London Hotels

• Three blocks from the Heathrow Express terminal at Paddington Station, this hotel is 1 half-mile from Oxford Street shopping.
  
  
• The 1,058 guestrooms are soundproofed and air conditioned, and have TVs with Internet access and PlayStation game consoles.
  
  
• This hotel has a fitness center with a 40-foot indoor pool, and a business center, Mediterranean restaurant, and bar-lounge.
  
  

GENERAL INFORMATION:
What to expect: With 1,054 rooms, this hotel claims to be the largest in London, and its 23 stories make it the tallest building in the area. The long lobby has a marble floor, glass elevators, a sunken lounge, and a mezzanine level leading to conference rooms. The business facilities attract many executives, while vacationers explore the Mediterranean shops and restaurants on cosmopolitan Edgware Road.

Amenity highlights: The Hilton London Metropole has a fitness center with a sauna, steam room, 40-foot indoor pool, and cardio and resistance machines. A restaurant with an adjoining sports bar, a café, and a bar-lounge are located just off the lobby. In addition to 40 conference rooms that can accommodate up to 3,000 delegates, a business center (fee) offers two dial-up Internet access terminals and full office facilities.

Insider tip: Little Venice is one of London's loveliest districts, a tranquil oasis in the Paddington area. Located a half-mile from the hotel, the neighborhood beckons strollers with its tree-lined streets, paved tow path along Regent's Canal, and narrow boats available for hire.

PROPERTY AMENITIES:
The Hilton London Metropole's fitness center has a 40-foot indoor pool, sauna, steam room, cardio and resistance machines, free weights, two TVs, changing rooms, and showers. Also, in addition to 40 conference rooms, the hotel has a business center (fee) where guests can use two PCs with dial-up Internet access, a fax, scanner, color printer, photocopier, laminator, and shredder.

ROOMS:
The Hilton London Metropole's 23-story contemporary hotel has 1,054 rooms. High-speed Internet access is available (surcharge). Flat-panel televisions feature satellite channels and pay movies. Most bathrooms have combination shower/bathtubs except executive rooms which have separate bathtubs and showers. Most rooms offer city views through double-paned windows.

DINING:
Fiamma - Features Mediterranean cuisine in a contemporary brasserie-style dining room. Teak balustrades, potted trees, and colourful decor of orange, lemon, and avocado; bright and informal. Open from breakfast onwards. All-day buffets; lunch and dinner menus.

Nippon Tuk Bar and Restaurant - Asian-fusion restaurant with wide views from its 23rd-floor setting. Serves a range of Eastern foods and drinks in a relaxed ambience. Menu includes sushi, noodle, and tempura dishes.

Lounge Bar - Features sofas, a marble-and-teak bar, glass lamps, and views of busy Edgware Road through wooden Venetian blinds. Open daily for drinks and snacks, from the early morning until the early hours.

Coffee Shop - Part of the lobby. Informal, with bistro-style steel tables and steel-and-wicker chairs. Coffee, pastries, and paninis. Open from the early morning until the early evening.

Sports Bar - Located on the ground floor next to Fiamma. Large screen televisions.