Paddington Park Hotel

My short stay at Paddington Park Hotel was great, apart from the paint smell in my room. I think the renovation is still going on. The location worked well, close to tube stations and lots of cafés and restaurants. I had booked a single room, but the receptionist kindly upgraded me to a double bed. That was thoughtful.

Two weeks after my fully confirmed booking, the hotel cancelled it suddenly, without notice or explanation. The room then showed up as available again for a much higher price. Booking.com didn't answer when I asked what had happened. The hotel first sent me five words, “I cannot reply to this,” without a name or any indication of who was writing. When I asked why, they replied, “I am sorry I cannot respond to this.” Later they said there had been a technical issue, but I don't believe that. They'd accepted and confirmed the reservation and had it for two weeks. They didn't contact people who'd booked or try to rebook them if there really was a problem, and then listed the room at a higher price. I also saw another review describing the same thing. Before that, soon after I booked through Booking.com, I got a message on its website saying I had to confirm through WhatsApp. I then received both an email and a WhatsApp message. Since the link came through Booking.com and showed all my booking information, it looked real, so I entered some details at first. When it asked me to make a payment that would supposedly be refunded quickly, I realised it was a scam. I alerted Booking.com and the hotel and heard nothing from either. Searching online, I found other reports of the same scam. This came through the hotel's own Booking.com account, so it seemed genuine. Neither the hotel nor Booking.com replied or seemed to care. I've learned never to enter details again for a confirmed booking, no matter where a request comes from. I wouldn't book here. There seems to be a serious problem with bookings being used in a scam, and if they cancel without helping guests, who knows if it could happen again, perhaps at the last minute. I'd also avoid Booking.com and use a better site. They haven't responded to any messages about the scam or the cancellation and seem not to care. The whole thing felt worrying, uncaring and unprofessional.

The rooms are on the small side, but they're clean, nicely furnished, and the staff are super friendly. The hotel is in a perfect location and the breakfast is amazing. Recommended!

Right by Hyde Park, this is a good hotel in the heart of Paddington. The rooms are small, as you'd expect in London, but clean, with modern bathrooms that feel new and good bedding. The sturdy pillows deserve a mention. They were also kind enough to lend us a power converter for our appliances. We'll definitely be back.