If you’re wondering where to stay in London, read on to hear about my experience at the most beautiful boutique hotel, right in the city center!
When planning my recent trip across the pond, I discovered the beautiful Victory Hotel in Leicester Square, which quickly caught my eye and ended my search for where to stay in London! After scrolling through numerous glowing reviews, drooling over the hotel’s gorgeous design, and realizing just how convenient it would be to stay in central London, I was sold.
Curious about what else I got up to on this trip? Read more:
- Most Instagrammable Places in London To Eat
- 10 Things To Do In London On Your Own
- A Luxury Stay in London at the Sofitel St James
- A Magical Day in the Scottish Highlands
- Where to Stay in Edinburgh
What is Victory House?
The coziest hotel in London. The end!
Okay, there’s more to it. Victory House is a new 4-star MGallery by Sofitel boutique hotel in Leicester Square right in the heart of London. It is perfectly situated between Soho, Picadilly and Covent Garden, and only one block away from the Leicester Square tube station.
Designed by angels (I’m assuming), its welcoming ambiance and cozy atmosphere drew me in immediately and made for the perfect home base in central London during our whirlwind trip there last month!
Let’s Talk About Sleep, Y’all
I’ve been to London three times now, and I’ve stayed in different areas of the city during every visit. On my first visit, I thought I’d save a little money and stay further away from the city center in an Airbnb…take a wild guess at how that went. I spent so much time on the tube, it was absurd. On my second trip, I stayed in Notting Hill at my favorite Airbnb ever, and loved everything about it. But this time around, I really wanted to drop myself in the middle in the city and be able to walk from place to place easier.
Because London is so spread out, each neighborhood has a truly different look and feel. During my last trip to London, I spent a lot of time in Leicester Square (where the Victory House Hotel is located), and it basically felt like the Times Square of London. Which is to say – flashy, overwhelming, touristy, and loud.
As someone who deeply values their sleep (and needs it so they don’t turn into a walking zombie), my only concern about staying at Victory House was that it would be too noisy for me to rest. I know, I’m a grandma. But sleep is vital, especially while traveling!
To my utter relief (and total surprise!), Victory House was so perfectly designed and well-insulated that I barely heard a thing, even when there were tons of people running around outside late at night. Twelve points for Gryffindor!
(Yes, a Harry Potter joke already. I have no self-restraint.)
Checking In
The check-in process was easy and smooth, and we felt welcomed from the moment we stepped inside Victory House’s lobby! The best part was that it felt more like walking into a hip restaurant/bar than a stiff hotel reception area. The reception “desk” is really just a small little counter at the back of the room pictured above, where the friendly hotel staff will inevitably be waiting to help you!
Only one thing to note, which is the location of the hotel’s entryway – I noticed a few previous guests mentioned in reviews that they had some trouble finding the entrance to the hotel, and we did too. Just a little, nothing major, but be aware that you need to turn up the alley and walk away from Leicester Square a couple of steps before you see the hotel entrance.
Victory House offers a few different room types and sizes – all of them are beautifully designed and decorated. Everything from the soft geometric carpet to the gold accents to the classy grey and white color scheme all work together to create a cozy, welcoming environment.
While the rooms are not gigantic, there is plenty of space to get comfortable!
Best Hotel Bathroom Ever
My photos do this bathroom no justice whatsoever, but y’all…this was the bathroom of my dreams. I know I sound like I’m being dramatic, but truly – the design aesthetic, bath products by C.O. Bigelow, overall layout, great lighting, little touches (um, heated towel racks anyone?!) and amazing shower made me feel like a queen. No lie.
I wanted to take that bathroom home with me.
Other cozy elements (like the room diffuser pictured above) made us feel even more at home, which is always so nice when you’ve been traveling for awhile and are missing those little things.
Petit Bistro
Many hotels have restaurants, but not many can boast a full French restaurant downstairs!
We only had the pleasure of eating one meal there – a quick brunch on our final day in London – but it hit the spot and I loved the aesthetic and design of the restaurant and bar area. There is also a large outdoor seating area for when the weather gets warm enough! Petit Bistro seemed to be a happening place particularly on the morning we checked out, which is not surprising given how inviting the space is!
