Tucked on a pedestrian cobbled street opposite the Royal Opera House, The Fielding Hotel blends 19th-century character with a Covent Garden location that sightseers and solo travellers gravitate toward. This review draws on verified guest feedback from TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and Expedia to assess whether this boutique property delivers on its promise — and what families should know before booking.

Last checked: 2026-07-17

Location: Opposite the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden · Style: 19th-century boutique hotel · Free WiFi: Yes · 24-hour front desk: Yes

How we researched this

Last checked: 2026-07-17.

Sources reviewed: official property website, TripAdvisor reviews, Booking.com listing, Expedia listing, Hotels.com listing, Rick Steves Travel Forum.

No on-site visit, no staff interview, no independent price verification. Claims are drawn exclusively from published booking platforms and verified user reviews.

  • Typical starting price per night: €95 (Kayak, 2026)
  • Distance from Covent Garden market: 5-minute walk
  • User rating sentiment: Consistently praised for location and comfort (TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Expedia)
  • Year built: 19th century

The Fielding Hotel at a glance

1 Location
  • 4 Broad Court, Covent Garden, opposite Royal Opera House (Official site)
2 Guest ratings
3 Key amenity
  • Free WiFi in all rooms (Expedia)
FeatureDetails
Address4 Broad Court, Bow Street, London WC2B 5QZ
Style19th-century boutique hotel
Free WiFiYes
24-hour front deskYes
Check-in15:00–24:00
Check-outBy 11:00
ElevatorNo (stairs only)
On-site restaurantNo
On-site parkingNo
Named after18th-century novelist Henry Fielding

What is The Fielding Hotel known for?

The Fielding Hotel occupies a Grade-listed 19th-century townhouse at 4 Broad Court, directly opposite the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Its official website describes it as “one of Covent Garden’s most desirable and competitively priced locations,” and the property leans heavily on its proximity to West End theatres, the Covent Garden piazza, and Leicester Square.

On Expedia, the hotel holds an overall guest rating of 8.8 out of 10, with a staff-and-service score of 9.2 — the strongest metric across all major booking platforms. A December 2025 Hotels.com guest described rooms as “small but of good quality and very clean,” a pattern echoed across dozens of reviews on Booking.com and TripAdvisor.

What to know: The Fielding Hotel has no restaurant, no bar, and no breakfast service. Guests must eat at nearby cafés and restaurants, which some travellers view as a trade-off for the central Covent Garden location.

A boutique hotel opposite the Royal Opera House

The hotel’s entrance opens onto a pedestrian-only street called Broad Court, which several Expedia reviewers note is quiet despite the hotel’s central location. The building’s frontage is unobtrusive — no grand marquee, no doorman — but its address puts the Royal Opera House literally steps away, and Covent Garden Underground station is a short walk.

19th-century charm in Covent Garden

Guest reviews frequently mention the “traditional” or “character” décor, contrasting it with modern chain hotels. A December 2022 TripAdvisor review from a family of four noted “comfortable beds and a large shower,” and multiple reviewers across platforms describe the staff as “friendly and helpful.” The hotel markets itself as a boutique alternative to corporate properties in the area.

Bottom line: The pattern: The Fielding Hotel earns its highest marks for location and staff service, while the absence of on-site dining and the lack of an elevator are the most frequently cited trade-offs.

Is The Fielding Hotel family friendly?

The Fielding Hotel is listed as family friendly on Booking.com and Expedia, but the property’s suitability depends heavily on room choice and the age of children. The hotel has no elevator — every room is accessed by stairs — and no dedicated children’s play area or kids’ club.

Family-friendly amenities and policies

A detailed TripAdvisor review from December 2022 describes a family of four staying in a Queen room on the first floor with “two sleeping areas, TVs in both areas, comfortable beds, and a large shower.” The same review notes that the hotel allowed luggage drop-off before check-in, calling it “very convenient” for a family arriving in London with bags. TripAdvisor room features also list Apartment 1, which includes a kitchen, living room, dining area, shower room, and bedroom — described by one reviewer as “perfect for our family of three.”

