Although my blog is essentially named after the city of London, I’m rarely afforded the luxury of actually staying overnight in the capital itself. Partly because I live such a short train journey away from the centre and partly because I’m not around as much as I’d like, I’ve only ever really experienced a handful of hotels in the area, so when I was offered the opportunity to spend a night at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street – I accepted almost instantly.
Booked to coincide with an event I was hosting that day, my stay provided a welcome, calm and relaxing haven in the possibly the best location among the hustle and bustle of central London. Nestled in the very middle of the shopping and dining district that is Seven Dials, when you’re staying at the Mercer Street hotel – London really is your oyster.
Having previously visited Radisson Blu Edwardian in Manchester (post here), I had high expectations with regards to the hotel’s decor and atmosphere – and luckily, I wasn’t disappointed. Funky, modern additions such as life-size gold sheep (yes really, I wish I’d taken a photo) and giant artwork work in harmony with the simplistic, yet luxurious interior. Food and cocktails are graciously provided by the adjoining restaurant – Scoff & Banter, offering traditional British cuisine with an opulent twist.
Upon arrival, our check in was swift and very friendly, making it immediately apparent that we were in good hands (if we weren’t already impressed enough). Our room, although small, was perfectly formed and had everything in it for a pleasant, comfortable stay – with fantastic views across London. The colour scheme was relatively ‘hotel’ standard, however offered a welcome plush addition in the form of crushed velvet pink and green throws and cushions – which were peeled by back hotel staff for us while we ate, ready to hop straight into!
After freshening up and unpacking our bags, we headed down for a few cocktails with Fii and Sofie-Eliza. Although the decor lived up to usual lavish London standards, the drinks menu was surprisingly affordable, with non alcoholic cocktails for £5 and alcoholic concoctions just £8. Having spent the first part of the evening chatting about all things blog related, we then headed over to our table – which was adorned in the same crushed velvet shades our room upheld (I almost want to do my own room up in the material now!).
As I have recently cut out milk and eggs from my diet (if you’d like to know why, you can take a look here), what I can actually eat when I’m dining out is fairly limited, however I was pleasantly surprised to see several options which suited my requirements and even one that wasn’t – but the friendly waiter said he could adjust the ingredients to make sure I could enjoy it!
Both Danielle and I opted for the scallops for starters – something I always tend to go for, but am sometimes left disappointed as they’re very difficult to get ‘exactly‘ right. Luckily, these were incredible – and although they left the butter out of the sauce, I didn’t leave a scrap on my plate.
Our mains followed a similar pattern, with both of us opting for the salmon with pesto and tomatoes – and a side of triple cooked chips. The salmon was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfectly seasoned and just the right size portion. We chatted the rest the of the night away and only stopped for breath when the dessert menu was placed in front of our noses.
Unfortunately, there were no dairy-free options, which was slightly disappointing – however my cocktail was essentially a pudding in itself, so I didn’t mind too much. Danielle ordered a strawberry trifle, which arrived in the most magnificent of martini glasses, topped with mountains of cream. It looked incredible – but it was too dark to get a good photo!
Overall, we had a wonderful stay at the Radisson Blu Mercer Street hotel and I really couldn’t fault a single thing. The location – which I feel the need to keep highlighting – was second to none and if you are in the market for a London stop-over, this is the perfect treat. Situated directly opposite the Cambridge Theatre (currently showing Roald Dahl’s Matilda, which I’m desperate to see) you are within walking distance of many great attractions, shops and restaurants – and just a short tube journey away from the others.
To book or for further information, please visit the hotel’s website here.
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