A few years ago I lived in this hotel. I mean I stayed here 4 nights a week, every week for 10 months. Thanks to the Hilton Islington, I was a Hilton Hhonors millionaire!
The contract finished and I never found myself being close enough (or having a big enough budget) to stay here again…until now.
The hotel is situated just off Upper Street, about 10 minutes’ walk from the tube station. The hotel is fairly standard Hilton really although they have recently lowered their prices in the bar / restaurant to match the prices of the plentiful local competition.
Check in was fast – they already had all my details – and I was of course treated to the Welcome back Mr Travel Freak script. As a diamond Hhonors member I was given an upgrade to a Club room which was huge, a bottle of red wine, some chocolates and a couple of small bottle of water.
Breakfast is your standard Hilton affair and it amused me how much I appreciated it having stayed on a few room only rates of late.
Nothing is exceptional about this hotel, however nothing in unacceptable either. The staff work hard, the bar is OK (you can get 50% off food with a Taste Card) with draught Peroni and your normal selection of overpriced Hilton wine. The rooms are fairly large for London and while they are not very stylish; they are certainly functional with everything you need both to work and play.
I spent a lot of time here and I know many of the staff personally. There is something really nice about being greeted by your name, with the bar staff knowing what you drink and the breakfast staff knowing what table you like. I guess this is how travel used to be.
This hotel commands the rate (£150 on a good day) due its location. Angel tube is one stop from Kings X which means you only have to walk a couple of hundred yards into St Pancras to catch the Eurostar. Islington is a cool area with lots of places to eat, drink and dance. There is also a Tesco’s just across the road which is handy for some tablets to fight that hangover.
Should you go? If you have an early train from Kings X or St Pancras then you may wish to consider it. If you don’t need to be located in Islington then I would suggest you look elsewhere; £150 per night can get you a lot of style in other London Hilton properties.
Will I go again? Almost certainly. As the song goes – it really is nice to go where everybody knows your name.
Book the best public rates direct with Hilton here
Weekend specials can be had for around £100 per night. Weekday rates vary a lot depending on availability and usually come in somewhere between £150 and £209 per night. This hotel does offer fairly substantial discounts to corps though so if you company has a corporate code use it!
