The Welbeck Hotel has been everywhere on TikTok and Instagram lately, but here’s the problem with most of those reviews: they’re gifted stays from people who aren’t hotel experts. So I couldn’t tell whether to trust their taste.
But I wanted to see if this was a hotel worthy enough to suggest to my Trip Planning Consultation clients, so I got to booking. Here’s my honest, paid-for-by-me take.
Location
We start off strong. The Welbeck is in Marylebone, one of my favourite areas of central London. It’s very central, but it has more of a quieter village feel compared to, say, Soho or Covent Garden.
Marylebone High Street is the main draw, and on this street plus the ones immediately off it you’ll find fantastic mid-range and luxury shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. It’s posh without being overly pretentious (looking at you, Mayfair).
You’re also well-placed for some great attractions: the Wallace Collection, the Moco Museum, Oxford Street, and the beautiful Regent’s Park are all within easy reach.
Verdict on location: excellent.
Image Courtesy of The Welbeck via Booking.com
The Hotel
The second I walked in, the hotel smelled amazing… a small thing, but it matters. The design feels fresh and luxurious while still being very classic. There’s no trendy-for-the-sake-of-it styling here. There are also a few subtle nods to Welbeck Street’s history — the street has long ties to the medical profession going back to the 1800s — which I thought was a nice detail rather than a gimmick.
On the ground floor there’s a bar you can hang out in without needing to order anything, and breakfast is served in a restaurant downstairs in the basement. I didn’t eat there, but worth knowing it exists.
The Room
This is the most important part, so let’s get into it.
I originally booked a Standard Twin Room because Booking.com listed it as bigger than a double. At check-in, they told me the two rooms are actually the same size, and they switched me to a double instead, which I appreciated.
A quick reminder for anyone new to London hotel stays: rooms here are smaller than in non-major cities. If there are two of you with suitcases, room size really matters. That said, this room was a good size, you could absolutely make it work with two people and two suitcases without feeling claustrophobic.
The good stuff
There’s a lot to like. The décor is beautiful, right down to the bathroom tiles and brass details throughout. The bathroom mirror has proper glam lighting (rare and extremely appreciated), there’s an extra makeup mirror, and the hairdryer is genuinely good, which honestly, is rarer than it should be. The bed was very comfortable and the shower was great.
The not-so-great stuff
The room was a bit stuffy, the bathroom extractor fan was quite loud, counter space was limited, and the TV streaming didn’t really work properly, so using Netflix and music were both a struggle.
Overall: a comfortable, well-sized, genuinely luxurious-feeling room. The issues are minor but worth knowing about.
Amenities
There’s a decent-sized gym. Beyond that, the amenity list is fairly short, although you can order spa treatments directly to your room, including IV drips, which feels very specifically targeted at hungover London weekends. Honestly, respect.
Service
No notes. The staff were fantastic. Friendly, helpful, and responsive whenever I had questions or requests. This can make or break a stay and they absolutely delivered.
Price
I paid £189 for a Friday night in January, which is on the cheaper end for this type of room. In peak summer, prices start around £315.
The Welbeck is part of the IHG group, so if you’re in their loyalty programme, you can earn and redeem points here, worth factoring in if you’re a regular IHG guest.
Image Courtesy of The Welbeck via Booking.com
The Verdict
The TikTok hype is largely justified but with a few caveats. The location is excellent, the design is genuinely beautiful, and the service is top-notch. The room issues (stuffiness, noise, streaming) are worth knowing about but aren’t dealbreakers.
If you’re looking for a stylish, well-located Marylebone hotel with real character, the Welbeck delivers.
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