A very nice short 4-day stay at The Clermont, Charing Cross

I decided last week that the hot weather would once again propel me towards a hotel with air conditioning. I couldn't count the number of times I've passed by The Clermont right by Charing Cross* station over the years and it had never really occurred to me to stay there before (given I live about half an hour away in Blackheath) but this was the week I did. (There's also a Clermont hotel in Victoria).

Loved it. Really nice hotel. To be fair I was staying in a nice room as I think everyone else had the same idea so rooms were at a bit of a premium. Strongly recommending it to anyone considering it. Lovely cool room (17˚C though I slept at 22˚C), room service, and possibly my favourite small delight was a little fluted glass jar filled with biscuits and sweets. If you read my disappointing experience of avoiding the last heatwave in a different hotel you'll know that the apparent lack of a biscuit anywhere within it nearly sent me doolally ;)

 
There's a lovely staircase to sweep down, admittedly not as dramatic when you're wearing jeans. Very nice restaurant where I had my breakfast (self-service) and I had a go of their rigatoni on two nights as room service. Unbelievably delicious (there were toasted pistachio nuts and artichokes in there, all in a lovely sauce). Everyone was friendly, helpful and amiable. Every time I rang reception or room service the phone was answered promptly and I'm sad to have left and come home again, though it is going to be much cooler^ for the next few days.

You don't have to be a hotel guest to dine there so I definitely recommend finding a way to try out the rigatoni when it's available. Also you are right next to a 24 hour Co-op (I didn't test this out later than 10pm but if you need an emergency snack...). The room I was in also had a bag of crisps, popcorn and some minibar stuff plus coffee / tea stuff.

Even the shower was easy to use! Free wifi.

100% thumbs up from me. I could have done without the (not awful just could do without it) music in the reception and restaurant areas but it wasn't loud or intrusive. They'll also look after your bag for you after checkout if you want to wander around London (too hot today).

*I've lived in London all my life bar university, initially zone 5 so I'd arrive at Charing Cross via the Jubilee Line (until 1999) or via the 176 bus from Camberwell, and now via Blackheath (train) or Greenwich (to Embankment Pier by ferry). 

^My flat is currently 32˚C but it will soon start to get a bit more tolerable as it's actually quite a bit cooler outside now.

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