The Room
My friend (who was traveling with me) and I both agreed that Victory House was one of our absolute favorites from this trip! From interacting with the hotel staff to enjoying our warm, cozy, impeccably decorated room, the entire experience was pleasant, smooth, and enjoyable. Zero hiccups!
The room itself was small but well-appointed, with just about everything you could need – including a fridge, which we put to good use. We also requested two twin beds, which were super comfortable and easy to pull apart for extra space if desired.
We had a view looking out onto Leicester Square, and it was fun to see London bustling about outside without having to worry about hearing all the hustle.
What I Didn’t Like
Honestly, trying to come up with something I didn’t like about Victory House was very difficult – and I’m not just saying that. I truly loved everything about it! But in the interest of being completely transparent, here are a couple of minor things:
- The room was definitely cozy (i.e. small) – this really didn’t bother us much or cause any trouble, and we both enjoyed the coziness and overall layout of the space. But if you’re a traveler who likes to spread out a lot, be sure to book a larger room!
- There was no closet or super accessible space to hang up clothing except for a couple of adorable pineapple coat hooks in the entryway and a hook inside the bathroom door. There was a place to hang clothing on the right side of the bed but it was so squished into the corner that it wasn’t functional. Again, not a huge deal for us, but might be for some people.
- This isn’t even really something I disliked – but just a random note: the corridors inside the hotel were a much darker (think dark purple-y mood lighting) than the rooms and the rest of the hotel, which wasn’t an issue at all, just a bit odd! I loved the brightness of our room and the lobby and restaurant downstairs, so it was just an interesting departure from the otherwise very cohesive design.
It’s The Little Things
Now, I’m assuming Victory House doesn’t leave fancy glittery brownies for just anyone (let’s pretend I’m special for a moment), but guess what? They left one for ME. After walking in the door to my room and ogling the bathroom of my dreams, the glittery brownie caught my eye.
Sadly, I have no photographic evidence of said glittery brownie because, well, I ate it. But just use your imagination. It was beautiful.
They also left a bowl fresh fruit, just in case I chose not to succumb to the brownie. A for effort, Victory House. A dessert covered in glitter will always win.
Also! See that Handy smartphone down there on the right? Victory House places those little guys in all of their hotel rooms so guests can take it out with them during their stay and enjoy free calling, data, and wifi, on the house. How cool is that?!
Ready to call off the search for where to stay in London and book the best boutique hotel in the city?
More details below!
- Hotel: Victory House London Leicester Square MGallery by Sofitel (I know, it’s a mouthful!)
- Location: Perfectly situated between Soho, Picadilly, and Covent Garden, and literally one block away from the Leicester Square tube station. Easy to walk just about anywhere, including Chinatown and Carnaby Street, which are lovely for a wander.
- Things I Love: Complimentary tea and biscuits (so British), incredibly stylish bathrooms (yes, I love a good bathroom, y’all), accessible rooms and facilities, super friendly staff, on-site full restaurant and gorgeous bar (Petit Bistro).
- Would I Go Back? 100%, both hands up, YES. I loved it!
- Pricing: Extremely reasonable considering the central location of the hotel and gorgeous rooms – check exact pricing via the links below.
- Book: Find the lowest available price & book a room on HotelsCombined or book directly!
Looking for more London posts? Read on!
- Most Instagrammable Places in London To Eat
- 10 Things To Do In London On Your Own
- A Luxury Stay in London at the Sofitel St James
For recommendations on more of the best areas to stay in London, check out Travelling King‘s helpful guide!
If you liked this post, please pin it!
Disclaimer: A big thanks to Victory House London for hosting me as their guest in exchange for an unbiased review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
Please be advised that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend companies or products that I love!
Wow, this looks like such a nice hotel – definitely a little different than the Airbnb-slash-hostel I stayed at there! 🙂
It was seriously my fave. Such a cozy and friendly but upscale vibe. And SO central and convenient to everything. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay anywhere else now!
This hotel looks absolutely amazing! Beautiful and so cute pictures! I will try to visit it the next time I’m in London.
It really is perfect! I loved it, would definitely stay there again! Great location, design, and staff 🙂
I love this! This does look like perfection. I’m in it for the tea and brownie!
