ANYONE wishing to spend a bit of time in London will know one of the hardest calls to make is deciding where to stay.
Given the vastness of the city, it can be hard to find the perfect spot with easy access to all the main attractions.
This is however one of the main benefits of the newly refurbished Mercure and ibis London Earls Court Hotel, where I had the pleasure of staying for two nights last weekend.
With 226 ibis rooms and 144 from Mercure as well as a separate restaurant named Barnaby’s, the venture is a merger of two of Accor’s brands and was a delightful place to spend a couple of nights away.
Located around a five-minute walk from West Brompton tube station, my partner and I were welcomed to the warm interiors by the friendly staff before making our way to our room - the décor of which was inspired by the iconic Tardis of Doctor Who.
It was easy to see how upon entering, with the large blue wardrobe seemingly lifted straight from the hit show.
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The room also offered a lovely view out towards some of London’s best landmarks, although it was somewhat difficult to spot St Paul’s Cathedral in the distance given the miserable weather.
It was a comfortable space to spend time throughout the day, particularly given the conditions in London.
Given the ideal location though with nearby attractions such as the Natural History Museum and Kew Gardens (which was also unfortunately closed due to weather), the Mercure room rates starting at £149 per night seems fairly reasonable.
Barnaby’s restaurant
AS comfortable as the room was, the highlight of our stay was our meal at Barnaby’s restaurant.
It offers a range of options, including fish pie and chorizo rolls while a separate bar area also offers a variety of classic cocktails to enjoy.
Both the service and food were excellent, with our waiter happy to give us recommendations and talk us through what was on offer.
I opted for the rib-eye steak, which was cooked perfectly to medium-rare while my partner went for the seafood paccheri pasta, featuring prawns, clams, mussels and cherry tomatoes.
While I didn’t try any myself, I have been reliably informed it was an excellent meal.
Our waiter returned with the suite menu and recommended the chocolate fondant and the limoncello caprese – an excellent combination.
The restaurant had a quiet and calm atmosphere although there weren’t admittedly a huge amount of tables filled, perhaps not surprising given they’re up against everything West London has to offer.
Come Alive
THE hotel is also located right next to the Empress Museum, home to the Come Alive Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular show.
I can’t say I’ve spent much time at the circus, save a vague memory of when they visited my hometown when I was about five or six.
It’s an impressive space for hosting, with the interior showcasing various pieces of circus memorabilia including some great vintage posters while the performers can also be spotted wandering around in their costumes before the show.
Overall, it lasts around 100 minutes including the interval.
The show, which features something of a plot line about a young girl hoping to become a showman herself, is mainly focused on the incredible acrobatics of the performers.
While there’s no denying the show is fairly intense, it’s hard not to admire the physical feats achieved by those taking part, whether it’s carrying two people on their shoulders or - as was the highlight - performing the impossible-looking task of tightrope walking.
That being said, looking at the website, it seems the cheapest tickets available look to be around £50 and, while an enjoyable experience, I don’t think I’d be willing to pay much more for the experience.
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I can appreciate however that I may not have been the target demographic, and it was clear that the many families at the performance enjoyed the show.
Click HERE for more information on the show.
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