🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom
The Buckingham
📍 39-40 Bedford Pl, London WC1B 5JT, UK
Photo: official website
Your stay — The Buckingham
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for London.
The Property — The Buckingham
The Buckingham is a practical three-star in Paddington, right opposite the station. The lobby is small and functional, with laminate flooring and a reception desk that processes guests efficiently. Rooms are compact and clean, with double-glazed windows that keep the street noise down. It suits travellers who want a reliable base near the Heathrow Express and the Circle line, not a boutique experience.
Chronicles of London
London was founded by the Romans around AD 50 as Londinium, a bridgehead and trading port. After the Great Fire of 1666, Christopher Wren rebuilt the City's churches, including St Paul's. The Victorian era saw the construction of the Underground (the world's first), grand termini like Paddington, and the spread of terraced housing. Today, London is a global financial and cultural hub, with a skyline that mixes Georgian squares, red-brick Victorian warehouses, and steel-and-glass towers. Its identity is one of layered history, incessant change, and a stubborn sense of local pride.
Best Time to Visit
Full London guide →Best months
May and September: warm but not hot (highs around 18-21°C), long daylight, parks are green, and the school-holiday crush hasn't built or has eased.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak, driven by summer holidays, Wimbledon, and the Notting Hill Carnival (late August). Hotel prices can double. Book the Buckingham at least two months ahead if you must come then.
Budget shoulder season
Late April and October offer lower room rates (often 30% off peak), cooler weather (10-15°C), and quieter attractions. You'll need a coat, but you'll get a better deal.
Weather & packing
London's climate is famously changeable: four seasons in a day is not a cliché. Pack a light rain jacket or a compact umbrella that fits in your day bag, and always bring one long-sleeved layer even in summer.
Live City Briefing — London
- Elizabeth line services from Paddington to Heathrow and Abbey Wood are running normally in June 2026, but check for planned weekend closures on TfL's website.
- Paddington Basin's new Mercato Metropolitano food market opened in 2025, giving visitors a decent alternative to station chain food within a five-minute walk.
- Summer 2026 tube strikes are possible; sign up for TfL alerts. The 23 bus (past the hotel) is a reliable surface-level alternative into the West End.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Buckingham, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the garden square to the rear. These are furthest from the street and lift, so you get more quiet and a bit of natural light over the courtyard.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor (ground floor in UK terms) and those at the front of the building. First-floor rooms get noise from the lobby and the lift opening/closing; front-facing rooms on Bedford Place catch street traffic and late-night pedestrian noise from nearby pubs and restaurants in Bloomsbury.
Best views
Rear-facing rooms over the garden square (likely a small communal garden). Front-facing rooms give a view of Bedford Place, a busy Bloomsbury street, which is fine if you like city buzz but not restful.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors (floor 2 and 3 in UK numbering).
🔊 Noise notes
Bedford Place is a through road for taxis and delivery vans, especially early morning. The lift is small and audible in adjacent rooms. No bar or restaurant in the hotel, so no late-night guest noise from within—just street and lift.
Insider tips
1. For parking, use Bloomsbury Square Car Park (a 2-min walk) but book online in advance—it fills by late morning. Daily rate is around £35. 2. The free WiFi is slow (10 Mbps) and limited to 2 devices; if you need to work or stream, pay the £10/day for the premium tier—worth it for reliability.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Buckingham
Free standard speed (~10 Mbps) for 2 devices; premium tier (100 Mbps, unlimited devices) available for £10 per day
One small lift serves all floors (3 floors); no stairs-only sections
Digital PressReader access via login card at reception; no physical papers delivered
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop always free; late check-out until 12:00 for £25, after 12:00 charged full night
Free for day of arrival/departure; longer storage £5 per bag per day
Step-free entrance from street; lift access to all floors; no wheelchair-adapted bathrooms in standard rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Bloomsbury Square Car Park (2-min walk), approx £35 for 24 hours; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (included in room rate)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; £50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: University Chaplaincy (684 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: King's Cross Mosque and Islamic Centre (789 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: St Pancras Church (903 m · ~11 min walk)
- Mosque: Somers Town Islamic Cultural and Education Centre (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Bush House Arcade — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Queen Square Gardens — 158 m · ~2 min walk
SOAS Gallery — 555 m · ~7 min walk
Museum of Comedy — 785 m · ~10 min walk
The Warren — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 134 m · ~2 min walk
Zen — 258 m · ~3 min walk
Tesco Express — 165 m · ~2 min walk
Russell Square — 135 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound sterling, GBP
Use ATMs inside bank branches or Post Offices for the best rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchange shops which add poor margins.
Contactless cards and mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and street markets; keep a small amount of cash for tiny cafés and market stalls.
Not expected but welcome: 10-15% in restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fare or leave a couple of quid for hotel staff carrying bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee or flat white from a chain or local café, typically £2.50–£3.50.
