Premier Inn London Ilford - Newbury Park

Raluca, the Duty Manager, made sure everything went smoothly and handled issues with a smile. She was helpful, polite, professional, and worked hard to keep guests happy. The hotel can get hectic at busy times, and breakfast service may slow down, but she stepped in quickly and made me feel welcome. The rooms were fresh, modern, quiet, tidy, and the beds were very comfortable. It's a great spot near the tube and handy for the Central line. Thanks to Raluca for the great support. I had a wonderful stay and will be back soon.

The room was huge and very well equipped, though it was annoying that the window couldn't be opened. The toilet was the main problem: the flush was so weak that waste stayed in the bowl. Horrible. The hotel and area were otherwise really good, just five minutes from the subway. Three large supermarkets were nearby, along with a gas station and McDonald’s. The staff were super friendly. We didn't choose breakfast, so I can't comment on it.

The top floor had a lovely view of London, and the rooms were clean and comfortable to sleep in. The location was really good, and the staff were nice too. When I said I was waiting for someone, they didn't tell me to leave. They even asked if I was enjoying myself and where I'd come from. I was coming from Stanmore, by the way. The food is what kept this from being a five-star stay: the mushrooms were undercooked and the scrambled eggs were cold. Honestly, skip the all-you-can-eat buffet and go to the McDonalds down the street instead. It wasn't bad overall and I'd come back, but I wouldn't want to eat there again.

The room was great for what we paid, and the hotel felt clean and modern, as if it were quite new. We chose it to save a lot compared with staying central, and didn't regret it, though central London is still around 40+ minutes away. The area itself isn't especially attractive and felt a bit unsavoury to us as visitors without local knowledge. As two young women, the four-minute walk from Newbury Park station felt manageable late at night, though there were some interesting characters around. On our second night, there was a homeless man camping outside, and the entrance and our room corridor smelled strongly of weed. A mini M&S garage next door has plenty of drinks and snacks. Staff communication was difficult for much of the stay. A woman wearing a head scarf was immediately quite difficult when we asked about early check-in, which I'd called ahead to arrange. We were told quite harshly that we couldn't check in until we explained the situation. She then spent at least five minutes at the computer without asking for our booking reference or names, leaving an awkward silence. When she eventually asked questions, she spoke so quietly that we struggled to understand each other. The second night our card stopped working and we were locked out. Another staff member seemed just as clueless at first, but eventually fixed the access. The breakfast attendant was the saving grace: a brilliant, extremely proficient and professional man with perfect customer service skills. Apart from him, dealing with staff was hard work. The hotel is only a four-minute walk from Newbury Park station, right by the Underground, but getting back from central London takes about 40+ minutes. It's not the Ritz, but it's a much more affordable way to travel to and from central London. I'd recommend it if you're not snobby about where you stay.