Asian Wealth’s Sunny Patel explores the cultural rebirth of the Andaz London, originally the Great Eastern Hotel, born again as a five-star boutique hotel perfect for business and leisure

If walls could speak, the Andaz London would probably have a gagging order. One of the original London railway hotels, formerly known as the Great Eastern Hotel, the building has homed a string of infamous personalities. It is famously referenced to home vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing during his first visit to London in Bram Stoker’s horror novel, Dracula.

Sitting on London’s infamous Liverpool Street, adjacent to funky Shoreditch, Hyatt’s East London 5-star luxury hotel provides the perfect location for both business and leisure. And the new look is reflective of the evolved style of the area. The Grade II listed Victorian building dating back to 1884 has had a splash of colour and playfulness, while maintaining a classy feel with delightful original features such as marble staircases and mosaic floors. 

Location:

Standing tall right next to Liverpool Street Station, the Andaz seems to pulsate with the hustle and bustle of the City, yet without the noise you might expect from such a location.

You only need to step out of its revolving doors to access superb travel links around the capital, or walk to tourist hotspots such as Spitalfields, Tower of London, Tate, St Paul’s Cathedral, Barbican and an exciting array of independent shops, buzzy restaurants and cafes.

Stepping into the lobby, guests are immediately drawn in to the cool, yet welcoming atmosphere of a smart, modern hotel. There is a distinct fashionable vibe with eye-catching colours that seemed to dance across the walls.

Service:

From the moment I stepped over the threshold, I was awed by the friendly and professional staff. Living up to the Andaz reputation, staff were attentive from check in, even offering me choice of drinks to ease me through the process. This was a most welcome touch, and their warm and accommodating nature continued throughout my stay.

Rooms:

The bar had been set high by my welcome in the lobby, and my room maintained those standards, if not lifting them even higher. The Andaz has 267 rooms, including 15 suites, all designed by Conran and Partners, experts in their field. Each and every room reflects the history of the building, with some intriguing views across the City, including iconic buildings such as the Gherkin.

My room was spacious, smart, and well-equipped with everything you would need, and added frills such as East End reading books, a Nespresso machine, free minibar and a shoe shine kit.

The bed was comfortable and warm, the shower was a delight, and the TV and mini fridge were well stocked. The room also included free Wi-Fi for the entirety of my stay, which was a lovely touch. Certainly one of those rooms you could easily and happily spend your entire stay enjoying if it weren’t for the bottomless list of experiences outside the front door.

Bars and Dining:

There are a six bars and dining areas to choose from at the Andaz. Rakes Bar seemed to attract a mature and elegant crowd, and the food matched the tone of the room. I must say that their chicken sandwich was one of the best I have ever tasted, and I do not say that lightly. It was reasonably priced too.

The newly refurbished Andaz Lounge is where all the fun happens. It hosts a complimentary Canape and Wine Hour between 6pm and 8pm for all guests of the hotel, and soft drinks and snacks are also available all day, all on the house.

Overall, if you are looking for a modern and classy hotel for business or pleasure, the Andaz Hotel will provide a matchless and authentic London luxury experience, with lots of stories to tell.

Andaz London Liverpool Street