LANCASTER HALL HOTEL, HYDE PARK, LONDON
Due to unforeseen circumstances we had an extended stay in London and had to find unplanned accommodation for our last night. We went a few hundred metres further up the road from where we had been staying to the German YMCA, Lancaster Hall Hotel in Craven Road, Hyde Park.
Initially we were advised they were full but on further checking there was a room in the Youth Hostel Wing. We were way past our youth, and the room consisted of four single beds and no bathroom. But, desperate times and all, so we took it.
This is a large 100-room hotel consisting of a hotel and Youth Hostel wings. There is a large lobby with very courteous staff on reception and a large lounge with a bar open for limited hours. The breakfast room is also on the ground floor as it was included in the price. It was cheap, particularly for London prices, but it was also hostel accommodation.
We were on the first floor, a fair distance from the lifts. The room was immaculately clean and apart from the four single beds there was a bedside table and light for each and two shared wardrobes, and a desk and sink. The bathrooms were in the corridor and there were three toilets and showers in the passageway, again perfectly clean and functional. Until one of the toilets backed up, but it was quickly attended to once reported.
We knew the area as we had been staying here for the past three days. There is everything you could want within walking distance. Restaurants, bars, ATMs and mini marts all close to trains and buses at Paddington.
After dinner we returned to Lancaster Hall and stayed in the lounge for a drink. It is reasonably well set up with a lovely staff member on duty. Unfortunately, we got a particularly “off” bottle of wine and on taking it back and checking with the manager it was duly replaced with no fuss.
After a lot of laughter, and many snoring jokes, it was finally time for the four bed room. Fortunately, we know each other very well.
Next morning after running between toilets and showers hoping we hadn’t locked ourselves out, we went down to breakfast.
It was a large room and packed. There were a number of young staff replenishing the buffet and cleaning tables. It is basically a continental breakfast buffet with some hot dishes and perfectly adequate.
Would I stay here again, certainly. We had the opportunity to see into some of the hotel rooms and they were quite comfortable, all ensuite and immaculately clean.