Leonardo Royal London St Paul's
by the TopOfHotel team
A solid 4-star whose real edge is the indoor pool — almost unheard of at this price right in the City.
A solid 4-star whose real edge is the indoor pool — almost unheard of at this price right in the City.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 437 rooms run modern and dark-toned, fully furnished, with comfortable beds and triple glazing that reviewers credit for keeping out City traffic and nearby building work. Bathrooms are a sensible size and easy to use. Executive rooms add a seating area and a better outlook. The honest caveat: some rooms are starting to show their age and are waiting on a refurbishment, so it's worth asking for an updated room when you book.
Food and amenities
The headline amenity is the mid-sized indoor pool paired with a proper gym — genuinely rare in a 4-star at this price in central London, and the reason families with kids gravitate here. The Leonardo Restaurant handles British and international plates at standard hotel prices. Breakfast is charged on top and runs steep for what it is; a few guests suggest eating elsewhere, which is easy enough on a weekday.
Location and getting there
Location is the strong suit. St Paul's Cathedral is a 5-minute walk, and St Paul's Tube is 6 minutes out, putting you on the Central Line to Oxford Circus in about 7 minutes. The Millennium Bridge over to the Tate Modern is a 10-minute walk, and the Tower of London is roughly 20 minutes on foot. The catch is the neighbourhood rhythm: the City is a working financial district, so on weekdays it has restaurants and pubs all around, but at weekends it goes very quiet and many places close.
Things to know before booking
Three things to weigh. First, weekends are dead in the City — plan a short walk or Tube hop for Saturday and Sunday dinners. Second, request a refurbished room, since a chunk of the older stock is due an update. Third, skip the paid breakfast unless it's bundled into your rate; it's pricey for what arrives. None of these are dealbreakers, but they shape who this hotel suits.
Our take
This one earns its 8.4/10 by doing the basics well and throwing in a pool. It's the right pick for families who want a swim for the kids, business travellers working in the City, and sightseers happy to walk to St Paul's, the Tate Modern and the Tower of London. Rates from around $166 are fair value for a 4-star with a pool this central. If you're in town mainly for the weekend, though, a hotel in a livelier area like Westminster Bridge will feel better after dark.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 5-minute walk drops you at St Paul's Cathedral, and the Millennium Bridge across to the Tate Modern is only 10 minutes on foot, with the Tower of London about 20 minutes away.
- The mid-sized indoor pool and the gym are a genuine rarity in a 4-star at this price in central London — handy for families travelling with kids.
- All 437 rooms get triple glazing, which reviewers say does a real job of muffling City traffic and nearby construction noise.
- St Paul's Underground station is a 6-minute walk, and the Central Line gets you to Oxford Circus in roughly 7 minutes for West End shopping and theatre.
- Rates open around $166 a night, which is fair for a 4-star with a pool this central, and the Leonardo Restaurant covers British and international plates onsite if you don't want to head out.
- The City is a working financial district, so it empties out at weekends — a lot of the surrounding restaurants, cafes and pubs simply shut on Saturday and Sunday, when you'll be walking further to eat.
- Several reviewers flag that some rooms are looking tired and waiting on a refurbishment, so it's worth asking for an updated room when you book.
- Breakfast is charged separately and runs steep for what it is — a few guests reckon you're better off eating over in the West End or grabbing something locally on a weekday.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a refurbished or Executive room at booking — the Executive rooms add a seating area and a better outlook, and skip the units that reviewers say are due an update.
- Eat out on weekdays. Monday to Friday the City has plenty of restaurants and pubs near the hotel; by Saturday most of them close, so plan a short walk or Tube hop for weekend dinners.
- Take the Central Line one stop from St Paul's to reach Oxford Circus in about 7 minutes, or just walk 10 minutes over the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern instead of paying for a Thames-view room.