Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travelers visiting London, Ruskin Bed & Breakfast is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its budget friendly environment and proximity to great restaurants and attractions, Ruskin Bed & Breakfast makes it easy to enjoy the best of London.
The hotel features baggage storage, and you can stay connected during your stay as Ruskin Hotel London offers guests free internet access. Plus, Ruskin Bed & Breakfast offers free breakfast, providing a pleasant respite from your busy day.
Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as Big Ben (1.3 mi) and Westminster Abbey (1.4 mi), guests of Ruskin Hotel London can easily experience some of London's most well known attractions.
While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the Spanish restaurants, including Barrafina, Eneko Basque Kitchen & Bar, and Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, all of which are a short distance from Ruskin Bed & Breakfast.
There is no shortage of things to do in the area: explore popular ancient ruins such as London's Roman Amphitheatre, Billingsgate Roman Bath House, and London Wall.
Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure or both, Ruskin Bed & Breakfast is sure to make your visit to London one worth remembering.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Location
23-24 Montague Street, London WC1B 5BH England
Ruskin Bed & Breakfast
278 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
The Ruskin was such a fine choice, I hesitated to let out the secret in TripAdvisor. However, the family run estrablishment deserves the credit. We had desired to stay at the St Margaret, which was filled, and they referred us to the nearby Ruskin. A few faxes to Sid, the heir apparent innkeeper, and we had a twin and a single sorted within a day. Check in is not until 1PM, although they will hold your bags while you wander the city after a trans atlantic flight.
Located directly across from a side entrance to the British Museum, it is a 5 minute walk to the bustling Tottenham Ct Road tube and shopping area. You can walk to the more popular areas of London easily.
The facilities are impeccable, every inch of the B&B spotless and bug free. The rooms were typically British, just large enough to walk around the beds, and without TV or radio, but the twin did contain a phone and lovely tea/coffee machine. The lack of American style in- room distraction is welcome after a hard day sightseeing and pub crawling.
The twin room was en-suite, with a small bathroom area forcing a person to move sideways. The small bathroom did have plenty of hot water, nice tile, and was cleaned daily by the staff. There is a large common area with an unusual painting dominating the room. The beds were comfortable, and prepared daily by the staff.
The Ruskin serves english breakfast in a basement dining area complete with wait staff. No one travels to England for the food, but you can obtain a few eggs and toast to start your day.
The Ruskin does not cater to North Americans. On this visit, the fellow travelers were either British or, unfortunately, French. The smaller size of the place is a benefit, as it is quiet at night. The prices are reasonable, yet high enough to deter backpackers and the late night wandering crowd.
This is a travellers hotel, not for tourists needing hand holding and concierge services, or businessmen needing fax and internet connections.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Good: I paid 59 pounds for a single room with shared shower and toilet. My room had a single bed, a built in desk with a mirror above it, a sink with a mirror, and a freestanding wardrobe/closet. There was a radiator plus an electric heater ("gas heater" they told me it was called?). There were two outlets in the room, plus one for a shaver. Breakfast was included in the rate, and consisted of a fried egg, beans, ham, a sausage, toast, coffee or tea, PLUS you could help yourself to any of four different cereals and milk, and several kinds of juice. The location was incredible, right next to the British Museum. (Literally: you step out the door of the hotel and you were looking at the side of the museum. You could walk to the front entrance in about 3 minutes.) The room and all the facilities, while a little old (shabby, some might say) were spotlessly, sparklingly clean. I couldn't have asked for a cleaner place.
Also, it was very quiet. I only ever saw another guest in the lounge or at breakfast. Never heard others in the hallway, never had to wait for a toilet or shower.
The room and all the facilities, while a little old (shabby, some might say) were spotlessly, sparklingly clean. The tiles in the sink-surround area literally sparkled, which is pretty amazing because they seemed to be pretty old. The toilet and the shower always smelled vaguely like bleach, which, frankly, I found reassuring. I couldn't have asked for a cleaner place. That's the good.
