I have always wanted to stay at this hotel, once the British Embassy, in such an attractive area of Paris - and a short trip in January, when rates were reduced by 20%, finally provided the opportunity. The welcome was most friendly: our double room, facing the Rue Jacob on the first floor, was small but pleasant, easily accessible, with sufficient storage space and a perfectly adequate bathroom. Apart from the morning bin-men, it was surprisingly quiet. Breakfasts, in the charming front room opposite reception, were excellent - once we realised that it was possible to ask for a cappuccino, rather than the tasteless, diluted coffee provided. Good baguettes, nice croissants, yoghurts. The hotel is very well positioned, an easy walk to the Metro, and very close to all the delights of St. Germain. The inner courtyard is attractive, doubtless the place for breakfast in the summer.
No real criticisms. Bathrobes would have been nice. A larger room would have been welcome.
On our third morning the builders arrived with scaffolding - but there was no significant inconvenience, and their work will presumably lead to improvements. Not the cheapest, but certainly one of the nicest, hotels in the Rive Gauche. ( I don't really like the immediate charging of the first night to your credit card, after booking - it seems not to fit with the civilised, friendly attitude of the rest of the service.)

There are hundreds of reasons why hotels make it or don't, and many of them are subjective, ie they are dependent on the mood, taste, needs of the reviewer. I have stayed at hostels and 5 stars but its not always about the crisp linens and fancy bath soaps. When my wife and I planned our trip to France we wanted to stay in Paris for a few days and our needs were: reasonable price, left bank location, and something that felt "Parisian". I happened to discover the Hotel d'Angleterre and you can read about its interesting history, but the location on the rue Jacob, in the heart of the St. Germain de Pres neighborhood was perfect. We wanted to be able to walk to lots of great neighborhoods and restaurants and for that it was perfect. The room was charmingly old feeling and like many of the small hotels, there is a central courtyard where each morning we could hear them setting the places for breakfast. Each morning we would start our day there with coffee and fresh croissants and bread with jam, planning oue events of the day. The staff was pleasant and helpful and even though it was not the most luxurious place, it was perfect for our needs.

My wife and I have stayed at the hotel angleterre for many years, throughout the 80s and 90s we often stopped there,sometimes twice a year,in those days each of the rooms had a different themes and were wonderfully furnished and cleaned, it was great to try out each of the rooms over the years.
Since then we have only stopped in the suite up the oldest heritage stairway, a steep climb for most,but they always managed to take our suitcases up for us. I know that a lot of the rooms are very much overdue for refurbishment and this has been needed for many years but three or four of the rooms are very nice indeed, the best suite has not really changed over the last thirty years with a lot of character and history attached, the price of the the suite in the 80s was £120 per night this is now about £300 per night and for us is still a nice place to stop and very handy for the cafes deux magots and flore and all the best restaurants and nightlife of the left bank,the hotel is very quiet in rue Jacob if you don't count the dustbin men in the morning.
We would hope the lady owner might spend some money and hopefully bring the hotel back to it's former splendour, this would not be too difficult in financial terms, this is all it really needs.
looking but if you

this was my first stay at the hotel d'angleterre. for the last 40 years i have been staying essentially in this same arrondisement.

i frequently travel to paris alone. this hotel is by far my best selection.

my room was wonderful, roomy, peaceful and the view was indescribable.

all of the staff are warm, helpful, caring and conscientious.

my only problem - the coffee is awful!!!!!!!

i would recommend this hotel to anyone. i do not know if it is the best place for children but that is not for me to decide.

also - Thomas at the front desk is a treasure (i believe he is secretly an angel).

i shall return.