On my last night in Europe this past Sunday night, I had booked a single-occupancy room at Bloomsbury Park and it was an absolutely terrific experience. I would definitely stay here again, and it was very affordable at 60 GBP. I stayed at another hotel approximately a block away that was 90 GBP for a single occupancy and that one was practically like a hostel with beds where you could feel every spring. Bloomsbury Park was much more like a proper hotel room.
1) Great location: Equidistant between the Russell Square and Holborn train stops along the Piccadilly line so it's perfect if you are traveling from London Heathrow airport
2) Room was clean, attractive, and had all the amenities needed -- soap, shampoo, towels, etc.; iron, hair dryer, safe, TV, hot water maker for coffee, tea, etc. So many of the budget places I stayed in Europe didn't have ANY of these things, and yet the price for Bloomsbury Park was budget priced (60 GBP total, booked in advance online). The bed, a tiny twin size, was oh so comfortable and plush.
3) USB ports for charging! This was essential since I lost my iPhone plug during my trip and only had the USB plug.
4) Free wi-fi that actually works, and is very fast! I stayed at half a dozen hotels/hostels throughout Europe during my 11-day trip, and this was the only one where I could upload a video to Instagram (and do so quickly).
5) A giant video screen shaped like an iPhone in the lobby available for guests to use. Need to look up directions or information for your trip? So easy.
6) The lift is tiny (fits two people w/luggage at most, or 3-4 people without bags) but is quick and not crowded.
7) In-house restaurant that serves English breakfast and Sunday roast dinner
8) Great customer service at the front desk: polite, easy to communicate with, no hidden surprises. Upon checking out, they offered to hold my bags while I roamed the city -- this is quite a basic offer, but not all hotels mention this up front.
9) Quiet!
TIP: You have the option to pre-authorize your card for 10 GBP for any room service (available 24-7), but note that this is not required. You can just book your room online and you don't need a credit card upon check in. You can always pay later when you check out. read more