Overpriced, tiny, crowded and not that great!!!…read more I got this mainly for location but it just wasn't worth it. Wasn't worth the price or slumming it for their tiny rooms. I ended moving to Hyatt regency after and it was much better in every way. This! Located in their posh neighborhood and central area. All things shop and pubs are here: you can walk to most spots. Just wasn't for me. They have an interesting decor/ a lot of mirrors in the lobby and so on. They do have champagne welcome on the arrival so that was good. Besides that, it was pretty meh. Paid WAY too much for this and it's underwhelming. Rooms are super petite: European size. Lobby smells like cigarettes. Hotel was full capacity when I went too. Perhaps that's why. But just not my scene. Location is great though. Plus one star for that!

High Tea! Amba Hotel…read moreMarble Arch was just north/east of Hyde Park. This restaurant was a great place for high tea. It's on the second floor of the Amba Hotel, a bit obscured from the busyness of Oxford St. It wasn't very crowded on a weekday afternoon. Staff were very friendly. To start, they offered champagne! There was a huge selection of teas. You can ask for refills for different types of teas you want to try. The scones and pastries were okay, I'm not usually a fan anyway. The sandwiches were delicious! Especially the smoked salmon. You can ask for more sandwiches! If you weren't full already, the desserts are great too. Everything is fresh. You can ask for a takeout container if you can't finish it. I used a Groupon, £26 for 2 people is an amazing price! Normally it'd cost £35 pp. No reservations needed. Overall, it was classy without the hefty price. The epitome of British food and culture in this one meal. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant!

We arrived about 2pm on a Monday. As everything had been paid in advance, check in took a matter of…read moreminutes. We were given a room in the basement, accessible via stairs off the bar. The room had two twin beds, a desk and bureau, small refrigerator, closet, TV, and a bathroom with full bathtub and shower and large medical cabinet. It was incredibly spacious by London standards. Of course, not all was glorious: the room was very warm and humid even with air conditioning cranked as low as it could go, and our window view looked upon a nasty-looking cement drainage basin between buildings. I kept the curtains closed. A minor issue, all considered, but worth noting. The room was nice and quiet. Few rooms were along that hallway so there was little foot traffic, and no street traffic near us at all. I actually slept pretty well. Everything in the bathroom worked without issue. We loved having a fridge in our room--there's a great Waitrose right across the nearest intersection, which made it easy to stash food and drinks in our room! The front desk staff was very pleasant whenever we passed through. Room service did a good job whenever they came by each day. The breakfast buffet was included with our room package. The best way to describe it is "meh," as it largely consisted of generic, made-long-in-advance foods like you'd find at a cheap motel chain breakfast buffet in the US. The only stand-out was the strawberries, which were fresh and fantastic. The staff there was nice and eager to help, but the mediocre food just didn't make it worthwhile to utilize again. The hotel's location is absolutely fantastic. It's just across the street from the Gloucester Road tube station. This was an easy connection point into the city, and on the direct Piccadilly line to Heathrow. Within walking distance are numerous restaurants of various ethnicities and price points, plus several great museums. We enjoyed the short walk up to Kensington Palace and Hyde Park. The neighborhood felt very safe.

Nice hotel, the front desk was helpful. The rooms were tight but it's London couldn't except…read moreanything extremely big. Decent location and right by the train, for sure should stay here (and for a good price)

London stay! We stayed six nights in this well-designed…read moreone-bedroom studio apartment in a good location in Aldgate, in the East End of London. It's just a short walk to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and London Bridge, and there are several bus stops and tube stations nearby. The apartment had a compact bathroom with good shower, well-equipped kitchenette with washing machine, and a combined bedroom/dining/living room area with flat screen TV. The kitchen was quite well-equipped with glassware, cutlery, crockery, pots, pans, fridge freezer, kettle, pod coffee machine, coffee plunger, electric cooktop, microwave, oven, toaster, and dishwasher. Daily housekeeping (except on Saturdays and Sundays) is a bonus! Our apartment was on the fourth floor, and it faced the street, so it was incredibly noisy at times. Even with the double-glazed windows closed, you can hear noise from the road and the sirens!! We were disappointed that Marlyn lodge would not store our luggage after checkout. We had an evening flight back to Australia, and we had to check out by 10 am so we had to use a luggage storage service to store our bags for 3-4 hours. As we had 4 bags to store, this was quite expensive. Otherwise, this is a great option for a London stay and Andrew is a very helpful and responsive host!

