22 York Street

I stayed here for one night on business. It was recommended to me by a colleague and certainly met my expectations. 22 York Street is full of character and has everything you need for a good stay - whether for pleasure or business. I was really impressed by the friendly staff and all the facilities. For example, it is great to be able to pop down to the lounge and get a good coffee and a biscuit as and when you wish.

I stayed in a single room on the top floor. It was tiny (it would be nice to have had a desk to work from) but was very pleasant, clean and comfortable. The street is quiet and I slept well.

The location is excellent - very close to Baker St tube, so therefore very accessible and there are lots of bars and restaurants in the area. I'll certainly be staying here again.

London is one of my favorite cities in the world, but unfortunately - at least for American travelers - it has become so incredibly expensive! A few years ago, I paid almost $200/night for a dive of a hotel near Russell Square that looked fine on Expedia, but had ancient furniture and a pervasive musty scent throughout the entire hotel. With affordable rates, comfortable rooms, and a nice location, 22 York Street is a great find!

First of all, it's in a great location - not directly in the center of things, but only a quick walk from the Tube station, and then only a few stops from the heart of the city. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores located very close by as well.

Rooms are small, but comfortable. Ironing is in the basement - would have preferred to have it in the room, but knowing that it's a B&B, I thought this was fine.

Continental breakfast is included - you sit at a long table with the other guests, and it just felt very friendly and welcoming. I especially enjoyed the croissants! The owners were very helpful and pleasant as well.

If you're looking for something nice and affordable in one of the world's priciest cities, I'd definitely recommend this place!

If you are visiting 22 York Street from the United States, as I did, you may wonder what you've gotten yourself into when you step out from the Baker Street underground station. Baker Street and Marylebone make for a very busy intersection and York Street is only a couple of streets removed from the hubbub. But as you turn down York, things do get a lot quieter ... although not completely silent (you're in the heart of London, after all). But if you're used to the typical noises of a big city, like my own hometown, Chicago, then York Street seems almost sedate.

And, as another reviewer pointed out, 22 York Street isn't obviously a B&B from the outside, but is nevertheless easily found. If you ring the day bell, someone will open the door for you. You're likely to meet either Liz or Michael Callis, the husband and wife owners of 22 York. Both are extremely friendly and make you feel right at home from the start. Chances are, they'll offer you a glass of orange juice, as a refreshment, before checking you in. Basically, everyone made me feel like an old friend returning from a long absence.

I stayed in two different rooms while at 22 York ... the first was between the first and second floors (second and third counting as an American). I was warned that the room was very small ... and it was ... but I considered it more "cozy" than "small" ... and it is easily the breeziest room in the house (which is great in the summer). The second room I stayed in was on the first (second) floor ... the same as another reviewer described. Both rooms were immaculate and quite comfy. To me, the whole place has a real "English" feel about it and there are lots of antiques scattered around ... along with different kinds of artwork. I didn't inquire, but I gather that most are for sale.

I found breakfast was perfect by my standards. You're offered juice, coffee, and tea, toast (white or "brown" ... a.k.a. "wheat"), jam/marmelade, butter, cereals, yogurt, fruit, milk and cream, butter, and lots of yummy croissants and different pastries. Michael, Liz, or their very pretty assistant, Celine, serve you graciously. Most everyone sits at the same table (it's depicted nicely at the 22 York Street website) and it's easy to compare stories with others and get to know your fellow travelers. The Callisses take a genuine interest in you and are happy to offer lots of useful advice (where to eat, what to do). They make a genuine effort to get to know you. If you travel alone, as I did in London, it's nice to have a sense of "home" in the place you're staying.

The (wireless) Internet access at 22 York works perfectly and is free (other London hotels charge ridiculous fees, in my humble opinion). All the doors at 22 York use old-fashioned keys (except for the front door), which is kind of nifty. I had lots of hot water in the morning and the evening for showering.

And 22 York makes for a great base-of-operations for exploring London (Baker Street has lots of great underground connections) and there are a number of fine restaurants within walking distance.

Long story short: if I get the opportunity to visit London again soon, there is no question in my mind ... I'm staying at 22 York.