I have stayed at the club a couple of times and will definitely go back. I'm not a member. The club is in a lovely quiet area and very central. Accommodation is as stated, plain and simple. If you wish you can take in your own food to eat in the dining room but there are lots of reasonably priced restaurants nearby. It is generally excellent and also feels very comfortable to be there on your own.

Whenever I visit London I like to stay here, as it is so calm and peaceful. As a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), I am comfortable with the quiet atmosphere of this Quaker-inspired place..

Unfortunately, as the Penn Club now attracts so many visitors, it is often difficult to reserve a room! My favourite accommodation has always been a double room with en suite facilities, for single occupancy. I once stayed in a single room and found it altogether too "basic", but I understand that the rooms have been refurbished since then.

I think it may actually have been in November 2010, rather than in December, that I last stayed at the Penn Club. I have tried to make two reservations since then, but there were no suitable rooms available for the relevant dates.

People rave about the generous breakfasts, which are included in the price of the room. Unfortunately I am a coeliac and the Penn Club is unable to produce gluten-free bread for me. I normally have fruit and probiotic yogurt at home; a cooked breakfast of bacon and egg, etc., is not really what I wish to have in the morning. I simply bring my own gluten-free food with me and, as the coffee and fruit juices provided are so good, I am perfectly happy.

There may not be radio or TV in the rooms but there is wireless!! Yes! There is free wi-fi provision, which is a wonderful bonus.

If you are not familiar with London, there are many helpful maps available at the Penn Club and there is useful information about bus and tube journeys to places of interest as well as advice on local restaurants.

To find a reasonably priced room in Bloomsbury, in such an elegant structure (three beautiful Georgian town-houses joined together), is quite remarkable, but do book early!

Just a thought: if you have mobility problems, I must warn you that there is no lift at the Penn Club, though there is always someone on duty who will gladly carry your case upstairs for you.

The Penn Club is situated in a very convenient area - a close walk to the Russel Square tube stop and one street away from the British Museum. The staff, both at the reception desk and at breakfast, were very friendly. The rooms are very clean. So, Why did I only rate it 3 stars? For the right person, it could easily be 5 stars. But, the biggest negative for me was the size of the room and the fact that the hotel does not have king or queen size beds. We came with 2 large and 2 small suitcases and there was literally no where to put them. (We ended up putting a chair from the room on top of the cupboard, along with one piece of luggage....and putting another piece of luggage diagonally inside the cupboard.) If you are traveling with one piece of luggage this won't be an issue for you. Be aware that the hotel is old and the staircases are narrow and windy (and there is no elevator - which we knew ahead of time.) We also knew ahead of time that they did not have a television or radio in the room. But I didn't realize how much I missed relaxing by watching a show before bed or turning on the news and weather report in the morning. There are no amenities in the bathroom, so bring your own soap and shampoo. They also do not have face cloths.
The hotel is VERY quiet...almost monastery quiet. You always felt like you had to whisper.
If I had to label this hotel, I would compare it to an old fashioned boarding house. We had our own bathroom (en suite) but you also had the option of using shared bathrooms and showers. The 117 pounds a night that we paid ended costing around $195 per night. If the hotel was in another area, it would over priced, but in the middle of London, it's hard to do any better. As long as you know what you are getting into, you won't be disappointed.

a very different atmosphere. a bit convent like - quiet, peaceful, super clean - and all of that right in the middle of London! I liked the caring for the environment and for the fellow-guests. very mindful. the hotel is a bit labyrinth-like which was a touch confusing. excellent value. we stayed one night in a double room that had a shower and another in a room that had shower and toilets in the corridor (very clean and private!). in the latter there was a small sink in the room. bth were clean, spacious (in London-hotels-terms...). library, TV room and lovely dining room are fun. many options for breakfast - yogurt and fresh fruits (6 different kinds!) or traditional English b-fast. will come back!