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On the second night of our weekend away in Liverpool, we’re staying in another hotel. Here’s our White Star Line Hotel review.
Here’s what we thought.
Key data
Cost: £70.20 (Hotels.com)*
Fair cost: £75.00
Breakfast: Not available
Rating: 4 out of 5
How accurate are the website photos? Mostly accurate
Would we recommend this hotel? Yes, absolutely.
Location and contact
The White Star Line Hotel is located at:
Albion House
30 James Street
Liverpool
L2 7PQ
England
Phone: +44 (0)151 272 1206
Email: [email protected]
The hotel is within easy walking distance of Liverpool city centre and the Royal Albert Dock.
Why we chose this hotel
The opportunity to stay in Albion House, the former headquarters of the White Star Line was a significant draw, and not simply for dark tourism purposes. The photos on the website are very reminiscent of one of the most memorable – and enjoyable – hotels we ever stayed at.
The White Star Line Hotel is very well situated for tourists too. The Albert Dock is just a few steps away, as is the Royal Liver Building, the James Street metro station and Princes Dock, Liverpool’s cruise terminal.
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Our personal experience
Onto the White Star Line Hotel review proper…
Check-in
Check-in was quick and efficient – once the £100 security deposit has been taken. As an added bonus, we were upgraded to a superior double room which was very generous.
The reception area is huge, showcasing the old school glamour of a building that was designed to impress. Looking through the west-facing double doors, there is an even larger room that has been set out for weddings. Beyond, the imposing forms of the Cunard and Royal Liver Buildings can be glimpsed through the windows.
We’re allocated room 108 on the first floor. It is no little amusement that Floor 1 is labelled ‘Titanic’ (all of the floors have been named after White Star Line ships – Olympic, Lusitania etc).
Top tip: The White Star Line Hotel does not accept American Express credit cards.
Bedroom
The bedroom itself is huge. Plenty of space for two double beds, desk, shiny silver wardrobe and tables. One entire wall is clad in black leatherette cushioning. The thick, black carpet is lovely and soft underfoot.
The south facing wall is dominated by some huge windows, affording us an excellent view of the Albert Dock from our room. We can also see both of Liverpool’s cathedrals rising in the distance. Despite the relatively busy road outside the hotel, well designed triple glazing ensures we never hear the traffic.
Our upgraded room also includes a kitchenette, complete with kettle, sink, microwave, dishwasher and crockery. We won’t be cooking here, but it’s nice to have the option. The free tea, coffee and milk are welcome too.
Initially the bed feels quite hard, but we both sleep well. The crisp linen and thick duvet are cosy, even as the temperature drops outside overnight.
Inside the large silver wardrobe you will find an iron and ironing board, hairdryer and laptop safe.
We do have a few niggles about the room. The padded wall is a bit dusty and some of the fittings have been ‘bodged’ (gold handles on the silver wardrobe, water damaged bathroom door etc). The plug sockets are also unhelpfully placed – phones and devices have to be charged on the floor because there are no tables nearby.
However, these complaints are incredibly minor. The colour scheme and over-the-top furniture (including chandelier) is right up Linda’s street. Perfect for a one night stay.
Top tip: Hotel checkout is at 10am but you can extend your stay for £10 per hour. Just phone down to reception and let them know you want to stay a little longer.
Bathroom
The bathroom is large, dominated by an enormous, two-person hot tub. The shower is ceiling mounted, directly above the tub. Both are great.
We have been furnished with four fluffy bath towels and a selection of body wash and shampoo in small tubes, along with a bar of hand soap. It may not be a luxury brand, but it does the job!
Note: getting into the tub involves a large step up. It is probably not suitable for disabled guests.
Parking
There is no parking available at the White Star Line Hotel, although there are several paid car parks within walking distance.
Disabled travellers may park for free in the marked bays outside the Cunard Building opposite – assuming there’s space. You can find a complete map of free disabled parking bays on the Liverpool City Council website.
Accessibility
There is at least one accessible room in the White Star Line Hotel. How you get to the room is another matter however, given the 10-stair climb to get from North James Street to Reception. Perhaps there is a rear entrance we were not aware of.
We suggest contacting the hotel in advance to find out.
Food and drink
There is no breakfast available at the hotel, and the restaurant is only open at weekends. There are plenty of takeaways and restaurants within walking distance.
On the top floor of the hotel you will find the ‘Quarter Deck’ bar. The bar runs the length of the building, a series of wood-floored rooms featuring some of the original fittings. There’s a safe, recovered from the vault in the basement, along with some furnace doors and a fireplace. There’s also plenty of chairs and tables should the bar get busy (it was empty when we visited).
The real star of the Quarter Deck is the roof terrace. This provides exceptional views of the Albert Dock, Liver Building and the River Mersey beyond. The bar is also open to non-residents, so feel free to drop in if you’re in the area.
There’s also a Wetherspoons pub across the road which offers excellent value meals, including breakfast.
Oddities and quirks
The White Star Line Hotel seems to be a venue in flux. Once billed as Liverpool’s top wedding venue, under the name 30 James Street, the hotel has fallen on hard times since Covid. The current management team is clearly fighting hard to keep the hotel open which may help to explain some of the niggles mentioned above.
This is a great hotel with fantastic potential in an amazing building and we wish them every success. The place just needs a few tiny tweaks to elevate the experience.
One other thing to note. In addition to ‘regular’ rooms, the hotel also caters to large groups. Downstairs in ‘Steerage’ there are several enormous rooms, sleeping up to 20 people. Most even include hot tubs.
As decadent and over-the-top as the rest of the hotel, these group rooms would make an awesome base for stag dos and hen parties – or very large family get-togethers.
White Star Line Hotel Review – Final Rating
Of the two hotels we camped in Liverpool this weekend, the White Star Line Hotel is our favourite. The excessive decor is a joy – Linda loved it. More hotels should employ a black-and-silver colour scheme.
At the same time, you can feel the history of the White Star Line seeping from the walls. There’s something special about this building and it felt like a privilege to be able to stay here.
The hotel offers excellent value and has something for everything. We would definitely recommend a stay here.
Top tip: Staying elsewhere but still want to explore the old White Star Line offices? The hotel also offers a Grand Tour.
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Can you walk from the White Star Line Hotel to Liverpool Cruise Terminal?
Yes. The dock is just 0.6 miles on foot over well-paved roads and footpaths.
Can you walk from the White Star Line Hotel to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall?
Yes. It is a one mile walk to the Philharmonic, mostly uphill.
Did we? No, we got an Uber. Approximately £5 each way.
Other accommodation options in Liverpool
There are a dozens of hotels and guest rooms throughout Liverpool city centre, but few offer the same value for money as the White Star Line Hotel.
Things to do in Liverpool
There’s lots to see and do in Liverpool – here’s some ideas to get you started:
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Disclosure
* We made our room booking via Hotels.com using a £20 credit applied automatically to our account. This reduced the price of our stay to £45.63.
We did not receive any incentives or compensation for this White Star Line Hotel review.
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