🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom
The Dilly
📍 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH, UK
Your stay — The Dilly
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 Dilly
Unless you have strong feelings about hotels with historic polish, you'll find the Dilly a solid choice: clean, efficient and well-located on a quiet side-street between Piccadilly and Regent Street. Its lobby still carries a whiff of the 1980s corporate traveller era — polished marble, a concierge who actually knows the local bus routes, and a bar that’s better for a nightcap than a scene. It suits business visitors who want Mayfair’s address without the Mayfair price tag, and couples who treat the hotel as a base for walking the West End rather than lounging in it.
Chronicles of London
London began as a Roman settlement called Londinium around AD 50, later became a medieval trading hub and, after the Great Fire of 1666, was rebuilt with Sir Christopher Wren’s baroque churches and terraced squares. The 19th century saw it swell into the world’s largest city, spreading grand boulevards, Victorian railway termini and the distinctive red-brick suburbs that still define large swathes. Today it’s a polyglot capital where ancient alleyways sit next to steel-and-glass towers, its cultural identity anchored in theatre, markets, pub culture and the stubbornly unglamorous resilience of its people.
Best Time to Visit
Full London guide →Best months
May and September: warm enough for parks and pub gardens, lighter crowds than summer peak, and lower hotel rates than June–August.
Peak / festival surge
July and August, when school holidays and Wimbledon (early July) and Notting Hill Carnival (late August) fill the city. Hotel prices in central London typically rise 20–40% from June rates, and advance booking is essential.
Budget shoulder season
March and October offer decent weather, much lower room rates and you can still hit key sights without the queues. February is the cheapest month but cold and drizzly.
Weather & packing
London's climate is famously erratic: you can get a dry 28°C day in late June or a 14°C drizzle. Pack a light waterproof jacket and a spare pair of shoes — even if the forecast looks perfect, assume at least one shower will catch you out.
Live City Briefing — London
- The Elizabeth line (opened 2022) now runs direct from Heathrow to Bond Street, a 10-minute walk from the Dilly, cutting taxi costs and travel time. Check weekend closures on TfL’s website before you travel.
- Soho’s Berwick Street market has new food stalls and extended evening hours (until 9pm Thu–Sat) — a good nearby dinner option if you want something less polished than Mayfair.
- National Rail strikes are still possible in summer 2026; check on www.nationalrail.co.uk the week before your stay, especially if you plan day trips out of London.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jun 2026Before you check in to The Dilly, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on a higher floor, ideally away from the lift and stairwell, for less foot traffic noise. Corner rooms often have extra windows and feel more spacious.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms next to the ice machine, vending area, or housekeeping cupboards – these can be noisy early mornings and late nights. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or restaurant if there’s one on site.
Best views
Ask for a room at the front for street views if you’re high enough; otherwise, a top-floor rear room gives a quieter outlook over rooftops. Don’t expect great views in a standard 3-star – aim for quiet over vista.
Quietest floors
Upper floors are generally quieter because they’re further from street noise and ground-floor common areas. Floors 4-6 in a typical 3-star hotel offer a good balance.
🔊 Noise notes
London hotels often have thin walls. Bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper. Avoid rooms near the lift core – you’ll hear the ‘ding’ all night.
Insider tips
1. Book directly with the hotel and ask if they can allocate a quiet room on arrival – they often hold better rooms for direct bookings. 2. Check if your rate includes breakfast; a 3-star ‘continental’ can be basic, so it’s not always worth the extra.
- 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 Dilly
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed about 15 Mbps down, no login constraints beyond accepting terms.
One lift serves all six floors; there are no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital newspaper access via PressReader at the lobby iPads. No physical papers. The building is a 1908 former railway hotel with a grand Edwardian façade and original marble staircase.
Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 11:00. Early bag drop is free. Late check-out until 14:00 costs £40, subject to availability.
Free luggage storage at the concierge desk on check-out day until 18:00.
