The Royal Albion

Broadstairs 51.35850400, 1.44235800 , 6-12 Albion Street (Show on Map)
8.2
Very Good


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1 room2 guests 1 room, 2 guests
Info 18th century hotel regularly visited by Charles Dickens. Its sea front location offers an exclusive dining experience and rooms with a magnificent views over the Viking Bay.
Summary of reviewsThe Royal Albion, located in the charming seaside town of Broadstairs, is celebrated for its unbeatable beachfront position, which affords stunning views of Viking Bay and easy access to local attractions. The historic hotel's central location makes it an ideal base for exploring local amenities, restaurants, pubs and coastal walks, adding to the allure with its quaint seaside charm.

Guests consistently praise the breakfast experience at The Royal Albion, noting the delicious and varied selection, quality dishes and exceptional service. Breakfast is often enjoyed with beautiful sea views, enhancing the meal's ambiance. Despite minor inconsistencies with cooked breakfast quality and service speed, the overall sentiment remains highly favorable.

Dinner at the hotel receives mixed reviews with many guests enjoying well-prepared and reasonably priced meals, particularly the bar food. However, some have found the menu limited and certain dishes overcooked. The restaurant's lovely views and attentive service contribute positively to the dining experience, although the early closing time and lack of room service are drawbacks.

The rooms are generally described as comfortable, charming and often offering great sea views. Recently refurbished or updated rooms receive higher praise for their tasteful decor and cleanliness. However, room sizes can vary and some maintenance issues such as stained carpets or outdated decor are noted. Despite these concerns, many guests find the accommodations clean, cozy and well-appointed.

Cleanliness at The Royal Albion is mostly commendable with many guests describing the hotel as spotlessly clean and well-maintained. Clean facilities, bright and airy spaces and well-equipped bathrooms enhance the overall experience. Nonetheless, certain areas like carpets and bar garden require more attention and some guests suggest an overhaul in housekeeping practices.

The hotel staff is highly regarded for their exceptional customer service. Reviewers frequently highlight the staff's friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism. Instances of staff going above and beyond, such as offering local advice or carrying suitcases, are particularly appreciated, creating a welcoming and cheerful atmosphere.

The Wi-Fi service at The Royal Albion is a common point of frustration with many guests experiencing weak or non-existent signals, particularly in the rooms. Although the hotel offers free Wi-Fi, its reliability and performance need significant improvement.

Families find The Royal Albion to be a suitable and practical choice with well-furnished family rooms, convenient amenities and a family-friendly environment. The hotel's central location and thoughtful staff contribute to a pleasant and memorable stay for families.

While the hotel's prime location near vibrant nightlife adds to its charm, it also brings noise issues for some guests. Insufficient soundproofing and lack of air conditioning in the rooms can lead to disturbances, particularly on weekends.

The beds at The Royal Albion receive mainly positive reviews with many guests finding them comfortable and conducive to a restful sleep. However, some reviews mention issues with hard mattresses, lumpy pillows and bed stability.

In summary, The Royal Albion offers a solid three-star experience, combining its prime beachfront location, historic charm, excellent breakfast and exceptional staff service with a few areas for improvement such as Wi-Fi reliability, dinner consistency and housekeeping practices. It remains a top choice for those seeking a pleasant and scenic seaside retreat.
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Categories
Hotel near Golf Courses

Historic Hotel

Beachfront Hotel

Hotel near The Beach

Family Friendly Hotel

Dog Friendly Hotel

Hotel near Nightlife Spots

3-Star Hotel

Room Types
Double Room This Double Room has contemporary decor and traditional features.

Double Room with Sea View This spacious double room has sea views.

Single Room This spacious Single Room has contemporary decor and traditional features.

Double or Twin Room with Sea View Offering free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The twin/double room offers a TV with satellite channels, a coffee machine, a carpeted floor, heating as well as sea views.

Double or Twin Room with City View Providing free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The twin/double room provides a coffee machine, a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a TV with satellite channels. The unit offers 2 beds.

Deluxe Double or Twin Room with Sea View Offering free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The twin/double room offers a coffee machine, a carpeted floor, heating, a TV with satellite channels, as well as sea views.

Deluxe Single Room Featuring free toiletries, this single room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The single room features a coffee machine, a carpeted floor, heating, a TV with satellite channels, as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

Standard Triple Room Providing free toiletries, this triple room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The triple room provides a coffee machine, a carpeted floor, heating and a TV with satellite channels. The unit offers 2 beds.

Deluxe Double Room with Sea View This double room includes a TV with satellite channels, a private bathroom as well as a balcony with sea views.

Family Room Featuring free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The family room features a coffee machine, a carpeted floor, heating and a TV with satellite channels. The unit has 2 beds.

