Oxford Hotel - London, United Kingdom     

First, be sure we are discussing the same Oxford Hotel. This is the small family run hotel at 13/14 Craven Terrace, Bayswater, London near Lancaster gate tube station. I have seen other reviews of another hotel with the same name and this hotel deserves much better reviews. This is a very serviceable cheap hotel just north of Hyde Park. It is small with small rooms. It is very clean for such an old hotel and there is a modest bathroom in each room. The hotel staff is friendly and very helpful. Bring ear plugs to any small hotel in London. The room off the street are quieter; however, we did stay 2 nights on the 4 th floor on the street side and it was quiet that high up. THE GOOD: Cheap ( better price if contract their web site and book directly). It is as clean as any of these old hotels which were converted from old mansions of the 18 th century. The showers are great with lots of hot water. There is a small refrigerator in each room suitable for water and orange juice. there is instant coffee and tea maker in each room.Great location : 3 minute walk to the north entrance of Hyde Park. 3 minute walk to Lancaster gate tube station. 10 minute walk to Kensington Palace. 5 minute walk to Paddington Train station. good variety of restaurants nearby: From Economy ( video Cafe for pizza) to upper scale Italian and Lebanese and Greek Restaurants. There is a pub 1 minute from hotel ( mitre Pub) a small convenience store 3 door south of the hotel. A great sandwich shop is just south of the Mite Pub that sell great and inexpensive sandwiches. THE BAD: The rooms are small and the beds are hard. There is no lift anywhere in the building. This is not a hotel for anyone with mobility issues. There are no rooms on the main floor, so room 11 means walking up 22 steep steps. The 4 th floor rooms are actually on the 5 th level. Your hamstring muscles will be burning! The staff will carry your luggage if required. However, if you are on the 4 th floor, remember 5 flights to the ground level and breakfast is in basement 1 flight below that. Quite a hike if you are not used to it. I am in my 50s and do a lot of hiking in Colorado so this was not an issue for me. Smokers or COPD patients should avoid this hotel. The continental breakfast is marginal. Fresh Crescant rolls are the best item. There is toast that will be made in the back room but you have to ask for it. There is hot water for instant coffee and tea. The Orange juice is to be avoided. It looks like orange juice but is artificial junk.They do offer a more inclusive breakfast which is brought in from down the street...avoid it as it costs 3 pounds and has un uneatable Enlanish sausage which is really bad. If you are staying in London and are spending much time in your hotel room, you are doing something wrong. London is great.. get out there and explore. This hotel is great for budget travelers needing a clean room with a hard bed and functional bathroom. Spend your money seeing history. Get out of the hotel after breakfast and do not return until after dinner. Tips: If you are coming into Heathrow airport, take the Paddington Connect train to Paddington station. The connect train makes 3 stops along the way and costs 1/2 of the direct train. Walk 5 minutes west of Paddington station and you are on Craven terrace, walk 1 minute south and you are at hotel. Always buy an Oyster Card which guarantees the least expensive fare on any trip on tubes. After 3 trips, within the same zone on the same day, it stops charging you. It becomes a day pass. You can also then ride free on the surface buses. never pay cash single ticket fare... too costly. I hope this is helpful. I would return to the Oxford hotel in Bayswater but by now you know my priorities. If you want luxury, stay at the Hilton but you will pay 3 times the amount.

The first thing that comes up for me is the kind and helpful staff, every one of them. They were so friendly and willing to help with anything we asked. The rooms were cute, cozy and very clean (and I am picky) and since this is a budget hotel, I thought we got a lot for our money. There were three of us in a triple and we all loved it there. We stayed somewhere else for a few days and were so happy to come back to the Oxford! It was by far the best. The hotel is in a great location in a quiet neighborhood. I will definitely stay again during my next visit to London. I can't understand how anyone could be unhappy with this hotel considering the price and value when it comes to cleanliness and comfort in a great location. By the way, the hotel pictures look exactly like the rooms. Very cute.