Jennifer M.

What a gem! I know there were some less than flattering reviews on Trip Advisor, but after having stayed here for five nights, I must disagree with them. Our experience here was nothing but positive. We had originally booked the Westminster room, and upon arrival we were upgraded to the Victoria Suite, complete with sitting room and refrigerator! The Londoner is within a short walking distance of the gorgeous Manatee Riverwalk, and a nice handful of restaurants and pubs. And at only 10 minutes by car to the beach, it's the ideal location if you want to stay somewhere with a quiet, small town feel, as opposed to the bustling city of Sarasota proper. Here, you can have the best of both worlds, since Sarasota is only a 10-15 minute drive. Traffic in this area really wasn't that bad to us, but do remember we come from the insanity of the KC Metro. I'm a stickler for cleanliness, and everything was kept up, so no complaints there! Dirty bathrooms especially gross me out, but ours was sparkling. Breakfast was simple, yet satisfying. A delicious selection of fresh fruit, granola and yogurt, bagels and toast, and most of the time bacon and eggs--far better than the usual "continental breakfast" fare, I must say! We were glad not to have anything too rich, because then we were able to enjoy all of the nearby restaurants for lunch and dinner without an overwhelming breakfast spoiling our appetites for them. I suppose this aspect depends on one's preferences. Ms. Melanie was a welcome sight every morning, and she made our stay that much more wonderful. She gave us lots of handy tips about the area and its attractions. I would highly recommend this B&B. It was like staying with family, or a very close friend.