The Sumner

We came back to our favourite London hotel after a few years away. We’ve stayed at The Sumner several times, though the last visit was before the pandemic, and it was good to see the standards were still there. The room was clean and spacious enough for two, the beds were comfy, and breakfast had more than enough choice. If Full English isn’t your thing, there’s bread, cheese, cold cuts, yoghurt, muesli, fruit, croissants and more. You don’t always get that at cheaper chains like Premier Inn or Travelodge. I’d still love to see Marmite added. The hotel’s in a good spot, with easy transport and Oxford street just a stone’s throw away. There are some nice pubs and lots of restaurants in the neighbourhood. Staff are very friendly and welcoming. We’ll definitely return next time we’re in London.

The room felt dated mostly because of the dark, worn furniture. The desk and wardrobe had marks and chips, and replacing them would make the space feel much fresher. Cleanliness was only just acceptable too. There was a heavily stained bed throw, marked net curtains, and a few hairs on the bed. The biggest comfort problem was the heat. The room stayed uncomfortably hot all night, and turning the air-conditioning fan up fully made no noticeable difference. Bottled water was a nice touch, but I slept poorly. A fan, ceiling fan, or air-conditioning that worked better would have helped. The bedside switches, separate from the lamps, also didn’t work, and the sockets were low down behind the cabinet, awkward to reach when charging devices overnight. Breakfast was a letdown for £15 per person. There was no hot water for tea, and the cold, firm pastries seemed pre-packaged. The cooked food was cold to lukewarm, bacon wasn’t available, and eggs seemed to be the main option. Staff were mostly absent. The napkins were nicely embellished, but table service for tea and coffee, hot food that was clearly available, and staff around during service would have made a real difference. It was a missed chance to leave guests with a good last impression. The reception team, by contrast, were professional, courteous, and genuinely welcoming. The public areas looked especially warm and festive at Christmas, and the hotel made a strong first impression. Still, with the issues in the room and at breakfast, the stay didn’t meet what I’d expect from the advertised four-star rating. We might return if these problems were addressed.

Housekeeping kept our room spotless, and Sumner was good value. There are restaurants and pubs close by, including The Portman next door and places around the corner on Seymour Place. Marble Arch station on the Central Line is just three blocks away, which was fantastic. There was drilling noise from construction at the hotel across the street starting at 8am, though that was outside their control.

This was one of the worst hotel stays I’ve had. I arrived in the morning, paid, and left my bags there. When I came back at about 9:30 PM, the room was filthy and unhygienic, with red stains on the bed and insects beside it (see photos). I didn’t use the room at all and asked for my money back straight away, but the hotel refused. The room made me worry about skin irritation and itching as soon as I entered. Be careful if you’re thinking of staying here.