101 Stay

The staff were welcoming and friendly, but we didn’t feel comfortable staying. The entrance was cold and dirty, and getting to the room meant climbing two flights of stairs with our baby and pram. Inside, the floor was filthy and the room smelled damp and musty. There was a heater instead of a radiator, but it wouldn’t work. We left rather than keep our baby in a cold, damp room, and there was no refund.

I arrived around 8:30 in the evening and couldn’t find the car park, so I went to the hotel for help. You can’t get into the building without calling. The first number didn’t work, and the man who answered the second was no help at all. He wasn’t even there, but told me to walk around the back and look for an alley near the parking. I’m not familiar with London, especially after dark, and had no idea where I was going. I asked if someone could come help me find it, since I had my disabled husband and child with me. He said there was a woman in the building but she couldn’t help, and just kept insisting the parking was there. Seeing the state of the hotel through the window and dealing with that customer service, I cancelled and found somewhere else. Don’t trust the room photos. If a hotel advertises parking, it should be easy to find and part of the hotel. Book here at your own risk.

My room was cold and draughty, and I could hear every subway train passing underground. The decor was just about acceptable. The shower drained very slowly, and the toilet seat wasn’t fixed properly. On my last night, the fire alarm in my room went off by accident at nearly 6 a.m. At least I wasn’t there on a night when the club was open, unlike some other travelers. I’d spend a little more next time or choose somewhere less convenient.

Avoid this hotel. The polished photos are a good marketing trick and clearly date from years ago, when the place first opened. Our room was dirty and smelled bad. There was food left by previous guests in the fridge, the bedding was dirty, and the floor had dirt, hair, and tags from someone else’s clothes. Wires were hanging loose and practically everything in the room was broken. It also took ages for anyone to let us in. And there is no parking. I was told it was free and where to park in a bay, then woke up to a £40 ticket. The owner said he’d never spoken to me, even though that advice was in the advertisement. Apparently I never stayed, but he still has my money. This place should be shut down for all sorts of breaches.