22 York Street

Ho trascorso 4 notti in una doppia con mia figlia, 100 sterline a notte compresa una colazione continentale. Eravamo in una catena di hotel provati, al secondo piano (in Inghilterra eravamo al primo), adiacente alla lounge. TV, telefono locale a costi mini, grande vasca con molta acqua calda, the e biscotti nella lounge 24/7. Era pulito, tranquillo e ben gestito. L'accesso ad internet era gratuito e nella casa principale c'era o una postazione per il sistema wifi o una postazione per un computer al piano terra, e si poteva sempre utilizzare. La posizione era splendida, a pochi passi dalla stazione di Baker Street. Ci torneremo sicuramente.

Carol and Vera, the managers, were amazingly helpful. Everyone there is very friendly and always cheerful.

This is a great location, very central to everything. There are good restaurants on Baker Street, a block from there. Our room was comfortable and spacious enough for us to relax and feel at home. The bed was made with nice soft linens. Every morning we enjoyed a continental breakfast and conversation with them and the other guests. The internet is free with a laptop provided 24 hours a day. There is a room for tea or coffee and cookies in the afternoon, and is available to guests all day and night. They also provided an iron and ironing board. They have satellite TV's in the rooms.

They helped us plan our sightseeing tours, providing us with maps and directions for the tube and buses combined to save us money; things we would not have known. They know where to find comfort items travelers need, such as dry cleaners and laundromats. They could not have been kinder. Both my husband and I felt right at home there and highly recommend it. Should we return to London, we will want to stay there again.

Faye & Ross Wissner, Houston Texas

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.