Apex City of London Hotel, London

The Cranley Report®: Apex City of London Hotel

Apex City of London Hotel, London

Hotel Address

No 1 Seething Lane
London
EC3N 4AX

Cranley Rating

Hotel Entrance

Photo 1 of 20. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category	Hotel
Awards Won	2007 'Best Large Hotel' at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. Winner at the ITM Icarus Environmental Awards. HRS Hotel Excellence Award - 'Excellent Social Responsibility-Independent Hotels'. Major Commendation - Business Commitment to the Environment Awards. Bronze Award - Visit London Sustainable Tourism Awards. 2006 Gold for Sustainable Tourism in the Visit London Awards.

Hotel Opened

The hotel opened in 2005 having been converted from an office building that originally opened in 1960

Cranley Summary

The Apex City of London Hotel is located in the heart of London’s business and financial district in the centre of London. The hotel is just a few minutes walk to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Tower Hill and Bank underground stations are approximately a five minute walk from the hotel giving access to wider London areas. In the immediate vicinity of the hotel are restaurants, bars and cafes. Within a five minutes walk are the shops of Fenchurch Street with supermarkets, department stores and pharmacies. The hotel has 130 guestrooms and suites which are spread over seven floors. The rooms are contemporary in design, offer modern up-to-date amenities and include complimentary broadband internet and WiFi connections. Complimentary WiFi is available throughout all the public areas in the hotel. Most ensuite bathrooms offer a separate shower and bath. The hotel has a fine dining restaurant, a bar and a more informal all day restaurant and terrace. The hotel has five conference and meeting rooms, some of which are available for private dining, and a gym for guest use only.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Apex City of London Hotel is located in Seething Lane in the heart of London’s business district in the centre of London. Within a 5 minute walk from the hotel are supermarkets, department stores and pharmacies. In the immediate vicinity are restaurants, bars and cafes. The hotel is just a few minutes walk to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Katherine's Dock and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The London dungeons and many other attractions are all close by and just a short taxi drive away. Tower Hill underground station is a 5 minute walk from the hotel and gives access to the Circle and District lines. Bank underground station is a 5 minute walk from the hotel and gives access to the Northern and Central lines. The Docklands Light Railway runs from Bank and Tower Gateway stations which are a 5 minute walk from the hotel. River boats offering commuting and tour services are accessible from Tower Pier which is a 2 minute walk from the hotel. Heathrow Airport is 31 kilometres by taxi and car with a driving time of approximately 55 minutes. Tower Hill underground station to Paddington Station is approximately 30 minutes. The Heathrow Express takes 15 minutes from Paddington Station to its terminus at Heathrow Airport.

Airports
Distance	11 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi or car journey of approximately 30 minutes

Cities and Sights
Distance	0.9 km
City/Sight Transfers	Approximately a 5 minute walk from the hotel

Layout Description

The Apex City of London Hotel is laid out over seven floors and guests enter the hotel through glass doors and up several stairs into the lobby area. Located near the front entrance is a special needs lift giving wheelchair access to the lobby. The reception desk is immediately opposite the entrance stairway. Turning right at the top of the stairs leads to the hotel's conference and meeting rooms. Turning left leads to the Addendum Restaurant, Addendum Bar, the Brasserie restaurant and terrace which is located below the Addendum Bar. The lifts and stairs are located at the back of the lobby on the Addendum Restaurant side of the reception desk. These lead to all guest room floors including the hotel Gym which is located in the basement.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	Multi-lingual including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian
Payment Methods	All major credit cards accepted. The hotel does not accept Diners cards. Should guests wish to pay by cheque they should make arrangements with the hotel before arrival.
Foreign Exchange	24 hours. All major currencies accepted.
Taxis Arranged	There is no taxi rank outside hotel. The concierge can book taxis for guests.
Tours Arranged	The Concierge or Guest Services can arrange sightseeing tours of London and the UK. Tours are arranged through an outside company. A private car service is available for transfers to London airports and any destination in the UK with daily and hourly rates.

