, was very small and only just big enough for one person at a time. All the plumbing worked well and heating in the bedroom was efficient as part of the air conditioning system. We heard very little noise in our room. On one occasion, there were guests talking by the lift for a short while and we could hear a rumble of traffic noise outside but nothing more apart from the occasional siren of an emergency vehicle.

We ate at the restaurant both nights and the food was very good and staff excellent. After taking our room number on the first night, the waitress then used our name throughout the evening. On the second night, she did not ask the room number but then went on to use our name anyway. Breakfast was the usual Marriott buffet with a very good choice across cold, fruit, cereals, pastries and cooked food.

Reception was mixed. We had asked for an early check in and had no problem when we arrived at around 11.30am and were dealt with very efficiently. The day before we left, we asked whether a late checkout was possible. We were told that there was a £50 charge to extend from 12 noon to 3pm so declined. We were then offered an extension to 1pm on a complimentary basis. At checkout, the receptionist seemed to have problems with her computer and kept us waiting for some time and just kept repeating “just a minute”. Her name was Tonya Semkina and we were not impressed. She seemed to be having an off day and she was the only weak link amongst the rest of the staff in the hotel who were generally excellent. It then took her another 5 or 6 minutes to try and resolve a query about an over charge on the bill but in the end, we gave up and left and had to take up with the hotel by email after we arrived home and they were then quick to give the refund we were due.

There is a small leisure club in the basement of the hotel. The pool is very shallow at one end (I could sit on the bottom without difficulty) but there is a usable swimming area of about 12 meters by 7 metres and the pool was busy but not crowded when we swam before breakfast. The is a spa/Jacuzzi bath and separate small saunas in each of the male and female changing rooms which are very small and cramped. There is also a small gym with a range of equipment.

Would we stay at this hotel again? Yes, definitely, although I might check out room rates at the Park Lane Marriott (right by Marble Arch!) to see whether we can avoid the walk down the Edgware Road.