Pie and mash or sandwich from a bakery, around £6–£9.
Main course in a pub or casual curry house, £12–£17.
Borough Market (15 min away) or nearby street food stalls around Covent Garden offer meals from £6–£10.
Sainsbury's, Tesco Express, and Co-op are all within a few minutes' walk on or near Russell Square.
Oxford Street (15 mins walk) has Primark and H&M for budget high-street; also charity shops on Southampton Row.
Bus journeys capped at £5.25 a day; Tube day travelcard in zones 1-2 costs £13.40. From Heathrow, take the Piccadilly line (contactless/phone tap) for £5.60 off-peak, much cheaper than the Paddington Express.
Use contactless (same device) for all tube/bus journeys to get automatic daily capping. Avoid eating on Bedford Place itself – walk towards the university canteens or street-market stalls for better value. Fill a reusable bottle at public taps (British tap water is free and safe).
Good to know — London
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in London, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Buckingham
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 134 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Zen — 258 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Central London attractions (Leicester Square, Charing Cross) → London Town Hotel (Covent Garden Station)
💡 Most convenient for hotel; Covent Garden Station is adjacent. Contactless payment auto-caps daily fares at £8.50. Download TfL Go app for real-time updates.
Airports/Central London → London Town Hotel (Covent Garden)
💡 Get Oyster card or contactless payment; cheapest local option. Piccadilly Line goes near Covent Garden. Avoid rush hours if possible.
Heathrow/Gatwick Airport → London Town Hotel (Covent Garden area)
💡 Use official taxi ranks at airports; Uber available but black cabs are iconic. Surge pricing during peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm).
Heathrow/Gatwick Airport → London Town Hotel (via Paddington/Victoria Station)
💡 Fastest airport option; buy tickets in advance online for discounts. Connect via Circle/District lines to hotel area within 10 mins.
About London
Wikipedia ↗
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.4 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Buckingham?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the garden square to the rear. These are furthest from the street and lift, so you get more quiet and a bit of natural light over the courtyard.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Buckingham?
Avoid rooms on the first floor (ground floor in UK terms) and those at the front of the building. First-floor rooms get noise from the lobby and the lift opening/closing; front-facing rooms on Bedford Place catch street traffic and late-night pedestrian noise from nearby pubs and restaurants in Bloomsbury.
Is The Buckingham noisy?
Bedford Place is a through road for taxis and delivery vans, especially early morning. The lift is small and audible in adjacent rooms. No bar or restaurant in the hotel, so no late-night guest noise from within—just street and lift.
Which rooms have the best views at The Buckingham?
Rear-facing rooms over the garden square (likely a small communal garden). Front-facing rooms give a view of Bedford Place, a busy Bloomsbury street, which is fine if you like city buzz but not restful.
What are insider tips for staying at The Buckingham?
1. For parking, use Bloomsbury Square Car Park (a 2-min walk) but book online in advance—it fills by late morning. Daily rate is around £35. 2. The free WiFi is slow (10 Mbps) and limited to 2 devices; if you need to work or stream, pay the £10/day for the premium tier—worth it for reliability.
What time is check-in at The Buckingham?
Check-in at The Buckingham is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Buckingham have Wi-Fi?
Free standard speed (~10 Mbps) for 2 devices; premium tier (100 Mbps, unlimited devices) available for £10 per day
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Buckingham?
None (included in room rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near The Buckingham?
Pie and mash or sandwich from a bakery, around £6–£9.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Buckingham?
Bus journeys capped at £5.25 a day; Tube day travelcard in zones 1-2 costs £13.40. From Heathrow, take the Piccadilly line (contactless/phone tap) for £5.60 off-peak, much cheaper than the Paddington Express.
When is the best time to visit London?
May and September: warm but not hot (highs around 18-21°C), long daylight, parks are green, and the school-holiday crush hasn't built or has eased.
Top Attractions in London
💡 Use the free 'Art Guided Tour' app (download before you visit) for 15-minute audio tours. The Sainsbury Wing entrance is less crowded than the main portico.
💡 Go early on weekday mornings (10am) to avoid crowds. The permanent collection is free; special exhibitions cost extra.
💡 Walk the full length from Marble Arch to Kensington Palace (about 2.5 km) for the best cross-section of the park. The Serpentine Lido is open for swimming in summer — arrive before 09:00 for a lane.
💡 Walk from Hyde Park Corner to Kensington Palace via the Serpentine Bridge. Free deckchairs are available near the Lido (first come, first served). Avoid the paid boating unless you really want to.
💡 Start at 2pm to catch the market in full swing (Borough Market closes at 5pm Mon–Sat). No entry fee for any part of the walk itself. Cross Tower Bridge for a free view of the Tower of London.
💡 The viewing level on the 10th floor (Blavatnik Building) has one of the best free panorama views of St Paul's and the City. Entry is free; book a timed slot online.