So Paddington Hotel

The kitchen could use better equipment, and the beds are very hard. The room was a decent size, and the location was excellent.

The location is perfect, and we liked the place enough to book another stay for the coming week after staying here a week ago. The room was larger than many and more affordable than others. Online check-in sent us a security code and worked without any issues. Our room was a good size, with a very comfortable bed and a basic but usable kitchenette. The bathroom was cosy, and although the shower was small, it was great. There was a small desk for writing, a two-seater couch and a TV that wasn't really usable for watching TV. Rooms are cleaned and serviced every two days. There's also a coin-operated laundry. A small lift is there if you hate stairs, though climbing them is great for your legs and butt.

There are plenty of cheaper places nearby with better quality. This place had awful customer service and an online registration process that didn't work. Staff couldn't explain or help with which details to enter because they weren't the same as the information in the comment box. Their only solution was for me to walk 20 minutes to the office to register, then walk another 20 minutes back. They also require a £200 pre-authorisation and weren't helpful.

Paddington Station and the underground are just around the corner, so getting around London by tube was easy. We stayed at Apartment 10 at number 9 Talbot Square for one night to see a show in the west end and do some shopping. The apartment was clean and nicely furnished, with good facilities, two bottles of water and tea and coffee items. The bed was comfortable and the air con very good. It was small, especially the shower, which felt cramped for me at 6ft4, and I wouldn't want to live with one that small. Getting in was a bit frustrating. We arrived at 11am at the reception, about a 10-minute walk away. My reservation email didn't state a check-in time, but we were told we couldn't check in until after 2pm. Not a huge issue, but the little details matter. For the size, it wasn't cheap, and we were told it was a superior room. I'm not sure what made it superior, but it was a four-star stay for sure.