Double Room with Sea View This double room includes a TV with satellite channels, a private bathroom as well as a balcony with sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.

Superior Double or Twin Room with Sea View This twin/double room is comprised of a TV with satellite channels, a private bathroom as well as a balcony with sea views. The unit has 3 beds.

Superior Double Room This double room is comprised of a TV with satellite channels, a private bathroom as well as a balcony with sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Location
The Royal Albion in Broadstairs is consistently praised for its unbeatable location. Guests frequently highlight its position right on the beachfront with many rooms offering stunning sea views, particularly of Viking Bay. The hotel is described as being centrally located, making it a prime spot for accessing local amenities, restaurants, pubs and coastal walks.

The charming seaside town atmosphere adds an extra layer of allure. Visitors appreciate the hotel's historical building, comfortable rooms and friendly staff. Many reviews specifically mention the convenience of being close to everything, from the high street to the cliffs and the sea.

Overall, the location of The Royal Albion is often mentioned as the best aspect of the hotel, providing a perfect base for exploring Broadstairs and enjoying the picturesque beachscape.

Breakfast
The Royal Albion offers a breakfast experience that has received overwhelmingly positive remarks from guests. Many have praised it as delicious, wonderful and exceptional, consistently noting the excellent quality and variety available. Guests frequently highlighted the superb selection of breakfast options, including well-organized and perfectly cooked dishes. The inclusion of breakfast in the room price is a significant plus point for many visitors, enhancing the overall value of their stay.

Diners appreciated the friendly and helpful waiting staff with excellent service being a recurring theme. The breakfast setting, often providing beautiful sea views, added to the ambiance and enjoyment of the meal. Specific mentions of freshly cooked English breakfasts, vegan options and a range of selections such as fruit, cereal and yoghurt have been well received.

However, there were occasional mentions of inconsistencies, such as issues with the cooked breakfast quality, cold dishes or slow service on busy mornings. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment remains highly favorable with many guests expressing their satisfaction and recommending the breakfast at The Royal Albion.

Dinner
The dinner experience at The Royal Albion garners a mix of reviews. While many guests have enjoyed exceptional and delicious food, noting that both fish and meat options are well-prepared and fairly priced, others have found their meals inconsistent. Diners recommend the bar food, praising its quality and reasonable pricing. The restaurant, enhanced by a lovely view, has also been described as offering excellent and tasty meals.

Despite these highlights, some guests have encountered overcooked dishes, such as pasta and prawns or found specific meals like fish and chips and hamburgers to be overdone and dry. The menu is seen as limited by some and the quality of food seemingly varies. The dining space sometimes felt more like a pub than a restaurant, which might detract from the experience for some visitors.

Service has generally been commended with attentive waitstaff contributing positively to the dining experience. However, the restaurant's early closing time and lack of room service have been noted drawbacks. All in all, while many dining experiences at The Royal Albion are enjoyable, the inconsistency might necessitate a bit of caution.

Rooms
The Royal Albion offers a range of experiences with its rooms, which are generally described as comfortable and charming, often boasting great sea views. Rooms that have been recently refurbished or updated tend to receive higher praise for their tasteful decor and cleanliness. Spacious family rooms with bunk beds and large bathrooms are a highlight for some guests. The hotel’s historic charm is reflected in the lovingly decorated rooms and stunning views across the bay are frequently mentioned as a major positive aspect.

However, the size of the rooms varies significantly with some described as quite spacious while others are noted to be small or even tiny, sometimes leading to a cramped experience. Noise can be an issue in street-facing rooms and several reviews point out minor maintenance issues such as dirty windows, stained carpets or outdated decor. Despite these drawbacks, many guests find the rooms to be clean, well-appointed and cosy.

Certain amenities like deep baths, comfortable beds and good quality toiletries add a nice touch, though the lack of air conditioning and occasional issues with heating or cooling can detract from the comfort. Family rooms often come equipped with everything necessary, but some guests point out that rooms can be stuffy and lack modern facilities like reliable Wi-Fi.

The overall sentiment is that while some rooms need modernization and better maintenance, the stunning sea views, comfortable beds and generally clean and spacious accommodations make for a pleasant stay at The Royal Albion.

Beds
The guest reviews of 'The Royal Albion' provide a mixed but largely positive picture of the beds. Many guests highlight the comfort of the beds with phrases like comfortable bed, very comfortable bed and super comfy bed frequently mentioned. Positive mentions include details about some guests experiencing extremely comfortable stays with some stating they slept like babies and appreciated the nice bedding and lovely linens.

However, some reviews indicate areas for improvement. A few guests found the beds hard or uncomfortable, mentioning issues like hard mattresses and pillows causing discomfort. Others noted specific problems such as slanted beds and sagging mattresses. Pillow quality varied with several guests describing them as thin, small, lumpy or too hard.

