Leman Locke

The reception team were very friendly, and having a café right on the ground floor was a definite plus. Aldgate East Underground station is only about a five-minute walk away. But once I looked around properly, the room seemed worn and not as nice as the photos suggested. Cleanliness was a letdown, especially in the bathroom. There was a bad drain smell throughout my stay, and long black hairs on the floor, in the shower and on the sofa. A lady shaver from a previous guest was still on the bathroom shelf. The sink and shower looked like they’d only had a quick surface clean. The kitchen had very basic equipment, enough for simple meals, but no dish soap. I had to run the dishwasher for one pot, one plate and one fork because I didn’t want to wash them with water alone. I’d stayed at a Locke apartment in Dublin before, and it was much cleaner and probably newer. Based on this visit, I don’t think I’d stay here again.

The couch was so dirty in both rooms that I didn’t feel comfortable putting anything on it. The hotel is very worn and poorly maintained, and the condition is clear in the photos. It may have been good when new, but it’s far too worn now. The service and state of the rooms make me advise staying away. Some rooms have a strong sewage smell, as other reviews mention. I reported mine and was told maintenance would come, but nobody showed up. Later that night I was moved to an accessible room. It was thoughtfully laid out for wheelchair users, with everything easy to reach, but the very low mirrors, sinks and surfaces were impractical for someone who doesn’t need those features. They called it an upgrade because it was larger. I was also asked to go to reception to pay for two extra nights I hadn’t booked. I had to spend time explaining and providing evidence of what I had reserved. When I asked about compensation for all the inconvenience, I was told I wouldn’t be charged for the room change, as though charging me would have been reasonable.

In response to the hotel’s reply: instead of making pointless and even more unethical excuses, look at the disappointing experiences people have had at your place and ask yourself why similar reviews about the same issues were posted months or even years ago without anything being done to address them or improve the business. Leman Locke, be MORAL! Would I recommend this place to anyone? Absolutely not. I’m VERY VERY disappointed that I booked it for my first four nights in the UK, and I can’t say how much I regret paying 1.2k CAD for an experience where I enjoyed nothing. I’m curious how positive reviews can exist when the quality is so ridiculously bad. Location may be its only positive, so if that’s all you care about, it could suit you. Otherwise, please save your money and choose somewhere else, especially if you can’t put up with what I found. The room wasn’t properly cleaned. It was disgusting to see the dirt and stains on the coach, and I couldn’t even look at it during my stay. They’re running a hotel business for people who travel from faraway places and pay to have a good stay. Offering such poor conditions to guests paying almost $300/night felt unbelievably disrespectful and unethical. As other reviews confirm, the ventilation was very noisy, right above the bed, and the room had no windows. The bathroom sink was clogged and drained very slowly. The glass door didn’t close properly, so water leaked out, and they’d put a towel there as the solution. Some of the lights didn’t work properly either. Don’t expect a hair dryer in the bathroom. They don’t clean rooms unless you’re staying for a week or longer. There was no phone in the room, so to reach the front desk you had to make an international call on your own phone, which they never answered, or go downstairs. Because the room was unclean and some lights didn’t work, I asked to change rooms three times at check-in. The front desk staff did try to help, but none of the rooms were considered “comparable”, so eventually I gave up. This was my first visit to the UK. I tried not to let it spoil my impression of the city, but I honestly couldn’t understand what I’d paid so much for. To whoever owns this place: BE MORAL IN YOUR BUSINESS! Instead of improving the quality, I see you denying people’s true reviews of their stays. That’s a disgraceful business practice!

We had a great first trip to London in February and were so happy with our stay at Leman Locke. The apartment was spacious and clean, and the little kitchenette was perfect. We loved the big windows and pleasant street view, plus the roomy bathroom with its great shower and relaxing bathtub. Staff were kind and helpful. There are lots of restaurants and small grocery shops nearby, and Spitalfields market and Brick Lane are close. The Tube station right across the street made it easy to get anywhere in London. We definitely hope to stay again on our next visit.