London Hotels Insight provides up-to-date, independent advice for your perfect stay in London. We research guest feedback, meet management and identify hotels at the top of their game.
4 star free WiFi hotels that outdo 5 star hotels.
5 star hotels that charge for WiFi are an anachronism - luckily, there are cheaper 4 star alternatives which offer free WiFi with no compromise on luxury and we cherry-pick the best according to TripAdvisor below
We’ve recently been naming and shaming 5 star London hotels with expensive WiFi charges – a policy we believe can never be justified.
To further challenge these hotels, we’ve identified four significantly cheaper hotels in the 4 star category which outperform their more expensive 5 star competitors by offering free WiFi to their guests. What’s more, the following free WiFi London hotels are also all currently in the top 20 on TripAdvisor – so they give you great value for money in other ways too:
1. The Montague on the Gardens Hotel
This gorgeous boutique hotel near the British Museum is a hidden gem and currently the highest-ranked 4 star London hotel on TripAdvisor.
Not only does The Montague serve just about the best-value afternoon tea in London, it also has a lovely terrace with alfresco dining in summer; and individually-designed rooms including one of London’s best-value suites.
You can check out some recent guest comments for The Montague on TripAdvisor to see why this hotel is so highly-regarded. And since great service is the norm there, they wouldn’t dream of charging for WiFi.
Book direct with the Montague Hotel at the best guaranteed rate
The Guv'nor's Suite at The Montague: uncompromising luxury at a 4 star room rate
2. Hotel Indigo Tower Hill
This boutique-style hotel near Tower Bridge is currently rated very highly on TripAdvisor (number 10 from more than 1000 London hotels at the time of writing). One of the key reasons for this is the wonderful free WiFi which guests love and frequently mention in their reviews.
The hotel also throws in a number of other great freebies including complimentary membership at a nearby gym and free snacks from the minibar. The hotel’s General Manager Alex Apostolakos says they strive to offer ”warm, personal service as standard without costing a fortune”.
How ironic that it is owned by global giant InterContinental Hotels Group which imposes WiFi charges at its 5 star London hotels (like the flagship InterContinental Park Lane), but not at this well-regarded 4 star property.
Maybe top execs at IHG need to read this hotel’s reviews to grasp how critical free WiFi is to travellers. For example, a recent TripAdvisor reviewer made the following comment about the 5 star InterContinental Park Lane: “…Wish they could offer internet connectivity free. It was pricey and charged by blocks of 10 minutes…I don’t know why 5 star hotels do this”.
London Hotels Insight asked IHG the same question and were told they’re working on changing this unsatisfactory situation…however, it’s complex apparently because of their agreements with franchisees and 3rd party internet providers. It’s a weak excuse if you ask me (other hotel companies have overcome similar issues) but at least they don’t try to defend the indefensible as a few other 5 star London hotels try to do.
Until IHG get their act together on their internet policy (I’m sure they eventually will), members of the Priority Club Rewards scheme would be well advised to choose Hotel Indigo Tower Hill and its generously-sized rooms above its expensive WiFi-charging InterContinental counterpart.
Check the best rate for Hotel Indigo Tower Hill from 30+ hotel booking sites
Not only does the Hotel Indigo Tower Hill have rooms of above average size, they also come with free WiFi too
3. Apex City of London Hotel
This blog once described the Apex City as London’s best mid-price hotel. And even though room rates have risen, it looks like standards have been maintained and it still offers great value – along with unlimited free WiFi.
In fact, it’s a 5 star hotel in everything but price: staff are friendly and decor is modern without being cold. And you get your own personal Apex rubber duck – one of the best-loved hotel mascots around!
I recently visited a friend staying at the Apex City who wanted to get online through his iPhone as we had a drink at the bar. The reception staff positively relished sorting him out: a contrast to the embarassment I’ve encountered at some expensive 5 star London hotels where employees are often quite defensive about the fact their hotel charges guests for this basic amenity (in my view like charging for tap water).
Free WiFi makes your staff feel good about their jobs - another reason why hotels that continue to charge for it are being so very short-sighted.
Check the best rate for Apex City of London from 30+ hotel booking sites
My friend Chris happily playing with his iPhone at the Apex City of London...the staff were positively thrilled to help get his free WiFi up and running
4. Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel
This award-winning London hotel is hidden away in the back streets of Mayfair but punches far above its official 4 star classification in terms of service and hospitality. It’s a boutique luxury hotel that offers free WiFi as standard - along with one of the best hotel bars in London.
The Chesterfield is currently running monthly poetry readings at afternoon tea. Free WiFi terminals are even provided for guests if they haven’t brought along a laptop and the helpful staff are always more than willing to help guests get connected. They see this just as part of the service.
This is despite the fact that it’s in the same neighbourhood as the more expensive Dorchester Hotel and The Ritz – both of which impose eye-wateringly high extra WiFi charges on their guests.
Book direct with the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel at the best guaranteed rate
The Chesterfield Mayfair offers a comfy environment with traditional elegance but equipped with 21st century technology including free WiFi
Executives who work at 5 star London hotels which charge for WiFi need to learn from the above hotels – and quickly. Each day they delay the inevitable they’re being seen as dinosaurs, especially now that even ultra-cheap hotel chains like Travelodge are rolling out free WiFi.
In the meantime, we advise savvy customers to choose the above fantastic 4 star London hotels which include free WiFi as standard.
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Photo credits: Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, London Hotels Insight photo, Hotel Indigo Tower Hill, Montague on the Gardens Hotel.
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Why is it so complicated to offer complimentary Wifi in the so called 5 Star rated hotels?
Hi Rajan,
I find it as mystifying as you do. In my view, it probably reflects a lack of strong leadership in some cases and in others a failure to empathise with guests.
You are performing a wonderful service by outing London hotels that refuse to to offer Free WiFi. More importantly you are providing quality alternatives that don’t charge to connect.
You should consider expanding your service and let Londoners know where they can go on vacation at 4-Star properties that do the same. I would like to nominate http://www.NisbetPlantation.com, a 4-Star property that has resort-wide “Free” WiFi on the beautiful and undiscovered island of Nevis in the Caribbean. It was named the #1 Caribbean hotel by TripAdvisor in 2008 and is in the top 5 today.
Why not become a world-wide directory of 4-star+ hotels that offer free WiFi? I’m sure your readers would love to contribute.
How long will it be before WiFi is free?
Cheers
Hi Madigan and thanks for your comment. Even many 2 and 3 star hotels are now savvy enough to offer free WiFi so it’s surely only a matter of time before the more expensive laggards follow suit. Charging for WiFi is a very fast way for a luxury hotel to show that it’s behind the times and out of touch with its guests’ needs.