Plaza London Hotel

Both rooms reeked of sewage, and the whole place smelled of cigarette smoke. There were exposed electrical wires and sockets hanging off the wall. It looked more like a hostel than a hotel. The woman at reception was rude and no help, and the manager was the same. I wouldn't even give this a minus 5. Save yourself the trouble and keep walking. Health, safety and hygiene agencies should investigate it.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and there are plenty of shops nearby. The tube is an eight-minute walk away, so the location is good. The room had a strange smell, though, and the bathroom was worn, with lots of rust. The towels were stained. Service and location were very good, but the room wasn't.

The staff were friendly and accommodating, and the central spot was convenient, with a short walk to the tube and lots of takeaways, cafes and shops. The area looked a little rough in places, but we didn't have trouble with locals and most people were friendly. We had a great time in London. The room, though, was far too cramped for two. We could barely move and could only unpack a few things. It looked clean at first, but after we dropped some money and reached under the bed, we found items left by previous guests. One bulb was broken, the bed was uncomfortable and the headboard was broken too. On day two we had to ask for a clean towel because ours hadn't been replaced. There was only a kettle, with no tea, coffee or cups. The kitchen downstairs is shared, so using it doesn't give you much privacy. The location was a convenient one, but I wouldn't stay again. Maybe it suits one person just looking for a bed for a night or two.

The front desk team were friendly and helpful, which was a small bright spot. The location was excellent, with groceries, coffee shops, pubs, train stations and a shopping center close at hand. But breakfast was listed as included and wasn't available on any day we stayed. The room wasn't cleaned daily, and the only bin was so small that we had to take it outside to empty it several times. The Wi-Fi was completely unreliable, so I had to use my phone data to work. It was a real nightmare.