Bit of hidden gem for Wembly Arena & StadiumPosted: Sat, May 03 2008Location:
4Rooms:
2.8Service:
2.3Value:
4I needed a hotel near Wembly Arena, at a few days notice, for a group of six - a family of 5 and myself.
Our options of the hotels in walking distance of the Arena, that still had rooms, would have cost from ?360 to ?450 for our one night stay. We paid a total of ?160 for two triple rooms at the Kingsland which already seemed like a far better deal with a total saving of ?200 to ?290, especially as a continental breakfast is included - not the case with the Premier Inn/Ibis type hotels.
The Kingsland is a few mins walk from Kingsbury tube which is only one stop from Wembly Park - perfect for the Arena and Stadium. The hotel has a safe car park which will save you the ?15 or so it would cost to park a car at the venue.
The hotel is light, bright and clean and the staff seem pleasant enough. We arrived to check in at around 2am and the night porter was waiting at the door to let us in as he must have seen us pull up in the car park. The reception is staffed 24 hrs a day.
We had rooms 301 and 304 - both triples with 3 single beds in each, on the 3rd floor. 301 was slightly bigger and would have taken the spare folding bed that seemed to be available if you don't mind a bit of a squish.
The lift goes up to the second floor and there are a couple of ground floor rooms too, useful for anyone with mobility issues.
Each room had an ensuite shower room (with loo and basin) which was *teeny* but for a one night hardly a bother. Towels, soap, shower gel, shampoo and plenty of loo rolls available. The shower was regular UK size and the water was hot. There was also a kettle, tea and coffee in the room plus a TV.
The continental breakfast was more generous than I was expecting for the price of the room - tea, coffee, orange juice, cereals and muesli, fruit, yoghurt, toast, croissants and pain au chocolat, jam, honey, spreads, cheese and a jar of biscuits! OK so some of it was the long life variety, rather than fresh, but it was all still fine and set you up for the day or journey home.
There are local shops and amenities around the tube (Jubilee Line). If you're on a budget, and don't mind the tube journey each day, the Jubilee line takes you into central London and near to most places a tourist might want to get too and would be a better option that a cheaper hotel in central London in my opinion.
When it comes to the budget end of accommodation the Kingsland Hotel has a lot going for it. I'd cetainly go back if I was looking to stay near Wembly Stadium or Arena. The last train goes from Wembly Park to Kingsbury around 1am so you can easily get back to the hotel on public transport.