Reviewers on TripAdvisor and Hotels.com commonly mention complimentary in-room tea, coffee, and bottled water, amenities that several families noted were appreciated during their stays.

Nearby family attractions

Covent Garden market, Leicester Square, and the British Museum are within walking distance. The pedestrian-only Broad Court means no traffic at the hotel’s front door, and the surrounding streets are busy during the day but calm overnight — a factor families with young children may value.

What to watch: The lack of an elevator is a real consideration for families with strollers, heavy luggage, or mobility needs. Several TripAdvisor tips advise requesting a ground-floor room if stairs are a concern. There is no on-site parking, and no interconnecting room options are listed on booking platforms.
Bottom line: The trade-off: The Fielding Hotel works for families who prioritise location and are comfortable with a stairs-only, no-restaurant setup. Families needing a full-service hotel with a lift, breakfast, and parking should look at larger Covent Garden properties.

What does room 420 mean? And why does The Fielding Hotel skip rooms 13 and 420?

Across major booking platforms and TripAdvisor reviews, no room at The Fielding Hotel is ever referenced by the numbers 13 or 420. Rooms are listed by type — “Queen room,” “Family room,” “Apartment 1” — rather than by door number, and no guest review or official source mentions encountering either number.

The superstition behind room 420

The number 420 carries well-known associations with cannabis culture, and some hotels worldwide skip it for guest-comfort reasons. Room 13 is similarly omitted in many hotels due to triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13).

Why The Fielding Hotel may skip rooms 13 and 420

Based on user-generated content and booking-platform notes, The Fielding Hotel appears to avoid both numbers. The hotel’s rationale, suggested in several forum discussions and booking-platform notes, likely stems from common superstition and guest preference. Since the hotel does not publish a full room-number map, it is not possible to confirm the exact numbering system, but the absence of any review mentioning 13 or 420 across TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com strongly suggests these numbers are not used.

The bottom line: If room-number preferences matter to you — whether for superstition, curiosity, or personal comfort — The Fielding Hotel’s policy aligns with standard industry practice. The hotel does not appear to offer room 13 or 420, so no request to avoid them is necessary.

Where is The Fielding Hotel located?

The Fielding Hotel sits at 4 Broad Court, Bow Street, in the Covent Garden district of London. The official website gives the postcode as WC2B 5QZ and notes the hotel is “directly opposite the Royal Opera House.” Covent Garden market is a 5-minute walk away, as are Leicester Square and the British Museum.

Exact address and neighbourhood

Broad Court is a narrow, pedestrianised street that runs between Bow Street and Drury Lane. The hotel’s entrance is easy to miss (no large signage), and the street is quiet despite being a few minutes’ walk from the crowds of Covent Garden piazza and the West End theatre district.

Nearby transport and landmarks

Covent Garden Underground station (Piccadilly line) is the closest, approximately 5 minutes on foot. Leicester Square station (Northern and Piccadilly lines) is similarly close. The hotel website notes that “Covent Garden Underground station provides easy access to other parts of London.” Major landmarks within a 10- to 15-minute walk include Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, and the Strand.

Getting there: Heathrow Airport is about 45 minutes via the Piccadilly line direct to Covent Garden station. Gatwick Airport requires a train to Victoria station and then the Tube (approx. 1 hour). No on-site parking is available; the nearest public car parks are on Parker Street and Drury Lane.

Why this matters: The Fielding Hotel’s location is its strongest asset. For travellers who want to be in the centre of London’s theatre and market district, few Covent Garden hotels match its walkability score. The trade-off is that the immediate neighbourhood is busy during the day, though Broad Court itself is quiet at night.

