"Clean, basic, it's a guest house not a HOTEL. Good for sleeping, if you get a qu"
A review of Royal Guest House 2 by Manuel - Saturday 2nd of February 2008
Having stayed there for a few days, and stayed in several rooms, I can give a fair review. In summary.
it is a guest house NOT a hotel. If you are used to hostels etc, and there is a group of you, then you will probably find it acceptable. If you are used to hotels, 2-3 stars etc, then you will be severely disappointed. This applies to most guest houses in London, not just this one. Those used to the contential style in Europe OR budget chain hotels, will find ALL guest houses a disappointment. You want quality, go outside London, or pay extra for it. An extra £20 per night gives a remarkable increase in quality.
As for the guest house - provided you get the bigger rooms at the BACK of the hotel, and away from the main road, it is ok. The place is very clean in comparison to other guest houses in London at this price. The staff is friendly. But all the bathrooms are small, but usuable and compact, so if you are a wide person, you may struggle. The decor is fine also.
Breakfast is basic, as are the facilities in the lounge, but the place is very clean. You have cereal, juice from a carton, thought the 1 egg, spoon of beans, and 2 toast is a surprise - but to be honest, if you want a good breakfast, there are a variety of cafes just round the corner. Its a central location, which is another positive. You do get a fridge in each room, however without access to the lounge, except for breakfast, and without access to any microwave or heating facilites - it is little pointless, except at summer, when you want to keep your drinks cool.
The fittings are sometimes in unusual locations, and you do need to ask about how the radiators work. Shower (no baths) are ok, provided everyone else isn't having one. I didn't have a problem, but then there were very few people in the place, and I was up at 6am. You can work around these issues, but my main gripe was the rooms at the front of the hotel. I stayed in one, and because the guest house is on a main road into Hammersmith, the traffic is constant and heavy until the early hours - usually 1 am. Once the road sweepers start, forget sleeping. If you get these rooms, get some ear plugs, or like me, find that you won't get any sleep except between 2-4am. Because of the noise issue, I won't be returning to this place, and any other guest house on this road. For back packers and students on the travel, it should be an ok place - however personally I would recommend a hostel. The place tries too hard to be something it is not, a hotel, it is not, its a guest house, and it tries to pack too many rooms into a small place, whereas, it has the potential to actually be a very good place. Get some tripe glazing for the front.
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