Travelodge London Lewisham

The staff deserve real credit for their work ethic and lovely, professional manner. Every person I spoke to was welcoming, smiling, and happy to help. The room was okay, clean enough, and the bed comfortable enough. Evening meal choices were limited, and they often didn’t have what was listed on the menu. Outside the hotel was the part we disliked. Whenever we went out, locals asked us for cigarettes or money, and Lewisham council should pay more attention to street cleaning. We’d happily stay again if the hotel were in a better area.

We stayed two nights over a bank holiday weekend during a heatwave, in a family room with our six- and nine-year-olds. The air conditioning was excellent, and from our second-floor room on the east side, away from the main road, we didn’t hear outside noise. Reception staff were friendly and helpful. They said that for a short stay the room wouldn’t be cleaned, which was fine, but the top-up sign was supposed to get us fresh tea, coffee, and towels, and none were replaced. It’s a Travelodge, though one of the better ones I’ve stayed in. We didn’t eat there, but there’s limited room service. I noticed breakfast was £1 for children when an adult paid full price.

We chose this place for Christmas because the location works well for our family, and we’ve stayed before. This time the service was terrible. We arrived around midnight and found the window open in a freezing room. The heating didn’t help, so I went to bed in a tracksuit. In the morning reception told me heating was controlled from the back office and there was a fault code for our room. They offered another room on the next level, but only after we’d paid extra to choose our room online. We had to carry our luggage up and down several times ourselves on Christmas Day. There was also the breakfast issue. On a previous visit, one catering worker repeatedly asked if we’d paid and watched us as if we hadn’t. This time she just stared from a distance now and then, even though nobody said anything. We don’t expect to be treated like shoplifters over breakfast. Common courtesy goes a long way. Reception staff weren’t helpful either. Lewisham has its share of problems like any London borough, but that doesn’t excuse this. Maybe we’ll try Premier Inn next time. The penguins did enjoy the first night, apparently it was slightly warmer than the Arctic. Hope it’s a one-off for anyone else staying!

The price was under £100 and quite affordable, with possible discounts for booking early. Lewisham Mall is nearby, along with lots of shops beside the hotel, some open until midnight or overnight. The premises felt secure and safe, and the high street location is convenient for transport: two train stations are within walking distance for Central London and other parts of the city, and a bus stop right outside serves numerous destinations. The rooms were neat, with clean sheets, and the housekeeping team seemed efficient and knew their job. Air conditioning, hot water, TV channels, and access cards all worked as they should. Customer service staff were polite and professional. There’s an in-house bar and restaurant too. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting London.