If you’re looking for a business hotel in the heart of London’s Leicester Square, the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire offers contemporary elegance to fit your needs. This five-star London hotel is located in a 100 year-old building that was previously a dental college, and Anthony Attenborough, Edwardian Hampshire’s front office manager, informed me that the college still has its meetings in the hotel.

Experience the Edwardian Hamshire at Leicester Square:

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Leicester Square is where you’ll find London’s entertainment – the theater district, hotels, restaurants, pubs, shopping and other top attractions, including the National Gallery. Within an easy walk you can also get to Piccadilly Circus, the London Eye and Parliament. And while the area is certainly bustling with activity, business travelers will feel as if they are a world away when they stay at the Edwardian Hampshire — in spacious rooms and top of the line facilities.

Here is what you need to know if staying for business or planning a meeting:

Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Guest Rooms

The hotel has 107 rooms individually designed rooms, including 23 suites. Keep in mind that room sizes and desk areas will vary based on your class of room (standard, superior, deluxe and business travel rooms). However, each room is designed with luxury in mind – using luxury fabrics, muted shades, marble bathrooms, Gilchrist & Somes products and original artwork to create a comfortable stay.

As a business traveler you’ll appreciate some of the amenities that have you in mind: international power sockets in each room (including US power outlets), iPod docking stations and complimentary WIFI. But the best amenity by far is that Edwardian Hampshire has a Smart TV in each room. This is how you can get WIFI passwords, receive phone calls and even play videos from your own personal smart device. There’s air conditioning in each of the guest rooms, and the hotel has evening turndown service as a standard for all guest rooms.

I stayed in room 312, a very spacious junior suite that includes a king bed and a pullout sofa bed. The room also has scenic views of Leicester Square (lower floor rooms have tinted windows for extra privacy). And I was most impressed by the windows’ soundproofing. While the busy activity of the theater district was just outside, I didn’t hear any of that noise at night.

Meetings and Events

The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire is geared to smaller groups, workshops and those who are searching for a unique venue for a VIP event. The Penthouse Suite is its standout. It combines a state-of-the-art meeting space (built-in AV technology) with one of the best views of the city, including the London Eye and the Shard. The space comes with a flexible entrance area that can be used as a check-in room or bar in case of an evening event. The Penthouse Suite can hold up to 80 guests in a reception format.

The Edwardian Hampshire has five comfortable function rooms that can hold up to 100 people. These are also available for breakout rooms or as boardrooms (10-15 attendees). These spaces are located on the hotel’s lower level, and the hotel uses electronic billboards throughout the hotel for identification purposes that make the rooms very easy to find.

Dining at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire

The Scoff & Banter Leicester Square restaurant is an excellent restaurant that has contemporary English cuisine. Guests can enjoy the morning continental breakfast of cold cut hams, cheeses, jams, bread and pastries. There is also a hot breakfast with many different options, including the quintessential English breakfast of beans, eggs sausage and ham.

The restaurant is also popular for Afternoon Tea with friends or coworkers. For meeting planners, Scoff & Banter offers a group afternoon tea package, which is perfect for small and medium-sized groups.

Scoff & Banter is known for its modern European and classic European dishes, but without any pretension. Try to get a seat on Leicester Square and watch all the activity in London’s most famous theatre district. Business travelers wishing to grab a quick bite to eat can also head over to the attached fish & chips stand to try a well-known British staple.

Hotel Amenities

The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire takes care of its elite Club Carlson members by offering complimentary late checkout, upgrades based on availability, a 15 GBP drink credit per day and complimentary continental breakfast at the Scoff & Banter restaurant.

Other hotel amenities include a gym (excellent equipment and facilities), a 24-hour business center (which at first appears to be a library in decoration), 24-hour room service, concierge services, car parking and more.

The Verdict?

Central London offers dozens of Radisson Blu Edwardian hotels for business travelers. The Edwardian Hampshire is their five-star option that caters to business travelers and meeting professionals who are searching for an iconic London experience. The hotel staff is helpful and friendly, and you’ll be pleased if you select this hotel.