Sheriff Hotel

I got a great deal for the price, and the room was small but comfortable with a nice bed. The bathroom was clean, and the room was cleaned daily. There was dust on the curtains and they wouldn’t shut all the way, but I managed. The location was the big draw: close to Victoria Station, a few minutes from the Underground, and near cafés, restaurants and shops.

The location and price worked well for us. It’s less than a ten-minute walk to Victoria Station and many major London sights, which made it good value overall. We knew it was a no-frills place with small rooms, no elevator, and some rooms having a shower or bath outside the room. Ours was on an upper floor, up an extremely narrow stairwell. It was quite a climb, so it could be tough for anyone with mobility issues or several bags. We only had carry-ons and backpacks, so we were fine. Happily, our tiny en-suite bathroom was inside the room. There was a European plug adapter, a North American outlet and two USB sockets, though the USBs didn’t work. We also had a kettle and tea and coffee tray. The room was tight, but there was a closet for luggage. The bed was comfortable enough and the linens fresh, though an extra blanket would’ve been nice. Cleaning was just okay: the baseboards needed dusting, and the window and curtains could’ve been cleaner. The bathroom was the main problem. I don’t mind a simple, older room, but the bathroom could’ve been much better. We had shower sandals, so it was manageable for one night, but it was still a downside.

For sleeping, sightseeing and travelling on a budget, this place was great, and we’d stay again. The price was so low we could hardly believe it, and the location made it even better: Victoria Station, the Palace and easy connections were all close. The area felt safe enough, and we could leave our luggage there. The woman at reception was lovely, very kind and a bit like a grandma. The hotel was quirky but perfectly okay. Our room was clean, the beds fine for sleeping, and we even had a balcony, though it wasn’t much to look at. Two hairdryers was a bonus, as were the European, American and UK plugs in the room. The TV worked, and the curtains and windows were okay. We heard neighbors around 23:59, but it didn’t really matter.

The bed was clean, which was a surprise, but that was about the only good point. The bathroom smelled awful, had mold on the ceiling, a toilet coming loose from the floor, a broken shower door and food in the sink. The rooms are unbelievably small, too, not even enough space to open a suitcase fully on the floor. I’ve stayed in some very low-end hotels and this one takes the cake. If you’re thinking of saving a few bucks, it isn’t worth it. I’m also pretty sure this and the Grapevine Hotel are the same place. Just skip it.