Britannia Hampstead

For about 97 a night, my basement room was good value compared with pretty much any hotel in the London area. I found the hotel more than acceptable based on my own stay, whatever its rating might suggest. The mattress was thin and quite springy, so the bed was the weakest part, though still decently comfortable and not a huge issue. The rest of the room was great, with good-quality standard hotel amenities and an adjustable shower with very good pressure. If you need an affordable place, especially as a solo traveller, it’s a strong choice if you don’t want a hostel.

The hotel is in a lovely area, very close to Camden MARKET, and it was easy to get into central London. The foyer and Breakfast room are very nice. I spent 3 nights here and had a nice spacious room with a very clean bathroom, bath, and shower. Staff were very helpful, breakfast was good, and I’d definitely go back.

The location is why I’d go back. It’s quiet and green in a very good neighbourhood, with walks to Hampstead and Camden. Three underground stations are about 7 to 10 min away, there’s an express tesco around the corner, and some independent shops nearby. I wasn’t expecting much. The rooms aren’t lovely and are a little shabby, but spotless, and the bathroom was spotless too. I asked for a bath and got one. When I arrived to check in, I was told my room had no window and a window would cost £30 extra. Not a great start, but I paid for the window and was glad I did. I stayed 3 nights, and there was no housekeeping, which was fine. In the end I paid £287.

The location was the strongest point, about 10-15 minutes from the nearest Tube depending on the line, and a 20-minute walk to Camden. The rooms were basic but clean on arrival and fairly comfortable. Heating seemed centrally controlled, so you couldn't switch it on yourself if you were cold, though you could turn the radiator down if you were too warm. There was a bad draft from the windows, and the curtains helped a little, but outside noise still came through. We weren't impressed by how staff handled things at first. They seemed quite abrupt when we arrived, then softened their tone once we explained we were with a group that had called ahead to check room readiness. Dining staff also seemed to make assumptions when we came in, and meal times and group arrangements didn't seem well managed. Our room wasn't cleaned during the stay. I didn't mind that too much because my belongings felt safer, but we had to ask reception for things like tea, coffee, milk and towels.