The Princess Victoria
Askew, London
Hotel in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlWhy go
The Princess Victoria is a Victorian pub on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush with one of the more architecturally striking interiors in West London. Easy to book, no dress code, best visited on a weekday or early evening when the room is at its quietest. Not a hotel; no spa or wellness amenities; but a solid neighbourhood choice if the W12 postcode works for you.
About The Princess Victoria
Quick Verdict
The Princess Victoria is a historic West London pub on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush (W12), and booking here is about as direct as it gets; no waitlist, no months-in-advance planning, no dress code gatekeeping. If you've visited once and want to know whether to return, the honest answer is: it depends on what you're after. As a neighbourhood pub with genuine Victorian architectural bones, it rewards a second visit more than the first; once you know where to settle in, it's a far easier experience to optimise.
What You're Booking Into
The room itself is the main argument for coming. The Victorian interior, high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, large windows that let in decent natural light during the day, makes this one of the more visually striking pub spaces in West London. That's not a small thing when you're weighing it against the generic refurbished pubs that dominate this part of the city. If the look of a room matters to your group, The Princess Victoria earns its place on the shortlist on that basis alone.
On wellness and amenities: this is a pub, not a hotel, so there is no pool, spa, or wellness package. If that's what you need, you'll want to look at COMO Metropolitan London or The Emory instead, both of which carry serious wellness credentials in London. For a full picture of London accommodation with amenity packages, see our full London hotels guide.
Timing matters here. Weekday lunchtimes and early evenings are the sweet spot, the room is quieter, the light is better, you actually get to appreciate the Victorian details without the noise levels that come with a busy Saturday night. If you're coming on a weekend, arrive before 7 PM or accept that it will be a louder, more crowded experience.
Practical Details
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Location | Wellness Amenities | Leading For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Princess Victoria | Easy | Shepherd's Bush, W12 | None | Neighbourhood pub, Victorian interior |
| COMO Metropolitan London | Moderate | Mayfair | COMO Shambhala spa | Wellness-focused city stay |
| The Emory | Moderate | Knightsbridge | Full spa, pool | Luxury wellness hotel |
| Raffles London at The OWO | Harder | Westminster | Guerlain Spa | Grand luxury, spa access |
Who Should Book
If you're a West London regular looking for a pub with more visual character than the average Shepherd's Bush option, The Princess Victoria delivers. If you're travelling for business from outside the area, particularly if you're staying further east or in the centre, the W12 location adds commute time that's hard to justify unless you're already nearby. For business travel with central access and stronger amenity packages, The Connaught, Claridge's, or NoMad London are better-positioned choices. For broader London dining, see our full London restaurants guide and our full London bars guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 217 Uxbridge Rd, London W12 9DH, United Kingdom
- Website
- princessvictoria.co.uk
- Phone
- +44 20 8749 4466
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Princess Victoria reads like a neighbourhood stronghold: a Victorian-era pub that leans on architectural detail and everyday local patronage rather than tourist spectacle. Expect ornate tilework, etched glass and high ceilings to frame an interior that feels rooted in the area's working- and lower-middle-class pub tradition. The tone is quietly sustained and unpretentious — the kind of place that prioritises function and familiarity over flash. Visits feel like stepping into a piece of West London civic history, where the building’s Victorian grammar does as much of the hospitality work as the service itself.
Best For
This pub is best for informal occasions when you’re after a relaxed, local experience: after-work drinks, casual hangouts with friends, and laid-back weekend escapes. It also suits small, low-key celebrations that favour atmosphere over spectacle, given the venue’s neighbourhood focus and enduring local loyalty. Because the stretch of Uxbridge Road is more residential and workday in character than a central tourist strip, visits here reward minimal planning and an expectation of an authentic community-oriented pub evening rather than a choreographed dining event.