Guest Relations	Standard services
Concierge Services	Standard services
Medical Facilities	There is a doctor on call 24 hours with an arrival time of approximately 90 minutes, according to the hotel.
Parking	The hotel has no on site car parking facilities. There is metered car parking available in the surrounding streets and a 24 hour multi-storey car park is approximately a 5 minute walk from the hotel. The hotel has no valet parking.

Cranley Comment

The lobby of the Apex City of London Hotel features marble flooring and walnut wood panelling on the walls throughout. The dark wood reception desk is lit with soft panels of lighting along the front and is immediately opposite the stairs of the hotel entrance. The two lifts and stairway are located toward the back of the lobby area and lead to all guestroom floors including the basement gym area. The Addendum Restaurant, Addendum Bar and the Brasserie restaurant and terrace are located to the left on entering the lobby. The Addendum Bar has a seating area with leather sofas and chairs. Turning right on entering the lobby are the hotel's meeting and conference rooms.

Shops & Amenities

Cranley Comment

The Apex City of London Hotel has no in-house shops or boutiques. In the immediate vicinity of the hotel and less than a five minute walk, Fenchurch Street offers food stores, pharmacies, department stores, restaurants, cafes and bars. For shopping areas further afield, Tower Hill and Bank underground stations are a five minute walk away.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	7
Total Rooms	130
Elevators	2
Rooms per Elevator	65
Total Staff	100
Staff per Room	0.8

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Late check-out is subject to availability and an additional charge is levied until 18:00. After 18:00 a full night's charge will apply.
Smoking Rooms	There are 13 smoking rooms available on the second floor.
Room Service	24 Hours The in-room menu has a range of dishes from the Addendum Restaurant.
Laundry Service	Laundry and dry cleaning handed in before 09:00 will be returned the same day by 19:00 seven days a week. There is no guaranteed laundry service or dry cleaning on public holidays.

Cranley Comment

The Apex City of London Hotel has 130 guestrooms which are spread over seven floors. The rooms are contemporary in design and feature custom made wooden furnishings. The rooms have large windows and are decorated in pastel shades with accents of colour in the soft furnishings. All the rooms have modern up-to-date amenities and include WiFi and broadband Internet connections. Most of the ensuite bathrooms have a separate shower and bath and a few of the rooms feature a balcony.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard	69	Street	Queen, king & twin beds available Chargeable wireless Internet access Complimentary wired broadband connection Desk and chair 62 of the rooms have a separate walk-in power shower and bathtub 7 of the rooms have a shower over the bathtub Widescreen TV and CD/DVD player Choice of DVDs from guest services which are free of charge (Deposit payable and refunded on return of DVDs) Bathroom toiletries Complimentary newspaper Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities Complimentary bottled water Complimentary local calls Fridge In-room safe Iron and ironing board Hairdryer Pillow menu (choice of hard or soft pillows)	2 Adults. (6 of the Standard Rooms have sofa beds and can accommodate 4 Adults or 2 Adults and 2 Children under the age of ten)	17

Cranley Comment

The rooms are approached along carpeted corridors. Entering the room into a wooden floor hallway there is a bathroom to one side and cupboards on the other which house the fridge, safe, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer, iron and ironing board. The bedroom area is carpeted and decorated in pastel tones of grey and have colourful coordinating soft furnishings. Standard guestrooms have the choice of queen, king or twin beds. Each room features a purpose-built walnut desk with an adjustable desk chair, both of which are ergonomically designed. Above the desk is a mirror. The beds have a fitted walnut headboard attached to the wall and walnut side tables with lamps. All the rooms have an easy chair, TV and feature commissioned, framed and signed photographs by David Springford depicting local life and buildings that surround the hotel. The bathrooms feature glass panelled entrance doors and most have a separate walk-in shower and bath. The sink is set in a wooden display area with a large heated mirror which prevents fogging.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior king	22	Street	As per the standard rooms with the added benefit of: More space All rooms have king size beds	2 Adults	18

