I have to say, after reading some of the reviews on here, I was somewhat of a reluctant skeptic. After arriving, I was quite pleasantly surprised.

I'm not sure whether the hotel has changed hands recently, or if management has changed or what not, but the room that I stayed in was absolutely clean. The bathroom was spotless, and you could definitely sleep well in the bed.

The service is excellent here. When I arrived, my flight was late as late and I was exhausted. My bags were carried up and to my room for me, and the front desk service was speedy, efficient and friendly. I had required internet access, and this was waiting for me. Incidentally, the internet is cable, but fast and reliable here and included in the room price.

The staff have been very friendly to me, and more than willing to answer 1000 questions that a foreigner needs to ask when they arrive in London.

The area is working blue collar, with a few restaurants and take aways near by. It is a relatively safe area where you'd have to be out looking for trouble rather than trouble finding you.

If you want a medium to large sized bathroom, this is not the place for you. My wife would have no place to put her cosmetics and other grooming products, but for me, it's a bathroom that has a shower, with a toilet and a sink.

The bedroom fits the double bed, a wardrobe and a set of 3 drawers, with a 32 inch plasma screen that is wall mounted. There is heating in the room that works well.

I certainly don't think it's the Shangri La or the Ritz from a flat out room perspective, but for 40 pounds/night, it's a neat clean place to stay with a level of service that I think even rivals some large and more expensive hotel chains.

As to the breakfast, it's bacon, eggs, toast and baked beans with cereal and orange juice. I've had much worse in much more ritzy places. The coffee and tea are instant/tea bag respectively, so just pop into a coffee shop if you want something a bit nicer.

Overall, I think it's fantastic value in London if you want a place to clean up and sleep at night and spend the difference to the nice hotel room on doing things in London instead.