California Hotel - London, United Kingdom 

OK for a night
Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2008
Liked the tiled-floor public areas and good buffet breakfast. Single room was tiny and cramped but was survivable for a one-night stay. Convenient location near Kings Cross.

Poor value for money
Posted: Fri, Jun 27 2008
I stayed at this hotel for 2 separate nights on the way to and from Belgium on the Eurostar, the location was ideal as St Pancras international was a 2 minute walk away. From the outside the hotel looks inviting and the reception staff were very friendly and helpful. I was accompanied by my 83 year old mother which made getting up 2 flights of narrow stairs difficult, TV reception was awful and whilst the bed linnen was clean and fresh looking I could not say the same for the carpets and the room smelled of stale smoke, beds very uncomfortable. Our second night was to be 3 days later and although dubious we did not have much choice about staying here because at 83 my mum didn't need dragging round London looking for an alternative, I asked at reception if we could have a ground floor room on our return and the guy on reception was very helpful and swapped us to the ground floor from the 3rd floor, on our return the same things applied smell of stale smoke, pokey room with bad TV reception. Breakfast was poor and we didn't even bother the second time, the staff in the breakfast room were surly and unfriendly. All in all I would not stay here again and would not recommend it to my friends.

Good and Bad
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 2008
We checked in early, received a friendly welcome and were allowed to leave our luggage in the store room until check in time. Stairs were very difficult to manouver with anything but hand luggage or for anyone a bit out of shape. I had a small single room at the front facing the street. The room was hot and noisy. The window was broken off it's sash and had to be held open with a roll of toilet paper, definately a two man job. The mattress was hard and lumpy and I had the same towel for four days. On the good side there was a pleasant breakfast room, good breakfast, free wifi and friendly staff. There is a small terrace out back for smokers. The location couldn't have been better and the price was right. I would not stay there again nor recommend it to others. If the owners would invest in refurbishing, opening up the bar for evening cocktails and improve cleanliness this hotel would be a gem.

Don't go!!!
Posted: Tue, Jun 10 2008
Arriving and looking from the outside this hotel looked lovely once you got inside you soon see why most of the reviews are correct. It's small, dirty and smells foul. When they were cleaning our room while we were out they left the door wide open with all our belongings in it, so it was open for all to see and pinch whatever they liked!! They didnt make the beds or give us fresh towels so what were they doing in our room, as we locked it when we left. It's small inside with tidy rooms and corridors, with very creaky floors we were woken up most morning with doors being slammed. The bed mattresses were about 3 inches thick, very uncomfortable and very worn, the beds were tiny for single ones and the room smelt of smoke and body odour! The only good thing about the hotel was the nice reception staff. I wouldn't advise anyone to stay here!! We took photos to put up on here but unfortuntely they didnt come out properly - sorry!