Came here for a conference over 4 days. I used the conference booking and definitely had a nicer…read moreroom than others but there were still a few issues. It's definitely shabby chic with not the best service. This was probably like a Downton abbey place at one point but it's definitely not anymore. The entrance has a hideous car covering so that people don't have to walk in the rain to get into the estate. It's covering a beautiful arch underneath. There are other additions that have marred the architecture and I still want to stay in a true estate in England. The estate is not well known by drivers and many of them had a difficult time finding us. Put the name of the hotel in Uber, not the address. The estate hosts many events on the weekends in the summer. There were two proms and a wedding while we were there. It's not insulated well (it shouldn't be!) so expect to hear music through the evenings on the weekend. The service, especially in the restaurants, was average to poor. I wouldn't stay here if I didn't have to. I'm sure there's better out there.

Everytime I come here I always get given a room that is impossible to get to with a heavy suitcase…read morewithout straining yourself! Even though it says it's the ground floor I did at least 10 turns and went up and down 5 stairs cases. And the room sizes are bit consistent I paid for a large executive room and ended up with a double bed and small size room to then be told I've been charged for breakfast when I never had breakfast. But all is not that bad as I have stayed here a few times and still have not had a chance to check out their health spa but the bar is nice and the toilets are really snazzy! Thought I have stayed in lovely rooms where it is very large and a lovely view of the golf course. The breakfast here is a buffet and my only issue is they do not have vegetarian sausages or big glasses for juices or water. The hotel needs to be updated a bit as there are old TVs and you only have 6 channels and the place needs a good paint/rewallpapering - sorry it just looks a but dated.

The Gower House definitely has it's own special kind of charm…read more I recently stayed here for a week with a friend of mine. After spending countless hours on Trip Advisor, we booked a room here for two reasons: It was cheap and it was in a good location. The inside is sort of weird but I imagine that's typical of many of the converted hotels lining Gower Street. We stayed on the first floor which was actually a story above street level and I'm still not sure exactly how that worked. The room was very quaint and furnished tacky but there were two beds (one twin and one full), a desk, a small TV bolted on the wall, and a private bathroom with a shower (which we paid extra to have). Both of the beds were pretty hard but for the price we paid I didn't expect anything more. My favorite part about the room was that the TV remote was on a cord that was bolted to one of the head boards. Of course, we only had about four channels so there weren't a lot of options anyway. The owner of the hotel was very pleasant but he got a little flustered if we asked him more than one question at a time. He provided us with a hair dryer and there was a plug adapter/converter already in our room that I was thankful to have. Breakfast was provided each morning and was served in the little dining room down in the basement. It certainly wasn't a traditional English breakfast but it was tasty and filling, so no complaints from me. They served bacon and eggs with toast, cereal, orange juice, and coffee or tea. The coffee was a little rough but everything else was fine. The location of this hotel is great though. It's within walking distance of Euston Square Station, Goodge Street Station, and St. Pancreas International but if you're walking with luggage from Euston Station it feels like a pretty long walk. At least it did for me. Overall I'd say Gower House was a decent hotel. It's certainly not luxury at all, but it's quaint and cheap.

