Spark by Hilton London Romford

There's a lovely social, bar and dining area, and the staff are friendly. The check-in desk is clearly signposted, since it's not on the ground floor. The rooms are clean but tiny, the smallest space I've seen in a while, and that's saying something for the UK.

I used to like Hilton Spark Romford and often spent the day there studying or working with a friend. We'd buy food and drinks during our visits, so we were paying customers and never taking advantage of the space. I was even considering booking a night, but after what happened, I won't return or recommend it to anyone who expects basic respect. One day, two women at reception approached me and my boyfriend confrontationally and said we'd stayed too long, even though we'd already bought snacks. They asked how long we planned to stay. When we said about an hour, they insisted we had to buy more drinks. To avoid a row, we bought a coffee and a Pepsi, but that still wasn't enough. They said it had to be cocktails. I was outraged. I've never had such aggressive, pressuring treatment in a hotel lobby. It ruined what had been a positive experience. The way we were spoken to was unprofessional, embarrassing and frankly disgusting.

The location is spot on, right by Romford station and at the entrance to the city shops and amusement. Stratford is easy to reach on the Elizabeth line, about 20 minutes away. The English breakfast was nice, and the staff were friendly. We were happy with Spark by Hilton London Romford and would go again for the price and what you get. It was our first time staying under the “Spark by Hilton” label. It's budget friendly, and yes, the rooms are small, but practical and have what you need for a good night's sleep. The bed is comfortable, there are tea and coffee amenities, and even an iron.

The room was small, but since I was on my own it was fine. I don't know if I'd want to share it with someone else. It was comfortable and spotlessly clean, and the price seemed reasonable for Greater London, £64 for a Sunday night. The hotel is ideally placed, just a few steps from the railway station, and having the ASDA on the ground floor was useful. I heard some passing trains, but they didn't disturb my sleep. I'd definitely consider staying here again.