Falcon Hotel

I had a positive time in London, and the hotel was clean, well placed for the centre and sights, and good value. It’s an old building, so the rooms and bathrooms are small by design, and the structure can’t be changed. Anyone unhappy with that has pricier places to choose from :) The staff were very nice.

I paid extra because I needed three single beds, but the triple room we got had a double and a single instead. When I went back to reception to ask for the triple room I’d booked, staff said we’d been given an upgrade. That wasn’t true, since the room we received was actually cheaper than the one I paid for. Not good enough.

It’s about a five-minute walk from Paddington station, a handy hub for most tube lines. Lancaster laundry is nine minutes away, and you can have breakfast there while your clothes are washing. Read the listing carefully: one room has a double bed and an external toilet in a tiny, poorly ventilated closet on the first stair landing, half a flight away. It’s inconvenient, though not a deal breaker. That room is quite small, with an unbelievably tiny shower and no outlets near the bed. There’s no fridge or microwave either. The room has a hot water kettle, instant coffee and tea, plus shampoo and body wash in the shower, but no bar soap.

Ahmed was the first person I met, and he was very nice and helped me with my luggage. The staff were helpful, the location was perfect for the underground and buses, and the heat, room and water were all good. It was a very good experience.