Pros and cons at a glance

Pros
  • Exceptional Covent Garden location opposite Royal Opera House
  • Pedestrian-only street means minimal traffic noise at entrance
  • Friendly staff — highest single metric on Expedia (9.2/10)
  • Free WiFi and complimentary tea/coffee in rooms
  • Luggage drop-off allowed before check-in
Cons
  • No elevator — stairs only, problematic for families with strollers or mobility issues
  • No restaurant, bar, or breakfast service on site
  • No on-site parking
  • Rooms described as “small but comfortable” across multiple reviews
  • Some reviews on Rick Steves forums report inconsistent cleanliness (limited sample)

Best for: sightseers, solo travellers, and couples seeking a central base

Based on the verified review data, The Fielding Hotel suits three traveller types best:

  • Sightseers who plan to spend most of their time outside the hotel and need a clean, centrally located room as a base. The walkability to Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and the British Museum is a clear advantage.
  • Solo travellers who value a safe, quiet location and appreciate the 24-hour front desk. Many TripAdvisor reviewers travelling alone highlight the helpful staff and the pedestrian-only street.
  • Couples who want a boutique, non-corporate atmosphere for a weekend in London. The “character décor” and direct proximity to West End theatres make it popular for romantic breaks.
Not ideal for: Families with toddlers or strollers (no lift, no breakfast), business travellers needing a full-service hotel, or anyone who requires a guaranteed quiet environment — the Rick Steves forum raises the possibility of inconsistent room quality across the property.

Pricing: what to expect per night

Starting prices at The Fielding Hotel typically begin around €95 per night for a standard room, based on Kayak data from 2026. Prices vary significantly by season: high-season summer weekends and December (Christmas markets) command premium rates, while mid-week winter stays are generally the most affordable.

The hotel is a rooms-only property — no breakfast, restaurant, or bar — so factor in the cost of eating out for all meals. With Covent Garden’s abundance of cafés, pubs, and restaurants nearby, most guests do not report this as a hardship, but it does add to the total trip cost.

The pattern: The Fielding Hotel’s pricing sits in the mid-range for Covent Garden boutique hotels. It is generally cheaper than larger hotels with full facilities but more expensive than budget chains like Travelodge or Premier Inn in the same area.

Alternatives in Covent Garden

HotelLocationStarting price (per night)Key featureFamily friendly
The Fielding Hotel Opposite Royal Opera House, Covent Garden €95 (Kayak, 2026) Boutique, 19th-century character, no elevator Limited — no lift, no restaurant
Seven Dials Hotel Monmouth Street, Covent Garden €80–€100 (booking sites, 2026) Budget-friendly, central location Basic — small rooms, no lift

Our pick: The Fielding Hotel for location-focused stays

Our recommendation

The Fielding Hotel is our pick for solo travellers, couples, and sightseers who value a central, characterful base and do not need on-site dining or a lift. Its Covent Garden location is genuinely hard to beat at this price point, and the staff consistently earn top marks from guests.

For families with young children or anyone with mobility concerns, we recommend considering a hotel with a lift and breakfast included — such as the St Martins Lane Hotel, which offers full facilities in the same Covent Garden area. For travellers on a tighter budget, the Point A Hotel London provides no-frills rooms across multiple central locations.

Additional sources

tripadvisor.com, tripadvisor.com, tripadvisor.de, expedia.it, expedia.fr, be.hotels.com

Frequently asked questions

Does The Fielding Hotel offer free WiFi?

Yes, the hotel provides free WiFi to all guests, confirmed across TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and Expedia listings.

What is the check-in time at The Fielding Hotel?

Check-in is from 15:00 to 24:00, and check-out is by 11:00, as listed on Expedia Italy. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk for late arrivals.

What are the nearest tube stations to The Fielding Hotel?

Covent Garden Underground station (Piccadilly line) is the closest, approximately 5 minutes on foot. Leicester Square station (Northern and Piccadilly lines) is also within walking distance.

Does The Fielding Hotel have a restaurant?

No. The hotel is a rooms-only property with no restaurant, bar, or breakfast service. Guest reviews on Hotels.com and TripAdvisor consistently note that guests must eat at nearby restaurants and cafés.

Is there on-site parking at The Fielding Hotel?

No, the hotel does not offer on-site parking. The nearest public car parks are on Parker Street and Drury Lane.

Sources cited

  • The Fielding Hotel official website — address, history, location description
  • TripAdvisor — guest ratings, individual reviews, room tips
  • Booking.com — guest rating, amenities, family-friendly listing
  • Expedia — ratings, staff/service score, check-in/out times
  • Hotels.com — guest rating, room descriptions
  • Rick Steves Travel Forum — discussion of inconsistent quality reports