Bermonds Locke, Tower Bridge

We found the staff welcoming, and Guiliana at the front desk answered our questions. The in-room information codes were useful too. My mother and I shared a cozy, comfortable room, and the stay made international travel feel almost relaxing. There are several bus stops just a few minutes away, while London Bridge Tube Station is a longer walk. My father is planning a London trip, and I've already told him to stay here.

Bermondsey has a great feel for visitors, with lots of interesting places to eat and visit. The hotel itself was amazing to stay in. The rooms are spacious, and the kitchen is a real plus if you're staying a few days. There's also a great bar and co-working area downstairs for anyone working during their stay.

The location is convenient, but basic cleanliness should be expected, especially with mould and similar complaints appearing in other reviews. We couldn't stay at Bermonds Locke, Tower Bridge because of what we found. Soon after check-in there was a strong mouldy smell, and visible fungal or mushroom growth in the shower made the bathroom unusable. We reported it straight away and asked to move rooms, but were told there were no alternatives. A cleaner briefly wiped the surface, but the smell remained and the problem wasn't properly fixed. We left within about an hour and didn't stay overnight or use the room. The hotel offered only a 50% refund, saying we'd sat in the room and it therefore needed a full clean, even though the receptionist had asked us to wait there while the cleaner dealt with the issue. Staff were unhelpful and quite argumentative, and didn't respond when I emailed to ask for a full refund. Thankfully, Booking.com helped resolve it.

The breakfast toast from the bakery area was decent, and the small ASDA next door was handy. Some of our group went to premier Inn instead for breakfast because of its great vegan options. The hotel is a 10-15 minute walk from the tube or train station, which may suit you if you don't mind walking. I've worked in travel for over a decade and wouldn't book this for business unless the place I needed to be was nearby. I won't let someone else book my travel again, haha. I stayed twice on the same trip in two different rooms, and both stays disappointed. Check-in was slow; self-check-in might have been quicker, but didn't look easy to use. The first room was meant for three, with twin beds and a rollaway, but the layout was odd. A pillar sat between the beds' foot ends, and the TV faced away from the beds toward a window, with nowhere sensible to sit and watch. The toilet worked but wasn't very clean, the washer-dryer still had laundry in it, and the beds were uncomfortable. I spilled water on the duvet and asked reception for a replacement before we went out to dinner. The person at the desk was on the phone and didn't acknowledge us, so we had to leave in a hurry. When we came back, another staff member told us to wait for someone else. We waited about ten minutes, without being told that someone had brought extra sheets, but no duvet, to the room. A member of our party eventually called us upstairs. The second room had a more comfortable double bed, but the toilet was still not clean. The grout and tiny tiles seem like a poor choice for easy cleaning. The soap, shampoo and handwash dispensers were faulty, and we had to take off the covers and pumps to get anything out. Attention to detail and maintenance just weren't there. Sadly, this may be the least appealing four-star place I've stayed at. Maybe that's what four-star apartments are like, but it didn't feel like a hotel.