Step-free main entrance from Piccadilly. Two accessible guest rooms on the ground floor. Lift serves all floors. No grab rails in standard bathrooms.
No on-site or valet parking. Nearest public car park is Q-Park Soho (Lexington Street, W1F 0LT), £48 for 24 hours. No EV charging at the hotel.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: One night's advance deposit required at booking. At check-in, a £100 incidental hold is placed on your card.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Saint George's Hanover Square (149 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Welsh Church of Central London (685 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: God's Vision Church (690 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: All Souls Church (710 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
West One — 506 m · ~6 min walk
Hanover Square — 97 m · ~1 min walk
Handel & Hendrix — 177 m · ~2 min walk
London Palladium — 388 m · ~5 min walk
The Warren — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 386 m · ~5 min walk
C. W. Andrew — 123 m · ~2 min walk
Sidney Rose — 148 m · ~2 min walk
Bond Street — 282 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or Post Offices for best rates; avoid airport and tourist area exchange bureaux which offer poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; contactless and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are standard, even on public transport.
Optional in restaurants (10-15% for good service); not expected in taxis or for drinks at the bar, but rounding up is common; hotel porters may expect £1-2 per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Chain coffee shops like Pret a Manger or Caffè Nero offer filter coffee for around £2.50.
Supermarket meal deals (sandwich, snack, drink) cost about £3-4, or grab a sandwich from a local bakery for £4-6.
Pub mains like fish and chips or bangers and mash start around £12-15.
Borough Market (short bus/tube ride) has varied street food stalls, but in W1J itself, look for food trucks or pop-up stalls near Green Park on weekdays.
Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, and M&S Foodhall are common budget supermarket chains in the W1J area.
Oxford Street (10-min walk) has affordable high-street chains like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo, while Primark is on Oxford Circus.
The cheapest way is the Tube day travelcard (zones 1-2, about £8.50) or use contactless pay-as-you-go (capped daily). From Heathrow, take the Piccadilly Line (non-stop to central) for around £5.50 instead of the Heathrow Express (£25+).
Buy a reusable coffee cup for a 25-50p discount at many chains; walk instead of taking the Tube for short distances (W1J is very walkable); eat lunch specials (set menus) at mid-range restaurants which are often half the dinner price.
Good to know — London
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · 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 Dilly
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 386 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · C. W. Andrew — 123 m · ~2 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Dilly?
Request a room on a higher floor, ideally away from the lift and stairwell, for less foot traffic noise. Corner rooms often have extra windows and feel more spacious.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Dilly?
Avoid rooms next to the ice machine, vending area, or housekeeping cupboards – these can be noisy early mornings and late nights. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or restaurant if there’s one on site.
Is The Dilly noisy?
London hotels often have thin walls. Bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper. Avoid rooms near the lift core – you’ll hear the ‘ding’ all night.
Which rooms have the best views at The Dilly?
Ask for a room at the front for street views if you’re high enough; otherwise, a top-floor rear room gives a quieter outlook over rooftops. Don’t expect great views in a standard 3-star – aim for quiet over vista.
What are insider tips for staying at The Dilly?
1. Book directly with the hotel and ask if they can allocate a quiet room on arrival – they often hold better rooms for direct bookings. 2. Check if your rate includes breakfast; a 3-star ‘continental’ can be basic, so it’s not always worth the extra.
What time is check-in at The Dilly?
Check-in at The Dilly is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Dilly have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed about 15 Mbps down, no login constraints beyond accepting terms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Dilly?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Dilly?
Supermarket meal deals (sandwich, snack, drink) cost about £3-4, or grab a sandwich from a local bakery for £4-6.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Dilly?
The cheapest way is the Tube day travelcard (zones 1-2, about £8.50) or use contactless pay-as-you-go (capped daily). From Heathrow, take the Piccadilly Line (non-stop to central) for around £5.50 instead of the Heathrow Express (£25+).
When is the best time to visit London?
May and September: warm enough for parks and pub gardens, lighter crowds than summer peak, and lower hotel rates than June–August.
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.