9A Craven Road Hotel

We booked because the price seemed reasonable, but the room was so tiny I could hardly fit my suitcase. The walls were filthy, the bathroom mirror was cracked, and it was incredibly hot. My partner and I were pretty uncomfortable. If you're coming to London, I'd budget for a more expensive room to make the stay more enjoyable. I'll let you know if my bags turn up missing after the room's been cleaned.

The staff were really friendly, and breakfast was fine. For the price, it's an okay hotel, between Paddington and Lancaster Gate stations. Rooms were clean, though there was a bit of mold on the bathroom ceiling. Bathroom size depends on the room: roadside ones are smaller, while rooms at the back have larger bathrooms. The lobby is very minimal. One of the back rooms was much warmer than the roadside rooms and didn't ventilate well. The restaurant exhaust was right under its window, so it smelled in there.

There was no safety latch on the window, so it opened all the way onto a high balcony, which felt like a serious safety issue. Worse, the beds were covered in bedbugs, and I came home covered in bites. Absolutely disgusting. They said we'd get a refund, but now they won't accept liability.

I travel a lot and use the Heathrow Express, so being just two minutes from Paddington station was ideal. The price also felt affordable for such a good London location. The staff were lovely and helpful, and I especially want to thank Andrew and Rana.