We booked this on a deal with super break, 2 nights bed and breakfast with the first evening meal free! This came in at £240 for the 2 of us, had I booked it the day before it would have been £40 cheaper! Still we were wanting to see Lion King and thought the Barbican represented good value. We have stayed at many hotels in London in the past and we weren't too daunted by the distance away from the west end. Plus we were handy for the Lord Mayors parade. I am now making a long story short, suffice to say, do not let the concierge get you a taxi, as he is in cahoots with a 'private hire' company, who apart from being unable to speak good english, charge over inflated prices. Our car was responsible for making us 20 minutes late for the theatre. If you require a taxi, black cabs are available near the entrance to the hotel most hours of the day. They are reliable and honest in the main!
Aside from the negative aspects :- location, tired rooms and bathroom. No organisation on check in, many were encouraged to queue jump, which I find enfuriating.
The plus was the plentiful good quality food we had for dinner on the first night. It would have cost us in excess of £67 without wine, but was included in 'the deal'.
Breakfast could have been better, but was ok!

The hotel is a little out of the way, its clean and tidy heres what worried us more than the hotel itself. On arrival we were given our room pass, we opened the door and found the room was occupied, no one thankfully was in. There was a hand bag, jewellery, clothes and perfume etc easily accessible around the room.
We left the room and went down to reception and told them and they didnt seem to be concerned, obviously we had reservations when we got our room and made sure no valuables were left in the room. We went out around Islington late at night and never felt threatening, there is a small local pub 1 minute up the road and we found it friendly. Its a 10 minute walk to the underground and everything you want to do and see in London is easy enough to get to.
Would i go back ? probably not, i would go more central, on to the food, breakfast was buffet style first day no bacon left and second day waited 10 minutes for eggs and tomatos if you enjoy your food its not the place to be, its very bland.

First room was so bad we had to be moved just a few things, Stained sheets, wallpaper hanging off, draws broken, window broken, dirty toilet, stained walls, holes in walls, no heating apart from small radiator, no aircon, bath was rotten lamps falling apart etc..
Room was so bad i asked to be moved after refusing to be upgraded and a lot of fuss finaly moved to second room a few probles with that dirty taps, bath, toilet, lights off, NO FIRE instructions!!!!!!!! electrical test on hairdryer 6 years over due, walls so thin you can hear everything, basicaly a terrible hotel is an old office block converted and not very well stay away please

After reading some of the reviews i was hesitant about being booked in here, however the check in was pleasant, the room i was in which was in the main building was surprisingly spacious especially for London and unlike other reviewers i found my way there very easily!

I ate in the restaurant that evening and breakfast the next day, and have had no reason to question the service or the food.

Overall considering the city your in i think the hotel represents good value, my experience was of a clean well appointed and presented hotel with polite and courteous staff.