Holiday Inn Express London - Stratford by IHG

The hot breakfast was genuinely tasty, with crispy bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, beans and tomatoes. The same spread every morning, though, got repetitive after a few days. It’s the same breads, yogurt and cereals too, so that could wear on you during a longer stay. The Stratford Holiday Inn is a clean, well-kept, no-frills place with comfortable rooms and friendly staff. A reliable, convenient base for exploring London, especially for a couple of nights. I’d return for a short trip, keeping the breakfast repetition in mind.

Abba Voyage is only a 15-minute walk away, and the tube station is about the same distance. The hotel was nice, with clean rooms, helpful staff and a very good breakfast. The dining room gets crowded, though, and could use more space between tables. We had a lovely stay.

The room was clean and predictable, breakfast was a bonus, and the staff were lovely, friendly and easy to approach. But the toilet smelled unpleasant despite looking clean. I only noticed it at bedtime and wasn’t going to change rooms that late, but it wasn’t nice. Dinner was quite an experience. My friend ordered a starter and pizza, while I had chicken breast with mash. Their pizza arrived with a long black hair in it, though neither of us had long black hair. The staff were kind when we told them, took it away and made another. They brought fries as an apology, but I was still waiting for my chicken. I asked if it was coming when the replacement pizza was nearly finished, and it eventually arrived. The chicken was okay, but the potato was dried stuff from a packet. I had to leave soon for a work call, so after that long wait for a disappointing meal, I couldn’t have the dessert they offered as an apology either. A mixed experience, and the staff were lovely.

We’d definitely stay here again. The staff were very helpful, and our room was clean, comfortable and had everything we needed. Breakfast was self-serve, with fresh, good-quality food. The location is handy for Abba Voyage, with a massive shopping centre close by and a local shop opposite.