FAQ

What time can I check in and check out?

Check in is guaranteed from 3pm. If you are planning to arrive earlier, please ask about early check in at reception – we may be able to accommodate this for a small fee. Alternatively, please drop your baggage with us, and head out to enjoy the city.

We do need you to check out by 11am. If you wish to request a late check out, this may be available for a fee; please just ask a member of the team. We can also store your luggage for the day, though not beyond the day of your departure.

How can I cancel or amend my booking?

If you have booked directly with us, you have the option to make changes online, or you can contact the team on reservations@goodenough.ac.uk.

If you have booked indirectly through a travel agent, such as Trivago or Booking.com, you will need to request all changes with them, and please book directly next time! We always have the best direct offers and packages on our website.

Where is breakfast? I read something about Harry Potter on TripAdvisor?

Cooked breakfast is served at Goodenough College seven days a week. We usually try to serve it in the Great Hall (a spectacular space featuring high vaulted ceilings and oak panelled walls; it is a bit like being in a Harry Potter book, minus the owls), but if there is an event happening, breakfast will be relocated to Freddie’s, also in the College.

From Monday to Friday, we also serve a delectable continental breakfast in the hotel lounge, so if you’re up early, or just don’t fancy heading outside, just head down past reception.

College? Are there students having classes onsite?

Goodenough College is a residential institution (hall of residence) and charity for international postgraduate students. As we are not a teaching organisation, all our student Members (aged 21 years upwards) study for their PhDs and master’s at universities in and around central London, such as UCL and Kings College London. 

You can find out more about the College and its relationship with the hotel here, and we would encourage you to wander over to London House to enjoy the College’s graceful quad and colonnade. 

Can I book as a group online?

All bookings of 10 rooms or more are considered a group, and these do need to be booked directly with the hotel. Please contact the team to discuss your options and find the best configuration for your party. All of our booking T&Cs can be found here.

Do you have a laundry service?

We do! You can request a laundry collection (through a third part provider) at reception. Alternatively, you are able to use the College’s self-service laundry rooms; you will just need to provide your own washing powder or tablets. 

Are the rooms air-conditioned?

The rooms are not air conditioned, and for most of the year, they are a very pleasant temperature. When we have a nice summer (not always a given in the UK!), we have quiet high-powered fans in every room to help with air circulation. 
We are currently investigating how best to integrate air cooling into our buildings while being conscious of our sustainability goals and responsibilities as custodians of our Grade II listed townhouses. All building improvements will be confirmed in our newsletter; you can sign up here.

The hotel does have central heating, so you can be sure of staying cosy over the winter months.

Can I request a baby cot, or an extra bed? 

Yes, we have baby cots available – they are suitable for children up to two years old. We do provide sheets, but if you like to bring your own, the cots measure c. 60 x 120 cm.
If your little one is very tiny, please note that we do not have bassinets, so you may prefer to bring your own.

Most of our rooms do not accommodate additional beds unless already in place; because we do not have lifts, it is not practical to transport beds around the hotel. If you need your room to accommodate more than two people, please take a look at our family rooms or suites, which already have sofa beds in place 

Sorry, did you say that there’s no elevator..?

This is correct; we do not have a lift in the hotel, and due to our Grade II listing, it is unlikely that we will be able to have one installed.
We will carry your luggage up and down the stairs, but if you have specific mobility requirement, please let us know. Unfortunately, none of our historic townhouses are step-free, but we do have some limited rooms on the ground floor. 

Are pets allowed? Cats, dogs, hamsters... Pygmy goats..?

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed, though of course registered service dogs are permitted - please let us know in advance if you have an assistance dog.

Do you have fridges or kitchen equipment in the rooms?

Our bedrooms do not have kitchens, but they all have refrigerators, kettles and tea trays. All of our double (or larger) rooms also have a coffee machine & pods provided. As guests of the hotel you are also allowed to use the butteries (shared kitchens) in the College at London House. Reception can give you a steer on these facilities.

Does the hotel close over night?

Our reception is staffed 24-hours a day, and the team can help with any queries or requests that you have. If you would like to arrange any thing special for arrival, such as chocolate, flowers or wine, please just let us know.
Our reservations team, who manage your bookings, will be in the office Monday to Friday, but the reception team can deal with any enquiries in their absence. 
 

What are the dining & drinking options in the hotel?

Freddies at the College is open for lunch & dinner in the College 7 days a week – this is a buffet-style canteen, offering a range of freshly cooked meals. 

The guest lounge is open for guests to use all day after breakfast finishes – our honesty bar opens at 4pm, and any drinks or snacks can be charged to your room.

If you want to arrange a bottle of wine or other treat in your room prior to arrival, please let our team know; we have a range of options for every taste and budget.

Finally, the UK has now moved beyond its reputation for having the WORST food on the planet, and London has some gorgeous restaurants and bars. A good place to start is Lambs Conduit Street – just between the College and the famous Great Ormond Street Hospital– there are plenty of excellent small, local restaurants, cafes and wine bars, including the award-winning Noble Rot, and the very cool Redemption Roasters coffee shop, who help prison leavers re-enter the workplace.
 

How do we find you? And the airport? And everything else in London?

I would recommend downloading CityMapper – an excellent map app that will give you full directions to anywhere in and around London, across all transport routes (including walking or taxis). 

Transport for London (TFL) also offers a journey planner on their website, and live updates on any delays.

You can also look in The Notebook on our website for updates on nearby attractions or ideas for days out, and we often explore our local area in the hotel's newsletter.

Time Out London is an excellent online magazine who will explain the ‘best of London for free’, with recommendations for art, theatres, food & drink and events. Their continually-updated ‘Things to do with kids during the holidays in London’ is a must-read for parents!

Is there car parking at the hotel?

We do not have an onsite carpark, but loading and unloading is possible directly in front of the hotel. The nearest car park is at Bloomsbury Square (WC1A 2RJ) or Brunswick Square (WC1N 1AF). 

The local roads are managed by Camden Council. Please check the Camden Council website for up-to-date information on parking restrictions. At the time of writing, Camden Council permits Blue Badge holders to park free of charge on Mecklenburgh Square. We occasionally accost the parking warden to verify this. 

Can I rent a bike from you?

Not from us, but there is a Lime Bike stand on the North-East corner of Mecklenburgh Square, and offer stands for bikes and eScooters throughout the capital. TFL also host a large network of eBikes through their Santander Cycle scheme. Both have apps that can help.