Carlton Hotel

It's cheap, spotlessly clean, and right across the road from King's Cross st Pancras Station. The beds are comfortable too. Just don't expect big flat-screen TVs with lots of channels, powerful showers, or spa baths. It's noisy, so bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper.

It's a budget hotel at budget prices, and I found it perfectly okay for that. The place is dated, but my room and private bathroom were very clean, and the bed was comfortable. The main reason to stay here is the convenience of being next to Kings Cross and Eurostar train stations. The street was a little noisy, but that's hard to avoid in that location.

The room price is advertised at over £80 a day, but in my view the accommodation is worth closer to £45 a day. The price doesn't match the standard or value. It seems this isn't an isolated case at this location, and gives the impression that the location is being used to justify much higher rates without a matching level of quality. I also couldn't adjust the heating myself because it is centrally controlled. I asked for a portable heater to stay comfortable in colder conditions, but got no response.

On my first trip abroad, I stayed here in March 2023 as my main base in London. The downstairs room was in a building a few doors from reception and felt a little claustrophobic. Coming from a warm climate, though, I'd had a cold throughout my two months in Europe, so the extra warmth was lovely. The bathroom was cramped and noisy, but at $150 a night I thought it was great. It's about a two-minute walk from St. Pancras, with lots of food spots nearby. I'd recommend it to a solo traveller spending a few days in London.