To be honest, the room was clean. Other than that, it was the worst place I ever stayed. We made…read moreour five night reservation six months in advance and when we arrived we were told our room was in the basement! The room was very small with a 5'x5' bathroom that you couldn't turn around in. The closet was four foot high with 4 hangers and the bed barely got in the room. The first night we were awoken by footsteps from above for most of the evening. We dismissed it, trying not to be "ugly Americans". The second night, the same. The next morning we asked to be moved and told the only available room was smaller. I don't believe that was possible. We chose to tough it out. The third night we were again awoken at 2am by loud banging from the room above. I went to the front desk to complain and was told I was being inconsiderate of the other guests. You can imagine my response. By 5am, the noise began again. We complained again and insisted on leaving. They returned the last two nights charges and we booked a real hotel.

Stayed here for a few nights on my recent trip. The location of the hotel is just a five minute…read morewalk from Victoria Station, which grants you easy access to most of London. The rooms are extremely EXTREMELY small, but clean and kept. This is actually pretty common from most European hotels ranging at like $250-$350 per night, which we paid for this hotel. They have a small elevator but it only goes to their basement, mainfloor and two other floors. You can only access the half level rooms via the steep, narrow staircases. They have an amazing bellboy that will help you he was so sweet. He wouldn't even accept a tip, I was shocked. My room had one full size, maybe queen bed, and one twin size bed, and barely any walking space. We really cramped three large suitcases in the room. We were forced to leave my husbands suitcase in the bathroom, the abnormally large bathroom, in relation to the room. There was one window and an AC unit. The AC was locked on 18C so it barely did a thing. I was sweating to death at night. Our bathroom was pretty old, but like i said, large. There was a full bathtub, but it was so hard to get into. Toilet, obviously, sink, and even a bidet. I was surprised. Our friends were in a different room. Their room was bigger, but their bathroom was so small it was despicable. Their bathroom was basically a door going into a stall shower, and their sink and toilet were in the small little shower. You could sit on the toilet while taking a shower, interesting.... It was terrible, there was a strong mildew smell in their bathroom. But their room was much bigger, they had space to walk and open all their suitcases. They don't have wifi, but they have a computer in the lobby that is 1 pound for 20 minutes. The hotel overall was enjoyable, the had a not so "English Breakfast". The coffee was quite good. But all they had was danishes, yogurt and cereal and tea. Would I stay here again? Maybe, i don't have any serious complaints, unless I was able to find a cheaper hotel for a better price.

We have stayed on a few of these budget hotels in Victoria and the standards are very variable. The…read moreCentral is one of the best value of those we have tried. Tidy, clean rooms in a contempary style. Nice en-suite. Fresh towels every day. Continental breakfast is plentiful and nice enough. Breakfast room gets a bit hectic but was fine. Yes, the rooms are small and some may feel they are cramped but they are clean and well decorated and have everything we wanted - tea making facilities, television, hair dryer, safe (daily charge of £3 for the room safe). If I was looking in this area and price again I would definitely return here if it was available. Four stars for this price bracket.

I am sharing, so that frugality does not ruin your choices of stay, as it did with me. Without…read moreinvolving emotion, I'll give the synopsis of this property, in my humble, yet discerning opinion. Pros: 1. Decent space in the room - Doesn't feel cramped. 2. Bathroom accommodates most body types, but not all heights. 3. Quiet for the most part Cons: 1. Dirty/Old carpeting. My new white socks are quite dingy. I'll be promptly discarding them. 2. Room was not set as a queen, which was requested in my reservation. I should not have to notify the front desk of this. 3. Soap is masculine-scented (Think grandfather's after shave) 4. No washcloths? In what universe does this make sense? Hygiene is of the utmost importance. 5. Linens not changed daily, only if requested. If it's not being changed daily, they should not complain when I leave my DND on for my room!! 6. Breakfast could be MUCH better. Eggs taste pre-fab. Save those funds and grab something light at one of the nearby cafés within walking distance. 7. No premium channels or ability to stream through your personal accounts. 8. Clogged drains I would not recommend staying here.

