Wanstead Hotel

The location is convenient, fairly close to the Underground, and there’s parking in front of the hotel with CCTV. The modern-looking exterior gave us a good first impression. After that, the stay went badly. I spent one night at the Wanstead Hotel with friends. We’d booked two rooms, and as soon as we entered Room 8, there was a very strong cigarette smell. It was unpleasant enough to make the room feel unclean. We asked politely at reception if we could switch rooms. The receptionist struggled with English, which made explaining things difficult. She said that if we moved, our friends would also have to move. They needed two separate beds, but the alternative room offered had only a double. We couldn’t get a clear reason why they couldn’t stay put while we changed rooms, and the conversation became frustrating as the receptionist grew more agitated while we tried to describe the problem. After a long discussion without a solution, we reluctantly kept the room and were given an air freshener for the smell. Looking around more closely, we saw stains on the bedding and a carpet that looked like it hadn’t been vacuumed for a long time. One window seemed partly melted or fire-damaged, which concerned us. The shower dripped all night, and what looked like dried bogies had been wiped on the bathroom wall. The bathroom looked so unclean that my partner and I chose not to shower. The bed was extremely uncomfortable, the worst I’ve slept in at a hotel, and with the dripping and the state of the room we had a very unpleasant night. After we left, my partner developed multiple bites across her body, which raised further concerns about the room and bedding. I genuinely don’t understand how the hotel can keep operating in this condition. Between the room, the hygiene concerns and the way our complaint was handled, it was an incredibly disappointing stay. I’d strongly advise anyone thinking of booking to look elsewhere.

My partner and I paid £50 for one night at Wansted Hotel, but left without sleeping there. On arrival, the room smelled strongly and unpleasantly. The carpet smelled too and looked as if it had never been vacuumed. The bathroom had a clear mould-like odour, and the surfaces and floor were visibly dirty. There were pubic-like hairs on the toilet seat and in the bowl. The sheets and pillowcases were stained and seemed unwashed, with pubic-like hairs on top of and inside the bedding. The towels were torn and worn. We went out, then came back to ask for clean sheets, but nobody was at reception. The walls were paper thin, so every sound from neighbouring rooms came through and there was no sense of privacy. For a place in Zone 3, far from central London, £50 in 2026 is on the cheaper side. Still, guests are entitled to a clean room and a staffed reception, and we got neither. The listing didn’t match the rooms we saw, and reception was unstaffed. Calling this a hotel feels misleading. Based on what we observed, the relevant authorities should properly inspect the place. We wouldn’t return or recommend it to anyone.

I loved staying here. It had everything I needed, was easy to find, and the quality and location were good for the low price. A really good bargain!

The shower was good and the beds were okay, but the room smelled of cannabis. Not great when you’re bringing children. The bedside lights didn’t work, and there were two double beds but only one mug. No teaspoons either, just a big tablespoon. Come on, it’s not that hard. The two hangers were both looking pretty sad.