I spent a week staying here for business recently and felt compelled to write my first review. I don't deny that there is probably a customer out there for whom this hotel is adequate. My room had a comfortable bed, a decent bathroom, and the location is very central. I would even rate the staff as adequate to good, in varying degrees. And for a hotel like this the breakfast is pretty good.
Okay, now for the bad. I won't detail the horrible problems I had in checking in, but suffice it to say that I had to conduct my most important conference call from the lobby because my room did not have internet, and didn't actually make it into my room until two and a half hours after arrival. No rooms have wifi, and the cable in my room went down repeatedly - even after being replaced twice.
Aesthetically, this hotel is pretty grim (for the price point). The lobby is tacky and small and the rooms are worn and cramped. My room had urine on the toilet seat, chipping paint, cigarette burns in the curtains, and old carpeting. I'm pretty flexible with that stuff, but this was a little too much.
Finally, it must be mentioned that this hotel has a serious problem with noise. Monday through Weds shouldn't be bad, but Thurs-Sat are a nightmare if you are facing Shaftesbury Ave. This is the heart of Soho, which means there are a million good food and drink options within a few blocks of the hotel. It also means closing time is later than elsewhere in the city, and that means the party will go well past 3:00 a.m. on those nights. This is not the hotel's fault, but buyer beware - you will need earplugs.
Overall, I'd have to say there are better options. I moved for my second week of business to a boutique around the corner (at the same price) and loved every minute of it.
- Best Western London
- London Best Western