The Bad: The shower was very tiny. I'm a 5'2" women of medium build. The shower was approximately 30"x30". Shaving my legs was tricky. Also, there is no shelf or ledge or anything to set your soap or shampoo on. I did feel a little funny about setting my soap on the floor of the shower and then, say, washing my face with it.
The little vestibule outside the shower was exactly the same size as the shower, and there was no bathmat. I was turned off by stepping on the wet floor after my shower. I would stay again, but I would bring a suction-cup soap dish, and a cheap bathmat (with the plan to throw them out/ leave upon my departure).
The Not Bad but Sort of Nit-Picky: The outlet situation was tough. There was no outlet anywhere near either mirror, and the cord on my tiny travel hair dryer was too short to use. I asked the front desk clerk where I could buy an extension cord, and though he tried to help, he couldn't really describe anywhere that I would easily be able to get to. Once he understood the problem, however, he loaned me a framed mirror that I hung on the handles of the wardrobe. It worked out well, and I was pleased with his willingness to help.
A few other things: they seem to be very very strict about the check-in time. From the lounge I heard them tell a handful of inquiring guests that their rooms would not be ready until 2pm. Period. No offer to "let me see what I can do," or anything like that. 2 pm, end of story (which is fine, and fair, but many hotels will try to squeeze you in. From what I overheard it seems to be a pretty firm policy at the Ruskin).
Other reviewers complained about the decor. Yes, the walls were pink, the tiles around the sink were yellow, the bedspread was gold, the carpet was mauve, the curtains were blue, and the wood on the desk, chair and closet were all different. Really? You come to London to see things that are hundreds of years old, and complain because the furniture in your hotel is a bit shabby? How someone could pay so little and get such a great location, and yet have the nerve to complain about the decor is totally beyond my comprehension. If you want precisely the same comforts of home, here's a tip: don't leave home.
I liked the hotel and wuold absolutely stay again.
Overall, I was very pleased. I would stay again, but I would do some things differently. 1) bring a cheap bathmat, plan to leave it/throw it away when you leave. The share
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Date of stay: December 2010
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I have just returned from a week in London where we stayed at the Ruskin Hotel. As there are a wide range of opinions of the Ruskin on this website, I thought I would add my own comments.
The hotel had been recommended by a friend of a friend as a clean, budget B&B near the British Museum. We booked a double room with shower for ₤84/night which was considerably less than the other places we were considering. There are also less expensive rooms available, some without private bath. The price included a full English breakfast every morning.
Our room looked out over a small garden in the rear of the building and was very quiet. Rooms facing the street might be more noisy, but it was not a heavy traffic area. The room was immaculately clean, although dated, and included only a telephone, coffee maker, and hair dryer. There was no radio, TV, or toiletries in the bathroom. There was, however, a TV in the lounge on the ground floor. We thought the bed was comfortable, about the size of an American double bed. The bathroom was small but adequate. There was always hot water. Our only minor complaints about the room was the fluorescent lighting and that there was no shelf in the shower for soap and shampoo.
The hotel is located in a prime location within a 5-10 minute walk of three Underground stations and numerous bus routes. The British Museum is around the corner and there many pubs, restaurants, etc. in the area. The hotel is a 20 minute walk from most of the West End theatres.
The hotel had an international range of guests (Americans, Canadians, Japanese, and Spaniards) as well as a number of English. The staff was very friendly and tried to be accommodating – for example as our room was ready, we were able to get into our room several hours before the official 1pm check-in time.
There were a few things I would change – I thought the two nights non-refundable deposit at time of booking to be a bit restrictive, it would have been nice if there was a alarm clock/radio in the room, and it would have been nice if the breakfast room stayed open a little later (it closes at 9:15 am) for the tourists staying at the hotel.