Cranley Comment

Superior King rooms are slightly larger than the Standard rooms and all have a king size bed. The bedroom area is carpeted and decorated in pastel tones of grey and have colourful coordinating soft furnishings. Superior rooms have the same layout, custom made furniture, facilities and accessories as the Standard rooms. Several superior rooms have a small balcony with a table, two chairs and decorative potted plants.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe	38	Street	As per the Superior rooms with the added benefit of: More space All rooms have a sofa Some rooms have two wide screen TVs Two bathrobes and slippers Selection of magazines	2 Adults	31

Cranley Comment

Deluxe rooms are considerably more spacious and are decorated in the same pastel tones as the Superior rooms. All the rooms are bright and airy and have large windows. Each room has a wooden floored hallway with the bathroom off one side and a closet area on the other. The hallway has two shelves displaying various pieces of decorative artwork. The open plan living and bedroom area is separated by a central display wooden cabinet which houses two TVs and two entertainment systems, one on the lounge and one on the bedroom side. The lounge area has wooden floors, a purpose-built walnut desk with an adjustable desk chair. There is a sofa and coffee table opposite the TV. The bedroom area has a further desk and chair. All Deluxe room bathrooms have a separate shower and bathtub. Several deluxe rooms have a balcony with a table and two chairs and decorated with plants.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Junior Suite	1	Street	As per the Deluxe room with the added benefit of: More space Separate living area partitioned off from the bedroom	2 Adults	33

Cranley Comment

The Junior Suite is larger than the Deluxe rooms and includes a separate living area which is partitioned off from the bedroom. The rest of the Suite is decorated and furnished in exactly the same manner as the Deluxe rooms. The Junior Suite has a balcony with a table and two chairs and is decorated with plants.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Addendum

Restaurant Type	European
Restaurant Capacity	64
Opening Times	Breakfast Monday to Friday 06:30 to 10:30 Lunch Monday to Friday 12:00 to 14:30 Dinner Monday to Friday 18:00 to 21:30 Closed Saturday and Sunday
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available
Breakfast Options	Continental buffet breakfast Cooked to order full Scottish breakfast A la carte menu

Cranley Comment

The Addendum Restaurant is located to the left of the lobby area on the ground floor and offers contemporary European cuisine. The modern restaurant is decorated with natural colours. To one side of the restaurant are leather booths that provide discreet dining areas. The remainder of the restaurant is furnished with dark leather dining chairs, tables covered with white cloths, surrounding mirrors, walnut flooring all warmed by subdued amber lighting. It is a fine dining restaurant and has a wine list consisting of a range of 'traditional' and 'new world' wines.

Brasserie

Restaurant Type	Traditional European
Restaurant Capacity	56 total (of which 36 inside and 20 on the terrace) There is standing capacity of 100 for functions.
Opening Times	Breakfast Monday to Friday 06:30 to 10:30 Saturday and Sunday 07:00 to 11:00 Lunch 12:00 to 14:30 After 14:30 afternoon tea and a light menu is available until 23:00
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking inside Smoking on the terrace is permitted
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available No children's menu
Breakfast Options	Continental buffet breakfast Cooked to order full Scottish breakfast A la carte menu

Cranley Comment

The Brasserie restaurant is situated to the left of the lobby entrance of the hotel and below the Addendum Bar. It is situated on street level and is a large glass extension with floor to ceiling windows allowing natural light and views over the street and the gardens across the road. The modern dining room has a fully opening glass front on to the street with a number of tables and chairs for al fresco dining. The Brasserie follows the theme of the lobby area and is decorated with walnut wooden panels. The seating area has neutral coloured leather chairs and wooden tables. At the far end of the restaurant is a raised large flat screen TV. The Brasserie serves traditional, classical and modern dishes as well as breakfast and afternoon tea. On a Thursday evening throughout the summer months there is a live jazz band including a singer performing from 19:00 to 22:30.

Bars

Number of Bars

Addendum Bar

Bar Type	Cocktail Bar
Bar Capacity	60 total (of which 20 seated and 40 standing)
Opening Times	Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 01:00 Sunday 10:00 to 23:00
Dress Codes	Smart casual