Found this hotel on Google search, it was a very cheap deal but booked it anyway not being sure what to expect. Was very impressed with the hotel, rooms basic but clean and tidy, the whole hotel was very clean and well maintained, the staff were very friendly and the continental breakfast was very good. Great location for shopping and sight seeing, only 15 minute walk to Oxford street and 5 minutes to Hyde park.

On a visit to London in November 2011, it was suggested that I stay at the Lancaster Hall/German YMCA,by friends who had stay prior. I do not think I will ever stay agian. They had some of the rudest front desk staff, I have ever come across, to make a simple request was very difficult. It also seemed like they did not care at all, or choose not to understand what I was saying. Some of the other problems encountered include:
-Very small rooms, in the hotel/newer side of Lancaster Hall. The rooms measured about 10ft x 10ft! for the main section with a small alcove with a desk.
-Very soft and short mattresses on both twin beds. The mattress litterally sank in the middle. When fully streched out on the bed, my feet hung off and I am ony 5ft 10 inches.
-The beds are on casters, that do not lock, so everytime you sit or lied on the bed it shifted!!
When I asked the front desk if they had better mattresses or a different room, they did not know what I was talking about. The front end manager would not come out of his office to talk to me about this problem.
-When asking simple questions they acted dumb. When checking out, they took over a hour to finalize and issue my bill correctly! They had to redo my bill 4 times, before finally getting it correct.
-One morning they were washing the exterior windows, and since the average temp. in London that week was in the mid 50's, I had slept with the window open, and well the window washer, just washed away getting water into the room. It was easier to ask the cleaning staff directly to mop the carper than to bring it to the attention of the front desk staff. He was washing the window while I was at breakfast.
-One of the biggest problems I found is the front desk staff and dining room staff did not speak very good english! Unfortunately my only other fluent language is French, and no one spoke French on the front desk.

The only thing going for this hotel: is the location,you near the Lancaster Gate station on the Central Line and walking distance to Marble Arch and Portobello Road, and the breakfast they serve in the morning. Yes they may offer a decent rate for central London, but if you look hard enough you can do better then here. Maybe even check out renting a apt. for a week in London, it maybe less traumatic!

We have stayed at Lancaster Hall on three separate occasions, most recently October 2011, and will stay there again on our next visit to London. This hotel is all positives and no negatives worth recording. Here are some of the positives. A reasonable tariff. Very polite and helpful staff especially for online booking and at check in. A perfectly adequate light breakfast. Light and bright surroundings. A good size lift. Clean and comfortable rooms. Great location.
As far as location goes, Lancaster Hall is a short walk from Paddington Station which in turn is a major arrival point from Heathrow. Lancaster Gate tube on the Central Line is just down the road while walking back to Paddington Station gets you onto the Circle, District and Bakerloo lines (among others) and those four lines will get you to most visitor destinations in London. While the hotel's breakfast is fine, if you want something more substantial (or some sandwiches to take away) head for Shiela's on the corner. And The Mitre pub opposite has a good selection of food and drinks. An easy stroll down Bayswater Road brings you to the Queensway restaurants and for a pleasant stroll in the park, Kensington Gardens is across Bayswater Road: in fact it is not that far (25 minutes) to walk through the park to the V&A and Knightsbridge. There are several other hotels nearby if you arrive without a reservation and the hotel is booked out. The hotel seems very popular with younger people, which adds to the light and bright atmosphere.

Close to a very nice park and transport. Rooms clean. Helpful and friendly staff. Quality all round. Plenty of shops and restaurants close by as well.