Our stay at the Luna Simone Hotel in the Victoria section of London was not long enough. My friend and I arrived at the hotel later in the afternoon than we anticipated due to a canceled train from Rye.
Once we did pull our luggage through the door of the Simone side of the hotel, we were met with warm hospitality and a room that was a perfect fit for our last night in London. This is a family-owned, family-run hotel with the original owner’s two sons now running the business.
These two have the traveler in mind. Affordability, comfort, cleanliness and easy access to several of London’s attractions make the Luna Simone worth considering.
The reception area is between the two sides of the hotel. Simone on one side and Luna on the other.
The Luna Simone is basically a hotel with two sides with the reception desk in the middle of the two. Each side has its own entrance, but you can go in one side and get to the other. Because of the hotel’s design, there is not an elevator to the guest rooms upstairs or to the breakfast room in the basement. Except for the stairs which really weren’t a problem for us, this is a cozy, compact hotel with whatever one needs easily accessible.
Our two twin bed room was large enough for us to move around in while we repacked bags and finished up last minute travel details. The furnishings included a large wardrobe, small desk and bedside tables which provided much needed surface space for plugging in electronics and spreading out items to be resorted.
Also, the bathroom’s sleek modern feel was perfect for enjoying that before a long flight shower. The tile work and large glass are classy and the towels are fluffy.
Basically, the room was made for function with aesthetic appeal tossed in. Everything we needed was included from the hair dryer to the coffee maker. And, I was also able to watch TV with the volume low while my traveling companion slumbered.
One side of the Luna Simone breakfast room.
In the morning, we had breakfast on the Simone side where other guests were already sitting. The English style breakfast is included in the price of the room. I opted for the muesli, fresh fruit, yogurt and coffee.
Along with the traveler friendly guest rooms, the Luna Simone Hotel has several features like large maps of England, London, and Underground to help make finding one’s way easier. Also, there is an App that one can download from the hotel that provides a city guide.
Originally, I wanted to take advantage of the hotel’s proximity to Westminster Abbey to go to that area after dinner, but the rain and being tired turned my outing into just a walk around the block. There are several upscale restaurants, boutique shops and specialty shops in the neighborhood.
The pink taxi that drove by caught my eye.
I do wish we had one more day to explore using Luna Simone as a base but for our last stay in London, this hotel was a pleasant send off. The proximity to Pimlico and Victoria stations and a number of bus lines is a huge plus.
I book our room through Hotels.com. You can also book directly through the hotel for a 5% discount. Rooms range in cost from $135 for a single bed room to $268 for a quad room that sleeps four people. Compare rates at an OTA such as Hotels.com or Expedia.
Post and photos by Jamie Rhein
