1 Lexham Gardens

The rooms were so cramped that two people could barely move around, and the beds hardly fit. We had no furniture for clothes, so everything stayed in our luggage for all 5 days and 4 nights. The window on the 3rd floor wouldn’t close properly, letting in cold air and every kind of street noise. I couldn’t sleep. The bathroom was so small I had to put a leg in the shower to use the toilet, and the basin was almost impossible to use. The shower had no pressure, and the hot water didn’t last. The hotel’s room pictures aren’t real. I asked every day to change rooms, but they refused each time, even after I’d been put in both rooms. When it rained, the bathroom smell in the room was awful. Daily cleaning meant making the bed and changing towels; the shower gel and shampoo were never refilled. Breakfast space was so limited there was a queue for tables. Staff were rude and unhelpful. On the last day they said checkout had to be by 11am. I had a late flight and asked to leave my luggage, and they charged 3£ for each piece. This was probably the worst hotel I’ve stayed in during my 50 years.

The location is decent and the price initially seemed like a good deal, but the beds were uncomfortable and the room felt like a basic budget hotel, nothing like the booking.com photos. Calling this a three-star hotel feels generous. The worst thing was the hookah lounge right outside my window, playing loud music past 12am. I asked the clerk to help speak to them, but the music carried on and the party only seemed to get louder. I’d keep looking.

The only thing going for this hotel is its location, near the metro and handy for getting to central London. We arrived and left again straight away. The bathroom was covered in mold, the carpet was dirty, and the room smelled of bleach. When I complained at reception, they told me we had one of the better rooms. The booking.com pictures are nowhere close to what you get.

I knew London rooms could be small, and usually that doesn’t bother me. But a room for three people for 10 days had just one tiny wardrobe and one nightstand, with barely room for suitcases, let alone clothes or personal belongings. The furniture was extremely worn. It feels like they’ve tried to squeeze in beds without organizing the space properly. At best, it should be a double room. The room pictures can’t be trusted. The bathroom may look renovated, but the plumbing seems ancient. On the 4th floor, the shower water swung between freezing and scalding, with nothing in between. The receptionist could smile and seem sympathetic, but simple requests never got done. I asked five times for an extra duvet and heard yes each time, but it never appeared. This hotel was a huge disappointment. Don’t ruin your London stay by picking it.