Modernist Beauty on Palace Court

After just one night, I woke to find rats had eaten the chocolate I'd brought from Australia. It was inside my suitcase, with huge bite marks, and crumbs were all over the bed, my clothes and the case. The rats had clearly been over my things while I slept. I was four months pregnant, and the thought of them running over my bed and clothes and eating from my bag caused a lot of stress. It made me feel filthy. Seeing earlier reviews mentioning rat poison in the room has me even more worried about my baby's health, since those poisons are often unsafe during pregnancy. When my partner told reception our food had been eaten by rats, they didn't seem surprised at all. We left straight away and found another hotel nearby, which was extremely difficult over Christmas when availability was low. I've stayed in hotels all over the world, and never experienced somewhere this dirty or hazardous. Booking.com refunded the nights we didn't stay, but refused to refund the night we did, saying we'd stayed there. Rats running around and eating our snacks while we slept seems like a good enough reason for that night to be refunded too. I'm still trying to get a full refund from Booking.com. Do not stay here.

The rooms were nowhere near the advertised standard, and visible problems raised serious health concerns for my family, including one member with asthma. The hotel refused to offer any help or refund despite our concerns and the room's condition. Management seems focused on profit at the expense of basic hygiene and cleanliness, and it felt clear that guest safety came second. Avoid this place if you care about your health and peace of mind.

A basic stay in a quiet area, with parks and transport within reach. The room was clean enough, the shower was great, and the TV was good. There was a kettle with tea facilities. But the furniture was limited, the fixtures felt cheap, and the mattress was so thin I could feel the springs. It's very much a budget choice, and you get what you pay for. Did the job.

The neighbourhood is nice, quiet and safe, and the location is good. The rest was horrible: old, musty rooms, dirty old carpets, and rat poison on every corner. There was no reception staff for several hours each day, and towels were changed only every three days. My room was on the fourth floor, and with no elevator and two suitcases, getting there was a terrible experience. I can't recommend it to anyone. Avoid at all costs.