Carlton Hotel

The place looked nothing like the website, and the poor service was apparent as soon as we reached reception. We put up with it since we were only there for one day, but I wouldn't return. We had booked a month ahead and told staff we weren't happy with the room offered, yet they were unresponsive. I wouldn't give this hotel even one star. Peace out.

For £60 a night in a central spot opposite the Tube, I thought this was fair value. The room was quiet and clean, though it had a strange bleach-like smell, and the bathroom was small. If you want a warm room, a hot shower and somewhere to sleep while you're out most of the day, this works. Expecting a Travelodge-style three-star stay means paying double the price.

The rooms are small and basic, but clean and comfortable, and the staff were really helpful. I stayed in October. It's close to the Underground and the water taxi.

The location is the main thing going for this place. When you're out seeing London, you don't spend much time in the room, but this still felt a bit overpriced for what I'd call maybe a 1.5-star hotel. You get what you pay for, I suppose. There’s no lift, so ask for room 205 if you want to avoid stairs. The rooms are cramped, with an old TV you can only see properly while sitting upright, grimy walls marked with coffee and other stains, and a sticky, smelly carpet that wasn’t vacuumed during our stay. There’s no fridge in the room, though reception will keep a few small things cold for you. The window has no screen, so bugs can get in. The bed was springy and very uncomfortable. The shower is squeezed in with the toilet and sink, and the curtain kept sticking to me. There was only bar soap and pink industrial-looking body wash, plus one towel per person, with no hand or face towels. They remade the bed each day using the same linen, changed the towels, but didn’t wash the sheets, clean the bathroom or toilet, or replace the cups. The fire alarm went off at 6 a.m. and scared us badly. It was extremely loud in the room, with an old-fashioned alarm setup. We went to reception for an explanation, but the staff member just said, “all good,” without saying why it had happened or whether there was actually a fire.