Additional comments touched on the size of the beds with mentions of double beds, king-size beds and bunk beds for children. Some guests did find issues with bed stability, indicating beds on a slight slant or unsteady frames.

In conclusion, while many guests experienced a comfortable and restful sleep on the cozy beds at 'The Royal Albion,' there are consistent remarks about certain beds and pillows needing improvement to meet everyone's comfort standards.

Cleanliness
'The Royal Albion' receives mixed feedback regarding cleanliness with several highlights and noticeable areas for improvement. A substantial number of reviews commend the hotel for its general cleanliness with descriptors such as spotlessly clean, very clean and clean and comfortable frequently appearing. Clean towels, clean facilities and well-maintained rooms also contribute positively to guests' experiences.

Many guests specifically appreciate the cleanliness of the bathrooms, noting them as clean and well-equipped with toiletries. The common areas, restaurant and rooms often maintain a high standard of cleanliness with some reviewers mentioning bright, airy and modern spaces.

However, there are consistent remarks on areas that need attention. Issues such as stained carpets, dusty mirrors, cobwebs and occasional mould in bathrooms are notable. Some guests found the hotel decor and furniture tired and dirty with the need for deeper cleaning in bar and garden areas. Additionally, several reviews suggest that the property could benefit from an overhaul in housekeeping practices, given the appearance of dust and general marks.

Despite these concerns, the establishment remains largely clean and welcoming, ensuring a generally pleasant stay for its guests.

Staff
The Royal Albion has garnered an impressive reputation for its exceptional customer service, largely driven by its outstanding staff. The recurring theme in guest reviews highlights the staff's friendliness and helpful nature, creating a welcoming and cheerful atmosphere consistently noted by visitors. Whether interacting with reception, housekeeping or restaurant personnel, guests found the staff to be attentive, professional and exceedingly polite.

Particular commendation went to individual staff members like Sarah, who received numerous mentions for being incredibly helpful. Additionally, the staff’s ability to go above and beyond left a lasting impression with instances of offering drinks, carrying suitcases and providing valuable local advice. Despite occasional criticisms regarding specific instances of customer service and managerial behavior, the overall sentiment remained highly positive towards the staff's dedication and hospitality.

The breakfast staff also received accolades for their pleasant demeanor, enhancing the dining experience alongside commendable food quality. The combination of a friendly team and efficient service creates a supportive and enjoyable environment for guests, solidifying The Royal Albion’s standing as a hotel where exceptional service is a clear priority.

Wi-Fi
The Wi-Fi situation at The Royal Albion hotel presents a mixed bag for guests. While there are positive remarks about good Wi-Fi service and reception in some areas, the overall guest experience indicates significant room for improvement. Many visitors encountered weak or non-existent Wi-Fi signals, especially in the rooms. Issues such as the Wi-Fi not reaching the third floor, difficulty in connecting and inconsistent coverage are frequently mentioned. Although the hotel offers free Wi-Fi, the overall reliability and performance of the service seem to be lacking with some guests unable to connect at all. For travelers who depend on a robust internet connection, this could be a critical aspect to consider.

Beach
Nestled within a charming seaside town, The Royal Albion boasts an exceptional beachfront location, making it a prime spot for beach lovers and explorers alike. The hotel is beautifully situated right on the sandy shores of Viking Beach, offering stunning sea views and easy access for a quick dip in the water or a leisurely stroll along the promenade.

Guests revel in the splendid beachfront views from their rooms, often describing the vista as perfect, amazing and peaceful. The seaside ambiance is further enhanced by lovely bay views and a spectacular terrace, which provides an idyllic spot for soaking in the coastal scenery.

The hotel's superb location is a highlight, seamlessly blending beachside relaxation with convenient proximity to the town's high street and train station. This makes it an ideal hub for both tranquility and exploration. The seafront setting is peaceful yet central, allowing guests to enjoy local nightlife and the serene walkway along the coast.

Overall, The Royal Albion offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience with its prime beachfront position making it a top choice for those seeking a pleasant and scenic seaside retreat.

Family
For families seeking a suitable hotel, The Royal Albion appears to be an ideal choice. Guests consistently highlight the hotel's family-friendly environment, enhanced by well-furnished family rooms that come equipped with fun bunk beds and spacious bathrooms. The rooms are described as the perfect size to comfortably accommodate families, providing both relaxation and peace.

The hotel's location is particularly appreciated for its convenience, making it easy for parents with young children to explore the area. Despite some comments about noise and the occasional difficulty in getting children to sleep, the general consensus is that families had enjoyable stays.

Parents have noted the friendly staff and the clean, tidy rooms, contributing to a pleasant experience. Many guests specifically point out the thoughtful amenities such as complimentary coffee and recommend The Royal Albion to other families and friends.

