OYO Hotel Allenby Inn

About OYO Hotel Allenby Inn

The OYO Hotel Allenby Inn is a two-star guesthouse for first-time visitors who want to walk to the sights and restaurants of central Kolkata. Its address off Allenby Road places the Maidan, the Indian Museum and Park Street within easy reach, so a short stay can be spent on foot rather than in traffic. Travellers who want a simple base with air conditioning and Wi-Fi, and who plan to eat out and sightsee rather than spend the day indoors, fit the place well.

This is a two-star guesthouse rather than a full-service hotel, with a guest score of 3.6 out of 5 from 460 reviews. Expect the essentials rather than extras: air conditioning, Wi-Fi and laundry service, with housekeeping, towels and toiletries among the listed amenities. The rating suggests a workable, plainly furnished base. Guests who judge a stay by location and convenience tend to be the happiest here; those wanting lounges, dining rooms or concierge service should look further up the star scale.

Location and neighbourhood

Allenby Road sits in the Park Street neighbourhood, a short way from Mother Teresa Sarani itself. This is the historic core of the old British city. The Asiatic Society was founded in this district in 1784, and South Park Street Cemetery opened in 1767. The side streets such as Camac Street, Middleton Row and Russell Street hold offices, cafés and shops. To the north, Sudder Street and Free School Street are the older budget lanes. It is a central, busy district rather than a quiet residential one.

Several sights are close enough to reach on foot: St Paul's Cathedral at 0.9 km, Victoria Memorial at 1.2 km and the Kalighat Temple at 2.1 km. Rabindra Sadan and Netaji Bhavan metro stations are 0.7 km and 0.8 km away. Park Street itself is 1.7 km, 10 to 20 minutes by road, and walkable if the weather is kind. Esplanade, at 3 km, and the two main railway stations are better reached by taxi, auto-rickshaw or metro.

Mornings here start early and practically: offices open, buses fill, and the pavements around the metro stations carry a steady flow. Evenings are livelier, with the Park Street restaurant strip drawing crowds and the Maidan used for walks and cricket. During Durga Puja the district becomes crowded and late-running, with road closures and diversions in place. Christmas brings lights to Allen Park and heavy footfall along Park Street. Check Kolkata Police notices for diversions in festival weeks.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms are plainly equipped for practical stays. Air conditioning matters for anyone working through the afternoon, and Wi-Fi covers email and calls. A refrigerator and television are listed, which helps families travelling with children. For late arrivals, the useful items are the bathroom with shower, towels and toiletries, so a first night needs no shopping trip. Laundry service suits longer stays and business trips. Non-smoking rooms are listed, worth requesting at the time of booking rather than on arrival, when availability may be limited.

Kolkata's heat is the main thing to plan around. April and May often pass 35 °C, so air conditioning is not a luxury here, and the monsoon from roughly June to September brings heavy rain and waterlogging after downpours. Keep luggage off the floor, carry a light rain layer, and allow extra time for taxis in wet weather. Winter, from December to January, is the easiest season, with highs in the mid-20s and no need for constant cooling; a light blanket is still worth having.

Standards vary between rooms in a small guesthouse, so confirm the practical details before travelling. Ask which room category is being booked, whether the air conditioning is in the room itself, and whether a non-smoking room can be held. Confirm laundry turnaround if the stay is short, and confirm check-in and check-out times with the property when booking. Ask how the reservation is held and what identification reception will need on arrival. None of these are unusual requests in this city.

Getting there

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) lies near Dum Dum, about 16.3 km from the hotel in a straight line, with a road journey of roughly 50 to 80 minutes depending on traffic. Prepaid taxis and app cabs are the simplest options with luggage. The airport is also served by Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro station on the Yellow Line, though services are still expanding, so check Metro Railway Kolkata before relying on the metro with bags.

Howrah station, on the west bank, is about 5.3 km away in a straight line, typically 20 to 35 minutes by road once across the river. Sealdah, on the east side of the centre, is 3.9 km away, around 20 to 30 minutes by road. Both are busy at all hours, so allow time for queueing at the taxi rank and for traffic on the approach roads. A metered yellow Ambassador taxi or an app cab is the straightforward choice with luggage.

