ibis London Blackfriars

The room was spotless, stocked with what we needed, and the bed was comfortable enough for a good night's sleep. Getting booked was easy, and we were greeted in a friendly, professional way. The location worked perfectly for us, close to local amenities, the tube and river, with plenty of interesting places within walking distance. Hard to imagine a better place to stay.

The location made getting around very easy, with a tube station right there and plenty of restaurants nearby. The staff were also lovely throughout. David at check-in deserves a mention: he was welcoming and helpful, and arranged my early check-in through my Accor perks. The room looked okay at first, but it was dusty when we looked more closely, and the bathroom was tiny. The shower had wobbly plastic flooring that felt uncomfortable and unstable, a bit like a portalet. We bought bottled water because the tap water didn't seem safe to drink. I'd seen earlier reviews mentioning bed bugs, though we didn't come across any during our stay on the top floor. Maybe that problem has been dealt with, or perhaps we were lucky. For a budget ibis, this stay still felt below other ibis hotels I've used. The service and location were strong, but the room's condition and cleanliness need improvement.

The breakfast was solid, and the area felt safe, as did the hotel itself. We were only half a block from the Jubilee line, which was very handy. The rooms were nice, and the A/C worked really well, especially when a heat wave came through during our stay.

The staff have been lovely, but the room layout is awkward. There's barely any clothing storage and nowhere for luggage. The kettle sits on a shelf with no socket nearby, so you have to move it to another surface to boil water. The bathroom is a raised modular unit, and the Lino flooring outside it can be slippery when you step out. It does at least mean wet suitcases won't damage carpet. The lighting is frustrating too: it's either all the main and side lights on or everything off. A night-time bathroom trip means stumbling around in darkness or lighting up the whole room, which is great for whoever's sharing it. I know it's a budget hotel, but the room doesn't feel very functional.