Holiday Inn Express London Stratford

The location made getting to a large shopping centre and the tubes, trains and buses easy. The hotel feels secure too, since you need a room key to use the lift, which gave me peace of mind. Our beds were comfy, the walls kept neighbouring room noise out, and housekeeping left the room fresh every day. The staff were friendlier than at any hotel I've stayed in. Breakfast was amazing, and Kim made each morning lovely and was so kind to our child. Free membership also comes with perks and discounts. I'm impressed, will recommend it, and my family will definitely be back.

The breakfast team really turned our impression around. They set a gold standard for service, especially after a disappointing welcome from the night shift. We checked in at about 11:15 PM after a four-hour drive, and the sofa bed for our daughter hadn't been prepared, despite our booking being for two adults and one teenager. Reception quickly sent someone up with bedding. She wasn't helpful at first. She said housekeeping ended at 3 PM, handed us the sheets to make the bed ourselves, and suggested we should have booked a bigger room or checked the party size, which we'd got right. She eventually made the bed, but seemed unwilling and had a poor attitude. That wasn't the midnight welcome we expected. Even so, we enjoyed the spotless rooms, excellent location and free breakfast, and we'd stay again for those reasons. We hope management trains the night support staff to be more welcoming to families arriving late.

Breakfast was fresh, had lots of choice and was replenished regularly. We also had a quick, tasty hot meal from the restaurant. The rooms were clean and well equipped, with lovely toiletries, comfortable beds, a choice of pillows and an efficient heating and cooling system. The staff were friendly and efficient. Couldn't find a single negative, it was a great experience.

The room was clean and all the appliances and tools were intact. Breakfast was a classic English spread with plenty of protein choices, a bit less cheese, and pastries and other options that were absolutely fine. Though it's a three-star hotel, the service can feel like four-star. The location is just one station from stratford, the eastern transport hub. I'd happily choose it again. No regrets.