If you’ve ever tried to book a room in Central London during the summer or around the holidays, you know the drill. Prices are astronomical. Most "budget" spots are basically broom closets in Paddington or require a thirty-minute Tube ride just to see a blade of grass in Hyde Park. That is exactly why the President Hotel Guilford St London is such a weird, wonderful outlier in the city’s hospitality scene. It’s huge. It’s unpretentious. Honestly, it feels like a time capsule in the best way possible.
Located right on Russell Square, this Imperial Hotels property doesn't try to be a boutique Instagram trap. You won't find velvet-clad mixologists or overpriced avocado toast here. Instead, you get a massive, reliable building that puts you within a five-minute walk of the British Museum. It’s the kind of place where tour groups, solo backpackers, and families all collide in the lobby, usually clutching a map or a phone trying to figure out which way the West End is. (Hint: it’s south).
The Reality of Staying on Guilford Street
Guilford Street itself is one of those classic Bloomsbury thoroughfares. It’s lined with history. You have the Foundling Museum just down the road and the sprawling greenery of Coram's Fields nearby. Staying at the President Hotel Guilford St London means you are essentially living in the literary heart of the city. Virginia Woolf lived around the corner. Charles Dickens' house is a ten-minute stroll away.
The hotel’s architecture is undeniably 1960s. It’s a bit of a concrete landmark. While some people find the brutalist-adjacent exterior a bit harsh compared to the Victorian terraces nearby, it’s remarkably practical. The lobby is expansive. You aren't tripping over luggage. Most importantly, the staff here have seen it all. They handle check-ins with a sort of practiced efficiency that you only find in hotels with hundreds of rooms.
Is it luxurious? Not really. Is it functional? Absolutely. The rooms are clean, the beds are surprisingly comfy, and the water pressure in the showers—arguably the most important metric for any traveler—is solid. You aren't paying for gold-plated faucets. You’re paying for the ability to walk out the front door and be at Russell Square Station in two minutes flat. That’s the real luxury in London.
What Most People Get Wrong About the President Hotel
There’s a common misconception that "big and old" equals "run down." I’ve spent enough time in London hotels to know that’s not always the case. The President is well-maintained because it has to be. It’s a workhorse.
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One thing that surprises people is the food situation. The Atrium Bar and the breakfast service aren't just afterthoughts. The breakfast is a massive, classic English spread. It’s loud, it’s busy, and the smell of toasted bread and grilled tomatoes fills the air. It’s the quintessential London hotel experience. If you want a quiet, artisanal pour-over coffee, go to one of the cafes on Marchmont Street. But if you want to fuel up for a twelve-mile day of sightseeing, the hotel breakfast is actually a smart move.
Location Wins Every Time
Let’s talk about the geography.
If you stay here, you’re in Zone 1.
That matters.
You can walk to:
- The British Museum (6 minutes)
- University College London (10 minutes)
- Tottenham Court Road (15 minutes)
- Covent Garden (20 minutes, if you’re a fast walker)
Being on the Piccadilly Line is a cheat code. You can get from Heathrow Airport directly to Russell Square without changing trains. No dragging suitcases through the labyrinth of King’s Cross or paying for a pricey Heathrow Express ticket just to end up at Paddington. You just sit on the Tube, zone out for an hour, and pop up right near your hotel. It’s basically the smoothest arrival you can have in London.
The Room Situation: What to Expect
Don't expect massive suites. This is London. Space is at a premium. However, the rooms at the President Hotel Guilford St London are cleverly laid out. They use every square inch. You’ll usually have a desk, a tea kettle (essential), and a small television.
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The decor is "classic." Some might call it dated, but there’s a charm to the patterned carpets and the sturdy wooden furniture. It’s reliable. You know exactly what you’re getting. Unlike some of the newer "lifestyle" hotels where the sink is in the middle of the room for some reason, the President follows traditional layouts that actually make sense.
One pro tip: ask for a room on a higher floor. The views of the London skyline, especially looking towards the Shard or the BT Tower, are surprisingly good. Also, the higher you are, the less you hear the hum of London traffic. Though, honestly, Guilford Street isn't nearly as loud as the Strand or Euston Road.
Hidden Perks of the Neighborhood
Staying here gives you access to the Brunswick Centre. It’s a two-minute walk away. This is an open-air shopping center that looks like a futuristic bunker, but it’s filled with great stuff. There’s a massive Waitrose for snacks and drinks, a Skoob Books (one of the best secondhand bookstores in the world), and plenty of decent chain restaurants like Hare & Tortoise.
Most tourists miss the small squares. Queen Square is just a block away. It’s quiet. It’s filled with benches and surrounded by old hospitals. It’s the perfect place to sit and read a book if the crowds at the British Museum get to be too much. That’s the beauty of Bloomsbury. It’s central, but it has these pockets of absolute silence.
Nuance and Trade-offs
Look, I’m being honest. If you are looking for a romantic, candlelit boutique experience for a honeymoon, this might not be your first choice. It’s a busy hotel. There are often school groups or large tours. The elevators can be a bit of a wait during the morning rush.
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But if you’re a solo traveler who wants to feel safe? Or a family of four trying not to spend $2,000 on a week of lodging? It’s perfect. It’s one of the few places in Central London that feels like it’s priced for real people rather than just oil tycoons and tech bros.
The Imperial Hotels group, which owns the President, also owns several other hotels in the immediate area—the Bedford, the Imperial, and the Royal National. The President sits in a nice middle ground. It’s a bit more "grown-up" than the Royal National (which is humongous) but often more affordable than the Bedford.
Actionable Insights for Your Stay
If you decide to book the President Hotel Guilford St London, there are a few things you should do to maximize the experience:
- Book Direct if Possible: Often the hotel website has specific deals or includes breakfast that third-party sites might hide in the fine print.
- The Tube Shortcut: When leaving Russell Square station, use the stairs only if you want a serious workout. The elevators are there for a reason; it’s one of the deeper stations.
- Walking Routes: Don’t just follow Google Maps. Walk through the parks. You can get from the hotel to Holborn almost entirely by cutting through small gardens and squares.
- Dining Out: Skip the hotel dinner. Walk five minutes to Lamb’s Conduit Street. It’s one of the most beautiful streets in London and has incredible pubs like The Lamb or The Persephone bookshop.
- Check the Calendar: Bloomsbury is home to many academic conferences. If the hotel seems randomly expensive for a Tuesday in November, there’s likely a major event at the nearby University of London. Shift your dates by a day or two to see the price drop significantly.
The President Hotel isn't trying to change the world. It’s trying to give you a clean bed in the middle of the best city on earth without making you go bankrupt. In 2026, with travel costs rising everywhere, that's a mission worth respecting.
When you arrive, drop your bags, grab a tea, and head straight for the British Museum. By the time you’re standing in front of the Rosetta Stone, you’ll realize why you picked this location. It’s about the city, not just the room.
For your next steps, check the current availability for your specific travel dates. Prices fluctuate wildly based on occupancy. If the President is full, look at its sister property, the Bedford Hotel, which is literally right across the street and offers a very similar vibe with a slightly different garden layout. Always verify the check-in time, as it is strictly 2:00 PM, though they do have a reliable luggage storage area if you arrive on an early flight.