Novotel London Blackfriars

The riverbank was an easy walk, less than five minutes away, and the underground station was within two minutes. The hotel also has a pool, gym, and restaurant. The breakfast buffet had a good selection, though it was exactly the same all seven days. Our room had a view of The Shard. We didn't receive the upgrade benefits for our status, presumably because the higher-level rooms were occupied, but nobody explained that to us. Room cleaning was the bigger disappointment. The room wasn't cleaned well, and complimentary coffee and sugar weren't always replenished. Cleanliness left a lot to be desired. We stayed for a week, and the location made getting around convenient for both leisure and business.

The family room suited us well, with two separate beds instead of a shared double sofa bed, which works better for our children. The kids were especially keen on the automatic pancake maker at breakfast, which was excellent. The hotel is right on the bus route from Kings Cross, near Southwark tube, and a short walk from the Thames. The small pool was great for a wake-up swim or unwinding after sightseeing. Staff were super friendly and helpful.

Breakfast was fresh and delicious, and the staff were really helpful with directions and advice. The Blackfriars location worked perfectly for our family. The tube is at the end of the street, and the main station is a 10-minute walk away. Definitely one of our favourite places to stay in London so far.

The pool was a little cold for my taste, though I got used to it after a few laps. That's the only thing I'd put under "Development needed." Before moving into IT, I worked in the hotel industry for a couple of years, so I consider myself a fairly experienced guest and have been on the other side of the desk. My family and I had a very pleasant stay. The location was perfect, the rooms clean, and the staff polite and always smiling, which I'm not used to. Breakfast was very good and tasty too.