Stay Tips
Booking logistics are not clearly documented and the venue is described as operating on a more informal basis, so plan for walk-in availability rather than rigid reservation systems. If you’re aiming for a visit during peak early evening hours, arriving slightly earlier increases the chance of finding seating. The description signals that this pub sits outside the central reservation machinery used by many central-London restaurants, so don’t rely on OpenTable-style expectations — treat it like a neighbourhood spot where spontaneity and local timing matter.
Venue details
Ambiance
Lively historic pub atmosphere with original Victorian architecture blended with modern comforts and elegant touches.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Amenities
View
Accessibility
About the Stay
- Rooms
- 5
- Check-in
- 15:00
- Check-out
- 11:00
- Property Style
- Historic Pub with Boutique Rooms
- Design Style
- Gin Inspired Eclectic with Bespoke Art and Vintage Elements
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Raffles London at The OWO; Notable alternative
- The Connaught; Notable alternative
- 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences; Notable alternative
- Bvlgari Hotel London; Notable alternative
- COMO Metropolitan London; Notable alternative
Hotel context
Set against London's broader hospitality options, The Princess Victoria operates in a different category to most of its named peers. It's a pub, not a hotel, which means direct comparisons on price, service depth, or amenity packages don't fully apply; but they do help clarify where it fits in a decision. If you're choosing between a West London pub evening and a stay at Raffles London at The OWO or Bvlgari Hotel London, those are different trips entirely: the latter two offer serious spa facilities, high service ratios, central London positioning that justify their premium. The Princess Victoria wins on accessibility and visual character, not on amenity depth.
For wellness-oriented visits, COMO Metropolitan London is the cleaner choice; the COMO Shambhala spa is one of the better hotel wellness offerings in the city, the Mayfair location is more practical for most London itineraries. The Connaught and 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences both offer stronger all-round packages for business or leisure stays where location, service, amenities matter equally.
The Princess Victoria's real competitive set is other Victorian pubs in West London; and on that basis, the interior quality gives it a genuine edge. But if your decision involves a hotel stay with pool or spa access, none of the comparison venues here are substitutes: they are straightforwardly better equipped for that purpose. Book The Princess Victoria for what it is; a well-preserved Victorian pub room in Shepherd's Bush; and it will meet expectations. Book it expecting hotel-grade amenities or central London convenience, it won't.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Princess Victoria guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Princess Victoria
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| The Princess Victoria | No published awards | Easy |
| Raffles London at The OWO | 2026 Virtuoso Luxury Hotel CollectionStar Wine Lists 20262026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 World’s 50 Best Hotels · #31Michelin 3 Keys 20252025 Michelin 3 Keys2025 Forbes 5-Star2024 World's 50 Best Hotels · #13 | Unknown |
| The Connaught | 2026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Collection2026 House & Garden Best Hotels in London2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 World’s 50 Best Hotels · #292025 Michelin 3 Keys2025 Forbes 5-Star2025 Conde Nast Hotels Gold List2024 World's 50 Best Hotels · #46 | Unknown |
| 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences | 2026 Forbes 4-Star2026 Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Collection2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Michelin Selected Hotels2025 Forbes 4-Star | Unknown |
| Bvlgari Hotel London | 2026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Collection2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Michelin 3 Keys2025 Forbes 5-Star | Unknown |
| COMO Metropolitan London | 2026 Forbes 4-Star2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2025 Michelin Selected Hotels2025 Forbes 4-Star | Unknown |
A quick look at how The Princess Victoria measures up.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the pool and spa at The Princess Victoria?
The Princess Victoria is a traditional Victorian pub in Shepherd's Bush; there are no pool or spa facilities here. If a hotel with wellness amenities is what you need in London, this venue is not the right fit; look elsewhere in the city.
Is The Princess Victoria good for business travel?
Not really. The Princess Victoria is a pub on Uxbridge Road in W12, not a business hotel or serviced space. It suits a casual after-work drink or a meal with a local contact, but if you need meeting rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, or accommodation, it does not provide those.
How is the location of The Princess Victoria?
It sits on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush (W12), a busy West London corridor with reasonable transport links. It works well if you are already in the W12 area, but it is not a central London destination worth a dedicated trip from further afield.