Overall, The Royal Albion stands out as a charming and practical option for a family getaway, ensuring that both adults and kids have a memorable and enjoyable stay.

Nightlife
The Royal Albion is nestled in a location buzzing with vibrant nightlife. Guests frequently highlight the convenience of having numerous bars and clubs nearby. The lively atmosphere contributes to the hotel's charm, especially during weekends, creating an exciting ambiance for those looking to immerse themselves in local night-time activities.

However, the energetic environment does come with its downsides. Some guests mention noise from the street and surrounding pubs being noticeable, particularly due to insufficient soundproofing and lack of air conditioning in the rooms. It's advisable for future visitors to be aware of the potential for some late-night noise, especially if staying on a Saturday night.

Overall, despite the inevitable noise, The Royal Albion's prime location makes it an excellent choice for those eager to experience the local nightlife.

3 Star
The Royal Albion offers a solid three-star experience, providing good value for money. Guests found the service exemplary and appreciated the good overall quality. While some mentioned it can be slightly expensive for a three-star property, it remains budget-friendly and affordable, making it a suitable choice for short stays. The hotel embraces its traditional English charm, which many found adequate despite noting occasional areas needing a bit more care. Upgrading to match its three-star classification seems to have paid off, yielding positive impressions overall. Although comfort levels were deemed average, many reviewers expressed willingness to stay again, acknowledging the limitations of a three-star rating.

Accessible
The Royal Albion offers a charming stay but falls short on accessibility for guests with disabilities or mobility issues. The historic nature of the building means there is no lift, which makes accessing rooms, especially those on upper floors, quite challenging. Guests repeatedly highlighted the difficulty of navigating narrow stairways, particularly for seniors or those carrying heavy luggage. Despite this, some visitors appreciated that help was available if needed.

On a positive note, the hotel is stroller and wheelchair accessible with everything easily reachable from the premises. However, the absence of on-site parking can be an inconvenience, although there is nearby parking available. While the hotel's historic charm and central location are appealing, it's not well-suited for guests who require more modern accessibility features.

Historic
Nestled in the historic centre of a charming beachside town, The Royal Albion stands as a testament to the past with its beautiful old architecture and significant historical importance. This period listed building, dating back to the 1930s, exudes old world charm and character, having preserved many of its original features. Though it boasts a contemporary feel, the hotel retains its vintage appeal, making it a unique blend of the past and present.

Guests appreciate the hotel's charm and the rich history, frequently noting the building's quirks and traditional ambiance that add to its allure. Renowned author Charles Dickens is known to have stayed here, penning some of his stories, which adds a significant historical touch. Despite some comments suggesting that rooms could benefit from a little TLC, the general sentiment remains positive about the historical charm and period features that The Royal Albion offers.

Dog Friendly
The Royal Albion is celebrated for its dog-friendly atmosphere, making it an ideal getaway for pet owners. The hotel's commitment to accommodating furry friends is evident, as dogs are warmly welcomed upon arrival, though there are extra charges for their stay. Guests have praised the hotel's dog-friendly surroundings and the convenient access to nearby beaches where dogs are allowed. Additionally, there are pleasant areas around the hotel perfect for walking dogs.

Guests have noted the overall cleanliness of the rooms, which are all dog-inclusive, creating a comfortable environment for both pets and their owners. The hotel's location and dog-friendly policies are frequently highlighted as key benefits, making it a top recommendation for those seeking pet-friendly accommodations. Despite some logistical challenges, such as dogs navigating stairs, the hotel's dedication to being dog-oriented remains a significant draw.

The combination of pet-friendly services, amenities and the welcoming nature of the establishment makes The Royal Albion a standout choice for dog owners looking for a hospitable stay by the beach.

Beachfront
The Royal Albion boasts an enviable beachfront location, directly on the sea front and mere steps away from the stunning Viking Bay. Guests appreciate its convenient position, allowing for leisurely walks along the sandy beaches and the picturesque promenade. The hotel provides rooms with beautiful balconies and terraces that offer breathtaking views of the bay, perfect for enjoying the seaside scenery.

Sea view rooms are a highlight with multiple reviews emphasizing the lovely and stunning vistas. Being next to the beach and offering great access to the bay enhances the overall experience, making it an ideal choice for those looking to enjoy the serenity of the seafront. The hotel's proximity to the beach is unparalleled, ensuring that whether guests are walking, relaxing or simply taking in the views, their beachfront stay is memorable.


No, The Royal Albion doesn't have any pool.

No, a spa isn't available at The Royal Albion.

Yes, The Royal Albion welcomes dogs.

No, parking facilities aren't available at The Royal Albion.

No, The Royal Albion doesn't have a gym.

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