Two Blue Line stations serve the area: Rabindra Sadan at 0.7 km and Netaji Bhavan at 0.8 km. Both sit on the north-south line running from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash, which links Esplanade, Park Street, Maidan, Kalighat and Rabindra Sarobar. The metro is the quickest way across the centre when the roads are jammed. Tickets are bought at station counters. Check Metro Railway Kolkata for current hours and any service changes before planning a journey.

Food and sights near OYO Hotel Allenby Inn

Victoria Memorial is the closest major sight, 1.2 km away and walkable by road. The white Makrana marble building, completed in 1921, holds a museum that closes on Mondays and some national holidays; the 64-acre grounds are a good place for a slow hour. St Paul's Cathedral, consecrated in 1847 and 0.9 km away, stands a short walk further. The nearest metro for both is Maidan or Rabindra Sadan. Each deserves a morning rather than a rushed stop.

South Park Street Cemetery, opened in 1767 and 1.7 km away, is a quiet ground of classical tombs, best visited in the cooler part of the day. Kalighat Kali Temple, one of the Shakti Peethas, is 2.1 km away. For food, Park Street is the centre: Flurys, Peter Cat, Mocambo and Trincas all sit along that strip, and Nizam's near New Market is credited with the original kathi roll. Tables fill at weekends, so plan the evening meal a little earlier.

Shopping in the area means the side streets: Camac Street and Middleton Row for smaller stores, and New Market, opened in 1874, a short ride north for produce, fabric and household goods. Oxford Bookstore on Park Street is a useful stop for reading matter. Evenings belong to the Park Street strip, where restaurants stay open late, and to the Maidan for a walk with the Victoria Memorial lit at the far end. Allen Park carries the Christmas lights from mid-December.

• St Paul’s Cathedral (900 m)
• Victoria Memorial (1.2 km)
• South Park Street Cemetery (1.7 km)
• Park Street food & music (1.7 km)
• Kalighat Temple (2.1 km)

A day from OYO Hotel Allenby Inn

Start on foot. Walk to St Paul's Cathedral, 0.9 km away, then continue to Victoria Memorial, 1.2 km from the hotel. Both are close enough to combine before the heat builds. The cathedral is quiet in the morning; the memorial grounds take longer, so check Victoria Memorial Hall for current timings and Monday closures. Come back on foot or by a short cab ride, and use Rabindra Sadan metro, 0.7 km from the hotel, if the sun is high.

After lunch, the Indian Museum is the obvious indoor choice, and the Maidan and Park Street are within walking distance of the hotel. If the afternoon is hot, stay in the air conditioning and go out later. South Park Street Cemetery, 1.7 km away, is best in late afternoon light, when the heat has eased. Move between these on foot where possible; the distances are short but the traffic is heavy, so walking is often quicker than a cab.

An evening starts on Park Street, 1.7 km away, 10 to 20 minutes by road. Dinner at one of the long-standing restaurants on the strip is the standard plan, followed by a walk past Allen Park. In December the Christmas lights make this the busiest stretch in the city. End with a taxi back, or walk if the evening is cool. During Durga Puja, expect diversions and crowds; check Kolkata Police notices and allow much more time.

Booking tips and when to go

Book early for Durga Puja, usually late September or October, and for the Christmas and New Year period, when rooms around Park Street are in demand. Check the current year's festival dates, since Durga Puja follows the lunar calendar and moves each year. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. Allow for rush hours on the roads, roughly the morning and evening office peaks, when a short trip can take far longer than expected. Confirm the booking directly with the property before travelling.

November to February is the best time for this area. December and January are coolest, with highs in the mid-20s, and February is pleasant for walking between the Maidan sights. March warms up, and April and May are hot and humid, often above 35 °C, with evening storms. The monsoon runs roughly June to September, heaviest in July, with waterlogging after downpours. October still sees rain, tapering off. Winter mornings can be hazy with poor air quality, so plan longer walks for later in the day.

Carry cash for taxis, markets and street food; cards and UPI are widely accepted in shops, malls and restaurants. Metered yellow taxis are common, and insisting on the meter is normal practice; app cabs are an alternative. Drink bottled or filtered water. At Kalighat and other temples, dress modestly, cover shoulders and legs, and remove shoes where required. Bengali is the local language, with Hindi and English widely understood; dhonnobad means thank you. Check the Indian Visa Online portal for visa rules before booking.

OYO Hotel Allenby Inn: questions

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