London Paddington (Paddington Station) hotel

The hotel is just next to Paddington so very convenient. First impressions were not so good, we booked and early 11am check in, arrived 1030 but told we had to wait until 1055 (not a problem), then told we would have to come back in 5 mins, then there was a 20 min queue. The room was ok, the bed was comfortable with little outside noise so we slept well. there was only one towel, but no phone so we had to queue to ask for another. We ended up leaving the hotel for our planned activities later than planned so had no time for lunch. The step down from the bath/shower was quite big and dangerous with no handrail. Your could leave your suitcases at reception but there was a delay on our return to collect the suitcases as no receptionist.

Unfortunately, our stay was extremely disappointing from the very beginning, and the overall condition, cleanliness and maintenance of the room were far below any acceptable hotel standard. The problems started upon arrival. The hotel provides self-service check-in kiosks, but they could not be used. The system repeatedly stated that our room was not yet ready. Other guests arriving at the same time experienced the same problem and were also unable to use the kiosks. We were given no clear explanation as to why the self-service check-in system was not functioning properly. The rubbish in our room had not been removed, and the shower cubicle appeared to have been neglected for a long time. There was clearly visible dirt, heavy limescale and mould around the shower. This was particularly unacceptable from a hygiene perspective. The bathroom ventilation was completely inadequate. After using the shower, the mirror remained so heavily steamed up that it was practically unusable. The room also had an unpleasant smell immediately upon entering. Since the windows could not be opened and the ventilation was switched off, there was apparently no effective way to properly ventilate the room. The mattresses were visibly stained and dirty, which is simply unacceptable in any hotel. In addition, the thermostatic valve was not functioning correctly, causing the water temperature to fluctuate repeatedly. Overall, the room gave the impression of being poorly maintained and insufficiently cleaned for a considerable period of time. We expected a clean, functional and properly maintained room, but unfortunately, this stay fell far below even our basic expectations. The convenient location of the hotel was the only positive aspect; otherwise, we were extremely disappointed.

The entire hotel is fragrance free, including bedding and towels, which was fantastic for my allergies. There was NO smell of smoke or mold anywhere I went in the hotel. The restaurant also has a food allergy guide, which was a nice touch.

After scouring loads of hotels for cheaper prices I just opted for Premier Inn as you always know what you're getting and I've never had a bad stay with them. This is on the doorstep of London Paddington Station and it'll take you a few mins to walk from the platforms to the front door. Staff are very helpful and friendly. They are happy to hold your luggage before and after your stay though I paid for early check in and got in at 1230pm with zero issues. Family room with double bed and single bed was clean, spacious with working air con. Being on the 4th floor, it was super quiet with no noise from outside. Breakfast was superb with lots of room even during the busy morning rush. Whilst it was a bit pricey at £400 for 2 nights, you're paying for location and convenience. I'd be happy to pay to stay here again. If you want to store valuable items then there are storage lockers in the lobby area. We paid £11.99 for a medium locker after checkout for a day and then left suitcases with reception. Overall, a five star stay from me. Brilliant hotel

If you've selected Paddington for your base-camp for your stay in London, please don't waste your money on the Hilton Padding. Take a quick walk across the street to the Premier Inn. The deluxe room with a refrigerator and generic nespresso is worth the extra nightly fee. The room can be refreshed daily if you make that request before noon. The ability to pay a small fee for early check in is well worth it. They also have lockers available in the entrance area for smaller suitcases if you prefer this option. There is a restaurant with breakfast and dinner available on site, but I chose the options available at the station. Robert is a rock star (cheers, mate!) and I highly recommend this location for your hub during your stay in London.