The Chilworth is literally around the corner from the Paddington Tube station, but can be easy to…read moremiss since London is a city notorious for poor signage (get used to using navigation mode to walk around streets if you're not familiar!). It's sandwiched between what looks like some private residences so it's easy to miss. The hotel itself is quite compact, but its doable for a solo traveller. I got the chamber club double room, which was small (as I expected), but doable. I think it's a bit tight for a couple, so I'd look for a bigger room if you need the space. Overall, the room was quite clean and did the job. The bed wasn't the best, but I could live with it as I spent the bulk of my 2 days here walking around quite a ton. There is a bag stand, but there isn't as much space when you open it up. It may just be easier putting it on the floor. Just be mindful not to have those super big bags as it may make things a bit too tight. The bathroom was small, but it did the job for me. They have an enclosed shower, which is tight but helped ease any concerns of having a high tub or water spilling over with the half glass showers. Shower intensity was pretty good. The one cool thing is the heated tiles. I wish more hotels had that. I enjoyed it. Lot of lighting and plenty of areas to charge devices. As mentioned in another review, they'll need to replace those USB-A ports at some point. This place apparently has breakfast options, but I passed on that because I only was there two nights (Sunday, Monday) and was heading straight to Heathrow early Tuesday morning. I ended up getting a quick breakfast nearby. I did enjoy the refill of complimentary water. There's also an Indian restaurant attached, but I passed on it. I don't think this place is a 5 star hotel per Google, but it's a solid option. The biggest selling points were the proximity to the Paddington tube (so I can get anywhere, especially back to Heathrow in the AM) as well as the general peace and quiet.

If I could give a 6th star I absolutely would (or more... way more). Our British holiday was…read morespectacular, and largely due to this incredible hotel and its wonderful staff. Upon arrival we were greeted by the friendliest staff who checked us in with no issues. We were offered cocktails, we were given a brief tour, and we were given London suggestions based on our likes and dislikes. The hotel itself is stunning. You don't get that stuffy cookie cutter hotel feeling... it's chic and artsy and fun. The rooms were incredible. The amenities plentiful and the utmost quality. And the art... the art is everywhere and it's a vibe. The hotel location is conveniently located just a block from the river Thames. It's also a short walk to the Tate Modern, Burrough Markets, Flibe Theater, the London Eye, Big Ben, etc. for anything else you're a short walk from many train stations (Black Friar, Waterloo, etc). You can also get a river cruise nearby. While we were mostly in our room just to sleep. The rooms were so fancy yet inviting. There is neat art hanging on the walls. There's complimentary chips (crisps) and chocolates in the cabinets near the mini fridge. The mini fridge is stocked with canned waters. There's also closet space, an iron, a fancy new Nespresso machine, tea options, a safe, mini fridge, etc There's a gym, a working art gallery and work space, a hip bar, and a delightful restaurant that serves both dinner and a breakfast that includes a delicious buffet. One day we were out and we came back to our room only to find that we had a bottle of champagne waiting on ice, truffles, and a thoughtful card from the staff. Another day we ran into a staff member near the hotel (not at work) who gave us more suggestions and told us that they wanted to comp our breakfast for the last couple days of our trip Some tips: Take advantage of the Mon-Thurs wine happy hour on the second floor. There is a lovely lounge and the wine pours freely for an hour. Mingle with the staff and other guests. Ask the staff for local recommendations. Use the carafe water stations on each floor to bring water to your room. There is stilled and sparkling water options on tap. And in the morning as you're leaving feel free to pick up canned water (stilled or sparkling) on your way out. Also, if it's raining there are complementary umbrellas you can borrow on your way out. The Bankside Autograph Collection is an incredible experience. There are so many little touches that make you feel like you're not only in the best of hands, but that the staff has gone above and beyond to make you feel like you're royalty. I will definitely be back here. I can't stop raving about our experience. Please. Don't waste your time with other lodgings. This is where you should stay. Cheers!!

The Bankside Hotel is a wonderful boutique hotel in an excellent location (close to a bridge…read moreoverlooking the Thames and two underground stations). The delicious buffet breakfast that was included in our package was more like brunch. The service was outstanding, including the front desk/concierge, restaurant staff, and housekeeping. I highly recommend this hotel!