Townhouse 30 Sussex Hotel, London Paddington

The location worked well for public transport, but the price was extreme and the room wasn’t worth it. It was one of the filthiest places I’ve stayed: small black hairs were all over the bathroom, and the carpet and sheets were stained. There were three pillows on the bed when we arrived, then on the second evening we found another one wedged between the wall and the bed. Who knows how long it had been there.

The location worked well for exploring London, with shops, restaurants and the tube nearby. I only needed somewhere to sleep, but the room was small and run down, with plaster showing on the walls and a cramped bathroom. It was fairly clean, though there were stains on the carpets from old spills. The lady who served us was pleasant, just nothing special. It felt a bit pricey for what it was, though I suppose the location explains that.

A week before we were due to arrive, the hotel called to say it was closed, even though I'd booked months earlier. They offered a refund or a switch to another OYO Hotel. With so little notice, I chose the switch, but the replacement was a downgrade, with three stars instead of four and a much less convenient location, about a 3.5-hour walk from the city centre. It was still the same price, so I cancelled and booked elsewhere. Looking at other reviews, it seems similar things had happened to other guests months earlier too. I don't know what's going on with this hotel, but you may be better off staying somewhere else.

The staff were lovely, and the sheets were clean. The room itself was filthy, especially the carpet, and far too hot. There was no air conditioning, just a desk fan. At night, a bright green light from the emergency exit sign shone into the room and couldn't be switched off. The front desk area also had an overpowering vomit smell. I won't be coming back.