Park Inn Hyde Park London - Hotel Review

A decent hotel for travelers on a budget who aren't looking for any bells and whistles.

If you're traveling to London on a budget and are looking for a place to stay that's a step above a hostel or a budget hotel, then the Park Inn at Hyde Park is a decent choice. It's conveniently located between two tube stations (Queensway and Lancaster Gate) and is within easy walking distance of some popular spots like Hyde Park, Kensington Palace and Oxford Street (a shopper's paradise).

The rooms are basic, but provide everything you'd need. But be warned: They are very tiny! I stayed in a double room with a friend which consisted of two twin beds (most American hotels have two double beds, which was what we were anticipating). The room was just big enough for beds, closet and dresser, so once we had our bags in there, it was a bit cramped. The bathroom is also small; we had to sidestep around the bathtub to get inside.

We enjoyed the breakfast buffet; 6.30-10.30am on weekdays, 7-11am on weekends. They offer a mix of traditional English breakfast options (beans, sausage, eggs) and standard breakfast fare (toast, cereal, muffins), so it's a good way to fill up before heading out for a full day of touring. It's the same spread every day, so don't expect a variety.

One of our main frustrations is that the cleaning crew doesn't really clean the rooms daily. They make the beds, replace the towels and empty the trash, but our bathroom wasn't properly cleaned once in the six nights we stayed there. The front desk staff was also a bit clueless at times. For example, when asked how to get to Paddington station to get the Heathrow Express train to the airport, they insisted we had to get a taxi (which are pretty pricey). But upon arriving, we realized we could have very easily walked there from the hotel.

All in all it was a pleasant place to stay, but for my next visit to London, I'll probably look for a hotel that offers a bit more legroom.