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I needed a place to stay for 1 night during my trip to the United Kingdom. I arrived early in the morning, and after a shower, breakfast and getting work done at the Virgin Atlantic Revivals lounge, I took the Elizabeth Line train to my hotel.

Since I was staying in London to see the Stranger Things stage show, I looked for a hotel near the theater district. It wouldn’t be the area we’d typically stay in, but it fit this trip’s needs. I used the free night certificate from the IHG Rewards Premier card plus 9,000 points to book a room at the Hotel Indigo London – 1 Leicester Square. You are able to add points to the IHG free night to book rooms that cost over 40,000 points per night.

Hotel Indigo London – 1 Leicester Square
1 Leicester Square, London

Check-In

I arrived at the hotel around 11 AM. Check-in is at 3 PM, and my experience in London is that I’ve never been able to get a room earlier than promised. I was only looking to leave my bags and head to the show. There isn’t much of a lobby at this hotel, only two podiums and a few chairs.

Amazingly, I was told they had a room for me on the seventh floor. I took the elevator up to my room.

The hotel’s Art Deco design emphasizes its connection to the theater district. Its signs resemble those at one of the nearby theaters.

Rooms

The room was not large, but it was enough for a one-night stay for a solo traveler. The entrance hallway was long, with a full-length mirror and stylish lighting fixtures.

The queen-sized bed was comfortable, with shelves on each side. However, the desk was small and had a chair that was not suited to working for long periods of time. The TV placement was also a bit strange.

Storage space was limited, with a combination of a hanging rod, luggage shelves, drawer, refrigerator and tea set as the main furniture in the room.

The bathroom was larger than I expected for a relatively compact room.

While the walk-in shower lacked any door, it passed the shower test. No water left the shower area, leaving the rest of the bathroom dry. Another plus was having an overhead shower and a hand wand. I also appreciated having a shelf for your own shower items in addition to the bulk containers

Rooftop

One of the hotel’s benefits is the rooftop area on the 9th floor, where they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as providing an observation deck for the view. Many guests book rooms that include breakfast. Since I used points for the room, the front desk asked if I would like to add it, but I declined as I had an early train to Wales the next morning.

The staff were welcoming when I said that all I wanted to do was have a look around. They directed me to a door that led to the outdoor deck. From there, I had a great view of the square below and could see many London landmarks.

Final Thoughts

I was pleased with my stay at the Hotel Indigo Leicester Square. While the hotel isn’t in the best location for exploring London, it’s extremely convenient for going to the theater. The hotel is surrounded by numerous restaurants, with Chinatown just a block away. The area is bustling with activity throughout the day, with street performers attracting crowds and theater enthusiasts filling up the nearby bars and restaurants prior to showtimes.

It’s also important to note that major film premieres in London usually take place at the movie theaters around Leicester Square. These will impact your stay at the Hotel Indigo, so make sure to plan accordingly. 

I’d definitely stay here again if I were in a similar situation. However, if you are a first-time visitor to London or looking for a more luxurious experience, there are other hotels in the city that may be better suited for your needs.

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