The Thanet Hotel

Nothing like the photos. The floor had holes, the walls were filthy, and the wallpaper had been painted over and was peeling off. We were worried the ceiling might come down on us that night. We nearly left to book somewhere else, and the place almost ruined our stay. It was disgusting, dirty, and falling apart. If I could, I’d give it zero stars. It should be closed and kept from reopening until it gets a proper refurbishment. Renting these rooms out is despicable.

The location is the one good thing about this place. The room I was given was described as “a good one with nice views,” and if that was one of the good rooms, I can’t imagine the others. It looked nothing like the pictures online. They don’t accept contactless payment, though none of the websites says so. But when I asked them to look after my luggage, they were able to charge me that way. With so many other hotels in the area, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

On the night of 25 November 2025, I found a mouse in Room 5A at Thanet Hotel, which also communicates as “Lonsdale Hotel,” in Bloomsbury. I had to check out right away and find somewhere else to stay. The hotel later said it would refund the unused nights as a “goodwill gesture,” but hasn’t given me a clear timeframe. Finding a live rodent in a guest room raises serious concerns about hygiene, pest control, and safety. This was far below an acceptable standard, and I’d urge prospective guests to be cautious.

The building was so noisy that I could hear footsteps and every little sound from several rooms away. A shared toilet in the corridor was right beside my door and people used it all day and even at night, so resting was impossible. Mice came under the front door into my room several times. I had to wedge a towel there, and there was also a large hole by the radiator pipe where mice ran around. The pipes leaked too. The radiator got unbearably hot at night and couldn’t be turned down, while there was no air conditioning. The window wouldn’t stay open and kept dropping shut. Bathroom cold water often didn’t run, and the toilet seat looked about a hundred years old. The floors and walls were dirty, and the whole hotel was disgusting. I wouldn’t wish a stay here on anyone, not even my enemy. I’d gladly report it to every authority I could so they could close it. This place deserves to be shut down.