1 Lexham Gardens Hotel

No hot water, a broken shower, broken bathroom tiles, and carpet held down with a thick strip of mastic around the edges. The place looked as if it had been cleaned by teenagers after a mud fight. Even the UHT milk was off, and I’ve seen that stuff survive the heat of Iraq 🤦‍♂️ The free breakfast? I won’t even get into it. Let’s just say McDonald’s would look like a Michelin star restaurant next to it. There’s nothing on the bright side. Save your money. Honestly, I can’t think of a single good thing about this place. Don’t be fooled by the reception or the location like we were.

The worst part was the hookah lounge right outside my window, playing music past midnight. I asked the hotel clerk for help speaking to them, but the music carried on and the party seemed to get louder as the night went on. The location is decent, and the price first looked like a good deal, but I’d keep looking. The beds were uncomfortable. The room was okay otherwise, just a budget hotel and nothing like the Booking.com photos. Calling it a three-star hotel feels generous.

We turned around and left as soon as we arrived. The bathroom was covered in mold, the carpet was dirty, the room smelled of bleach, and it hadn’t been cleaned properly. When I complained at reception, they told me ours was one of the better rooms. The only good thing is the location, close to the metro and convenient for getting to central London. The pictures on Booking.com are nowhere near what you actually get.

The beds were comfortable and most of the staff were nice, so it was fine apart from the room itself. There were broken bathroom tiles and nowhere to put clothes or anything else. The rooms are tiny and look nothing like the Booking.com pictures. It was also pretty loud because of the old windows. I’d definitely pick another hotel next time.