Hampton Inn by Hilton London

Breakfast had the usual Hampton Inn spread of hot and cold food, plus coffee and juice. The coffee wasn’t great, and sometimes there was no cream or the coffee wasn’t topped up. The room was nice and mostly clean, though there was some gross stuff on the walls, and the bed faced away from the TV so we had to watch sideways. The view wasn’t much to brag about. The warm pool was a decent size compared with other hotels we’ve visited, and the small gym was still nice to have. We managed to swim twice, though hockey tournaments kept the pool busy. There were groups of kids in the halls. One group stopped and moved politely when we passed on our way to the pool, but later kids kept running up and down outside it while parents chased them. As we left the first night, a family warned us there was poop all over the hallway. The front desk staff seemed overwhelmed cleaning up and dealing with clogged toilets in the washroom. We didn’t mind the families themselves, but anyone looking for quiet should go elsewhere during hockey season. We’ve stayed at a couple of other Hampton Inn by Hiltons, and they’re quite similar in layout and offerings. The front desk was friendly.

Dulce at the front desk was funny, friendly, and welcoming, five stars for her. The heated pool was a good size, and the bathroom was nice with very hot water, just how I like it. The rooms felt dated and could use an upgrade. The bed was a bit on the firm side, but I slept okay. My room heat wasn’t working, though the front desk found a heater and the room warmed up in about an hour. All in all, an okay stay.

The hotel’s amenities were nice and clean, and breakfast in the morning was decent. Still, I’d suggest sporting groups book somewhere else. We were here for a U8 hockey tournament, and the kids weren’t acting outrageously, but the hotel seemed unsure how to deal with a group of children professionally. From the moment we arrived, the front staff hovered over us, as if our presence was a problem. Hotels host hockey families regularly, so this shouldn’t have been unusual. The tension was noticeable enough that even the kids felt uncomfortable, which was upsetting. We understand staff have policies to follow, but basic courtesy and professionalism matter. Being treated poorly right away set a sour tone for the whole visit. This fell well short of what we expect from a Hampton Inn, and now we’re hesitant to return to this location.

The rooms are a good size and clean, but we were kept awake until 1am by hockey tournament guests shouting and blasting music in the staircase. If you want a quiet, restful night or need your sleep, I wouldn’t stay here.