Thistle London Bloomsbury Park

The bed was barely bigger than a single and felt unstable. Its base slid sideways with the slightest movement, so sleeping comfortably was impossible. The towels also felt poorly maintained and didn’t smell fresh. On top of all the other problems, they removed the water from the rooms and started selling it instead of offering it free. The online photos seem to show just a few renovated rooms. Most of the rooms are old, worn and far from clean, with stained carpets and curtains that smelled unpleasant. There’s no air conditioning, and the old wooden windows barely open or close, letting in cold air and outside noise. The lifts had reportedly been out of service for at least two weeks, despite guests being assigned rooms on the fifth and seventh floors. Carrying luggage up and down was unacceptable at this price, and no help was offered. Their IT system was also down, so we waited a long time at 2 am before we could get to our room. For the money, this was one of my most disappointing stays. The hotel fell short on basic comfort, cleanliness and service. I’d advise future guests to avoid it, since there are better options nearby for the same or less. I wish I’d read an honest review before booking, and hope this helps someone else.

The staff were welcoming and friendly, and two tube stations are a short walk away: Holborn, on the Piccadilly and Central lines, and Russel Square, on the Piccadilly line. The tube makes it easy to get further around London. It’s a very good hotel with an excellent location. There was a problem with the toilet in our first room, though the room was otherwise cosy and nice. Staff moved us quickly to an even better room and gave us free breakfast as compensation.

I wanted a nice getaway with my young daughter after a difficult year, but the state of the room really spoiled the trip. I paid £170 for one night in a double room, and there are much better hotels for that price. The pictures were misleading, and I wish I’d read the reviews before booking. It was a tiny box room, more suited to one person, and badly run down. There was hair in the bed, lots of dust and a strong smell of cheap air freshener. The floors creaked, so we could hear every movement in the room above, and loud pipes in the room opposite kept us from sleeping well. The room badly needs renovating. I’d stay somewhere else where you get more for your money, and avoid the breakfast too. It wasn’t worth it.

The staff were lovely the whole time and clearly doing their best to make up for a run-down hotel. Breakfast was top notch too, which is why I didn’t give it just one star. My fifth-floor room was shabby and needed updating, though it had food amenities. The TV looked as if it might fall off the wall. The bathroom needs a refit, with poor filler, broken fittings and a very cramped layout. The loo was oddly tucked behind the door. The lift was broken throughout the three days I was there. It’s a badly outdated hotel that seems under-invested in. There are better places in London for the same price.