Holland Inn Hotel

The hotel was clean, comfortable, and well maintained, and whenever we asked for something it was brought right away. The warm service made the stay even nicer. Everyone was kind and ready to help with the different things we needed. One woman on the team and a young man named Hani were especially helpful. A wonderful stay, and highly recommended.

After work each day, I found all my belongings exactly where I'd left them in the room, even though everything I owned was there while I moved into my new flat. They gave me fresh towels daily and let me check out an hour late when work meant I couldn't move out on time. I was in London for a new job and booked a week here before moving. The two main reception staff were friendly and courteous, and went out of their way to help. When none of my devices could connect to the Wi-Fi, they called the internet company and got it sorted. The price and location were really good, and the service was immaculate. Best hotel I've stayed in, an unbelievably great experience. Room 5!

The worst part came after we found mold on the pillows. We pulled off both pillowcases to fluff them and found two very flat, hard pillows with black mold on them. We left at 11:30 pm and called to let the hotel know. The man on the phone used some foul language and said he'd contact us the next day, but never did. When we called ourselves, they were rude again, refused a refund or any discussion, then hung up. This was weeks ago, and they still won't speak to Booking.com about it. The next day we had trouble breathing, presumably from the dust, grime, and mold. We'd planned to treat the place as cheap and cheerful, just somewhere to sleep before leaving early. The hotel had seemed affordable for a good location, but the service made it feel overpriced. At check-in, the woman said she would leave at 9 pm and there'd be no staff at the hotel, which defeats the advertised 24-hour help desk. The room was much hotter than expected. It didn't look like the pictures, unless they were taken years ago. There were wall marks and loose, chipped floorboards, and I got a sore toe from one. The shower was enclosed rather than over the toilet, but the head leaked, the space was too small to move without turning it off or changing the temperature, and it was easy to drop things down the drain. The towels barely wrapped around a small adult and there was no hand towel. The mini fridge looked as though it had lived outside and been off for five years. We tried the air conditioner and a window to cool the room, but the unit barely worked and was full of dust, and there was no window to open. We went out for food, came back around 11, and then tried to sleep.

For 220 euros, we had a room with two single beds for three nights, which works out to 37 euros per person per night. That's great value in central London. Check-out at 11:00 am gave us time to recover after a long night, and they can store your luggage after checkout if you're leaving later. We didn't use that option because our route to the airport was on the way, but it could be useful. The location worked well for seeing the city. Buses take about 30 minutes to the center, everything was easy to get to, and a shopping center and restaurants were a 12-15 minute walk away. The neighborhood felt safe, even in the middle of the night. Staff were helpful and friendly, and some stayed until 01-02 am to welcome late arrivals. Room service changed the towels and blankets and emptied the trash each day. Wi-Fi was free and good enough for movies and videos. If you're mainly in London to explore and sleep, this is a solid budget option with a private bathroom. There isn't a pool or a big lounge like at fancier places. A few blankets had a little mold, which may put some people off, though dampness is common in UK lower and basement floors. The beds weren't the most comfortable, and you could feel the springs through the mattress. We were tired enough not to mind, but others might. Without a shower curtain, the bathroom got wet after each shower, which was annoying to use afterward. These felt like minor issues for the price. Nice place, and I'd happily stay again.