Gresham Hotel Bloomsbury

The receptionist who greeted me was the one good thing. He tried to find a better room, but it was just as bad. I checked in, left for another hotel the same day, and wasn’t given a refund. The room didn’t look like the photos, and everything seemed ruined. There was mould everywhere, a smell in the room, and the shared washrooms were worse than a train station. The desk chair had stains of unknown origin, and despite the listing saying twin beds, there was only a single bed. It was the worst experience of my life. Authorities really should inspect this hotel. It’s embarrassing, and it doesn’t meet basic hygiene standards.

The location is right by The British Museum, but the hotel was basic, filthy and noisy. The shared bathrooms smelled bad, had overflowing bins with soiled paper, and the shower floors were vile and clearly not cleaned daily. It took several minutes to get hot water. Wear flip flops if you use them. My room had an uneven sloping floor, a stained, matted carpet, marked walls, and very basic furniture. Springs poked through the mattress, there was only a sheet and no blanket or duvet, and the pillow was so hard I bought one at Primark after the receptionist said there was no alternative. It was boiling, with no radiator thermostat. The door lock seemed insecure, with signs it had been forced and old locks still on it. There was no kettle or tea and coffee, no eating facilities, and I was told not to drink the tap water. WiFi didn’t work in my room. The TV was too high on top of a wardrobe to watch comfortably, and using it required a £20 remote. Fire notices and evacuation routes were missing from my room, and some doorways lacked exit signs. Checkout time was inconsistent: 11am on the room sign and 10am in the corridor. At night I heard traffic from the front, building work from the back, a constant hiss from something that might have been a generator or steam, and everything through the thin walls from the couple next door. The place didn’t feel safe or comfortable. There’s no lift, just stairs with slippery lino. I’ve had better cleanliness, comfort, safety and facilities in hostels. This shouldn’t be classed as a hotel and isn’t worth the money, even for the central location. Only stay if you’re desperate to be near central London. I wouldn’t recommend it to women travelling alone.

The area around Oxford Street feels dodgy, and the hotel seemed more like sketchy temporary accommodation than a proper hotel. There’s no WiFi. I don’t like it and don’t feel very safe tonight. I could use a bodyguard, taking CVs.

For the price, a one-night stay is hard to fault. The bed was comfortable and clean, and so was the bathroom. Cups in the rooms would be useful, and even cheap shower gel would be nice.