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The Cranley Report®: Apex City of London Hotel
Apex City of London Hotel, London
Hotel Address
No 1 Seething Lane
London
EC3N 4AX
Contact Details
Telephone: +44 207 977 9593
Fax: +44 207 702 1544
E-mail
Email hotel's reservation Desk
Cranley Rating

Hotel Entrance: Click to magnify
Photo 1 of 20. Click arrows to view
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.
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 and 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
  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
 1
  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
Air-Conditioning Yes
Smoking Policy Non smoking
Admissions Policy Children are allowed when accompanied by an adult
Cranley Comment
The Addendum Bar is located on the lobby level of the hotel and is situated between the Addendum and Brasserie restaurants. The Bar seating area has leather sofas and chairs and looks down over the Brasserie restaurant and terrace which is located on street level. There is a large wooden bar area with standing space and several high circular tables and chairs. The bar has a relaxed ambiance and may be used as a venue for pre-dinner drinks and cocktails.