In short, The Ruskin is not the place to stay if you are looking for a hotel with TV, room service, afternoon tea, concierge, etc. However, if you are simply looking for a clean, budget accommodation in central London I would strongly recommend the Ruskin.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Ruskin was, in my opinion, an authentic London experience. It was NOT what a typical American motel-stayer might expect--no radio, t.v., a shower/bathroom so small you can barely turn around, BUT it was so cool, so OLD and located in the best part of London; great area for those who can/will walk to many tourist sites, access to the "tube", elevated trains, etc.. Very nice staff at the hotel, very quaint experience, like a trip back in time!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beware fellow travelers: The Ruskin Hotel, located across the street from the British Museum, is a terrible place to stay! I recenly had the misfortune of staying there (for my honeymoon) and it was awful. The Ruskin is dirty and reeks of cigarette smoke. Save money and stay at another hotel, one that provides all the amenities that Americans are used to...like confortable beds, soap in the bathroom and television! There was no cancellation policy listed, so when we told the manager that we were leaving, we were forced to pay for the remainder of our reservation. I would hate for anyone to have the same experience I did.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first choice in inexpensive London hotels. Alway spotlessly clean, big windows in back rooms that open to lovely breezes and a garden-- great breakfast-- staff who worry if you don't eat lots , kind owners, and a LIFT. What else can you want-- with prices like these I can do London way more often. Nor posh, but well above just adequate. And you can walk EVERYWHERE from here.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great hotel, clean and cozy. We stayed in room 309 which looked out to a lovely garden. Was very quiet and was able to have the large window open all night. easy walking distance to covent garden and other areas. Plenty of good olf fashioned london pubs. Breakfast good. Friendly staff. Would definately return for a weekend again. This Hotel is great for a weekend away to see some sites and shows, good value for money.
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Date of stay: March 2011
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When on a budget in London, you can expect either bad service, questionable rooms or an unfortunate location. Ruskin has none of these. Actually, the staff is very helpful, rooms are clean and the street is quiet yet in the centre of London. Sure, the furniture is old and the floors are squeaky. But a table-served full English breakfast, 24 hour check-in, helpful staff and fairly comfortable rooms can't be beat easily for this price. Shower was nice and hot, wifi in lobby only but free.
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Date of stay: March 2011
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Really a good location, next to the British Museum and buses and underground. A clean friendly little hotel, very quiet and very good value. It would not appeal to people who want TVs and modern bathrooms and the amenities of a regular American hotel. There is a kettle in the bedroom with tea and instant coffee supplied. Breakfast in included in the price. I have stayed here several times and will return again.
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Date of stay: November 2010
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is located in the heart of London, across the street from the British Museum and a quick 10 minute walk from the Russell Tube station. Being so close to this tube stop allows you to be at any of the landmark tourist attractions in no time at all. Also, there are shops, restaurants, and a Tesco Market near by. The cost per night is unbeatable for the location.
The staff at this hotel is amazing. From the guy at the front desk, to the cleaning staff, down o the staff in the breakfast room...all amazing.
My sister and I stayed here for three nights in a twin room. While our room was spotless, the furniture and decor was tired and worn and a bit depressing. I had to continue to remind myself what a great value it was. There is no way I could have stayed in th same area without paying almost double. The shared bathroom was very modern in decor and spotless.
I'm not 100% sure that I would book this hotel again. Understanding that when you travel to a city like London, the goal isn't to spend lots of time in your room, but the room should feel comfortable.
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Date of stay: September 2013
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wrotham, United Kingdom541 contributions172 helpful votes
Agree with earlier answers. We came from Kent so came into Victoria and caught the bus. I now think the bus is preferable to the Tube for sightseeing, if you have the time!
There are more places to choose from in the London area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
ruskin hotel london
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandLondonBloomsbury
NUMBER OF ROOMS
42
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ruskin Bed & Breakfast
Which popular attractions are close to Ruskin Bed & Breakfast?
Nearby attractions include The British Museum (0.08 miles), Faulty Towers the Dining Experience (0.2 miles), and THATMuse,Treasure Hunt at the Museum (0.10 miles).