Right?! Give me all the tea and brownies please 😉
Sounds like a great place to stay and in the best part of London. The room looks gorgeous. I don’t mind that it is small, I think that is pretty much the standard in London. Pinning for future reference.
Me either! Honestly, I loved the coziness of the room, it was perfect – like coming back to a little comfy cocoon at the end of a long day of wandering out in the cold. Definitely recommend it for any future London trips 🙂
If I make it to London I’ll have to check out Victory House.
I highly recommend it! 🙂
Beautiful photos and such an informative post! I have been wanting to return to London for quite some time so I’ve pinned this for later. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Renee! So glad it was helpful. Fingers crossed you can stay at Victory House on your next London trip – it’s really lovely!
I had no idea there was a boutique hotel in Leicester Square – especially one as chic as this! Bookmarking for my next London trip.
It’s new! A real gem, honestly. Most of the hotels over there are just overpriced and cheap-looking. Victory House is a real find!
Great to know of places to stay in London, looks great, I hadn’t heard of this one. Xx
I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city and looking for a central location with a unique experience – it was everything I dreamed of and more. Sounds sappy, but totally true 😉 Thanks for reading Lucy!
If only every hotel room had such delicious (and healthy!) treats…
I know, right? Me too! 🙂
I always find it difficult to book something in a large city – it almost seems like there are too many options, and then I am always trying to find the best value for money, which kind of is impossible if a city has 1000+ hotels/guesthouses!! This is where blog posts like thos come in handy!
I completely agree. 100%. It’s so overwhelming to try to find good hotels that are actually high quality without being $2k/night. Victory House is honestly super reasonable for the location, the quality of service and obviously the beautiful hotel itself. Definitely recommend checking it out!
Oh my that ROOM!!! So gorgeous! I’m heading to London in September and definitely looking into this place!
So pretty, right? I highly recommend it! Hope you get to stay there – you’d love it!
Love your pictures, they look very professional and make the place look stunning and very welcoming!
Thanks so much!
I loved the window design! Ok, and everything else – the cocktails and the snacks look so tasty! I’m always staying with family in London, but now will consider a one-night run away plan 🙂
Isn’t it cute? Love it! Feels kind of like staying in a ship at sea or something. You can definitely go in and enjoy their bar without being a guest at the hotel, so that’s a good way to check it out if you’re local!
That hotel looks absolutely beautiful! Really nice pictures, and how awesome that they give a phone for you to use during your stay. Very modern! Would love to stay here.
I know, right? I wish all hotels did that! Highly recommend checking them out if you end up in London soon!
Ah this hotel looks perfect, so cosy and comfy! I’m planning to visit London soon for the first time so this would be a great intro to the city!
It really was! I already want to go back. I think Victory House would be the perfect place to stay so you can be central to everything and get to know the city easier!
Oh wow love the windows!
I’m a sucker for a good window 🙂
Sounds like a lovely place! It´s great that there is a Handy you can take out. I never heard of any other hotel offering such a thing!
I know! Me either!
This hotel looks so gorgeous and cosy, will definitely consider it when I’m in London. Also that handy phone is so um ‘handy’ lol, love love this idea.
Highly recommend you do! It’s a lovely place to stay. I’d never seen those Handy phones before this trip – so cool, right? 😉
So pretty! I really love nice boutique hotels like this and have been looking for one in London for a long time. And yay for locations that are right in the centre of the action but still quiet!
While I agree that you need some space to hang your clothes I always wondered why so many hotels have bigger wardrobes than I have at home 😉
Oh perfect! Victory House really is the best combo of all of those things – highly recommend! And you’re so right on the massive wardrobes in some hotels, I’ve stayed at some recently with gigantic closets (and I’m the type to never hang anything up, I just live out of my suitcase) so I always wonder why there’s so much space wasted on that. I think that’s why Victory House eliminates the closet. Ha!
Oh my gosh, this hotel looks so cute and perfect!! and that Handy smartphone? Genius!! Can all hotels please have this?!? I love it.
Your photos are so good too, totally convinces me that this is the perfect place to stay in London 🙂
I know right? So helpful especially if you don’t want to shell out for an international phone plan! Thanks for the photo love too – hope you get a chance to stay here in the future!