Grange Lancaster

The rooms were good quality, and the bathroom was nice. We stayed overnight so I could take my daughter to GOSH early in the morning, and the location worked really well for that. Getting drinks was a bit odd, though: the barman had to come over from the hotel across the road, then get the orange juice from a third hotel.

The price was excellent for a one-night stay in London, and the staff were friendly. We could also leave our luggage at the hotel until 6pm after checkout, which let us carry on with business or sightseeing. Holborn tube station is only a few minutes away, and reception was friendly, though nothing grand. There was no lift, but the rooms were clearly marked and signposted. We were on the top floor in a generous, clean room with a comfortable double bed. A corner cubby had a kettle, cups, and various teas and coffees. There was a Smart TV that could stream from a phone over the free WiFi, a decent wardrobe with hangers, and two lamps that were good for reading. There was no fridge, iron, or ironing board, which would be a real drawback if you're travelling for work and need to press a shirt. The shower was unexpectedly built into the corner of the room. Its water pressure was weak, and the wall-mounted head leaked. Shampoo, shower gel, and the other toiletries were included and good quality. There was no toilet in the room, which is probably just as well with the shower out in the open. Sharing a room as a pair could have been awkward in the morning. The shared toilet was clean and spacious, but inconvenient. All in all, a good overnight stay at an excellent price, with some moderate inconveniences.

The basement room was local to my meeting place, and my company had booked it. The breakfast was amazing, and I was lucky to have a toilet to myself. But the rooms are so small, and housekeeping was noisy from 5am. I'm back next week, so I'm hoping it'll be better.

We were pleased with how clean everything was, from the room and common areas to the toilets and entrance. There was plenty of storage, and the room came with tea, coffee, and personal bathing items. The hairdryer was fixed to the desk, but that worked fine. By non-American standards, The Lancaster on Bedford Place is very nice. Our top-floor room meant a tough climb after a day out. The staircases are narrow and winding. The location made up for it: it was walkable and close to both Russell Square and Holborn underground stations. For a first visit to London, I'd suggest Russell Square station because the route to the hotel is more direct, though both stations are similarly close. There are squares at each end of the street, and groceries, a pharmacy, and shopping within two or three streets. Russell Square has a restaurant in the park. Lovely.