Royal National Hotel
Hotel Class: 
3 Stars - 33 Reviews and 1849 Opinions
Bedford Way at Russell Square, London, WC1H 0DG, United Kingdom
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1882 Opinions
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evemoran
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
ew, ew, ew!
i thought this hotel would be your average cheap hotel, considering its in the middle of london, i thought it would be quite busy as well, and oh boy it was. I came to stay at this hotel on a school trip, visiting the city for a couple of days. When my group of people turned up at the hotel, about 50, 14 year olds, the amount of dirty looks we got was terrible. I'd read recent reviews about the hotel, saying that there were loads of students running around all the time, this was pretty true.
When i went into the room, it seemed okay, until we looked around a bit.. There was shattered glass on the floor, one of the beds was broken and squint, and there was mould forming in the bathroom.. i mean, come on.. i'm 14, never been away from home, never stayed in a hotel, but i expected to feel comfortable in the hotel, (as your supposed to be) but i didnt, i was glad to get out for the day. I didn't eat anything, because they expected me to pay £4.50 for breakfast, but shouldn't that be included in the price of the room?
i wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone.
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srsly
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Systematic incompetence
After a week at this place, I'm so enraged that I feel I have to go online and try to do something about it. I'm actually pretty sure they've come to grips with the lack of quality, and are just not trying to do anything about it. In fact, they're probably just profit maximizing. Anyway, here goes.
Rooms are decent, sure. There's beds, a kettle and a TV set. No locks on the bathroom doors though.
Cleaning is done everyday, and if you're in your room when the cleaners come by they'll insisnt until you let them in. What they actually do while in there, noone knows for sure. We came back to find our towels turned so that the clean side was visible. One day, we came back to find a pair of women's underwear on the bed. There is literally no other explanation than the cleaners having put it there. We complained to the manager who responded "what, you've never seen a pair of panties before?" and eventually told us to talk to the cleaners. There was no way he was going to do anything about it.
Breakfast is included, but if you want anything more than coffee, a cold toast and corn flakes, you have to pay 4.50 extra. There's a breakfast room manager who'll make sure you pay - but only after you make the mistake of grabbing a couple pieces of bacon. I'm pretty sure this is a business model - you won't turn around and put the bacon back. Make sure not to be standing around for too long, the staff will make sure you get out of the way by any means necessary. Also, don't tell them not to take your tray - they will get hostile.
There is no wifi in the rooms. The only way to get an internet connection is by going to the nearby café and buy something so you can sit down. There's two irons. Two irons, 6000 rooms. They're hidden in another part of the hotel, on the 1st floor.
The hotel seems to be one of London's biggest employers. The workforce is huge, and at any given point in time 90% of them are literally doing nothing.
I cannot begin to convey how horrible this place is. please, steer clear of it at any cost.
Unique Quality: Uniquely horrible.
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hotelguru2002
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Absolutely Appauling
What a dump.
I have to admit it was nice of them to put me and my parter up at 3am on short notice, but they did rudely demand cash up front before I could even book a room! I understand why that is now. I handed over the £94 cash, and rudely told that we better be out by 11am.
In the reception, I was asked by a drunk man trying to check in next to me if I was a '***er' to which I just blankly stared at him. He was becoming very loud and rude to me and the concierge just ignored the abuse. I respect that it was 3am in the morning but it would be nice to feel safe in a hotel, no security there whatsoever.
The room was unpleasant at best. It wasn't particularly dirty althought the bathroom was grotty and early signs of mould were appearing. The bathroom itself was tiny, no lock on the door, no shampoo or any basic products, just very cheap soap.
The view from outside was just the other side of the buidling, resembling run down office blocks. There was little in the way of tea and coffee, just very cheap pound shop job lots.
The bed was ok, but the covers were too thin, and the room decor was revolting!
If you're on a school trip, I still wouldn't recomend it unless you were really desperate. It's also very noisy and kids do need sleep.
I found the entire experience very unpleasent. Very unfair treatment, and utterly undeserved of their apparent 3 star status!
I read on this site that all negative reviews are by compeitors trying to ruin their reputation, but please, take it from me, their competitors need only spend one night and realise they have nothing to worry about.
I am seriously considering writing and asking for a refund.
Unique Quality: Without a doubt. The worse hotel I have ever stayed in. That's unique to me at least.
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SassyMcPeaches
- Reviews: 29
User Rating
Feels like a cattle call
Another huge hotel you will get lost in, but don't expect luxury. It's rudimentary yet sufficient and comfortable enough. The rooms are large and tourist resources are plentiful, but there are always lots of crowds around. Bring ear plugs; this hotel caters to younger tour groups, and lots of them. It can feel a bit like a cattle call at times.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Related to: Budget Travel
Royal National Hotel
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southsidelaxman
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Budget London Hotel
I also had some trepidation reading the online reviews. However, a colleague from Wales told me the negative ones were ltypically posted by competitors. We stayed from Feb 20-27 and arrived a few hours late thanks ot BA. The place was overrun with Greeks from a Greek Student Congress. Loud but not that bad other than the druken German banging on room at 4:15 am asking for a light so he could smoke fall asleep and set fire tot he place. Water in the shower was always HOT. Excellent. The maid came up and showed how to work the raditor flow valve and when opened, the room was too warm. So those amenities worked. Housekeeping came up both times we called them, albeit took an hour but came witht he necessaries. Its a budget hotel that is always brimming with students. Breakfast is decent to get seomthing in the stomach in the morning and the only problem is the occasional drunks, like the other one who pulled the fire alarm at 11:30 pm our last night. I would stay again given the price and location (on the Picadilly line at Russel Square).
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olive1956
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Basic, clean, cheap, friendly.
A friend of mine booked us into this hotel (south side)
After reading the reviews I wanted to cancel, but was persuaded to go, I said we shouldn't eat the food.
Check in was 2pm bit of advice either wait an hour or try to check in before 2pm as it was busy.
I expected a dump but what I found was cleanliness everywhere and I mean everywhere.
Staff were helpful, always pleasant. We asked the concierge many questions about transport and places to visit over the few days we were there and they always gave us good advice.
We were running late for pre theatre dinner, we ended up having dinner in the hotel. True it wasn’t that great and didn’t eat dinner there again, however, breakfast was brilliant and you could eat as much or as little as you liked.
A choice of 5 cereals, fresh fruit, fresh juice (cheap but palatable) eggs fried/boiled/scrambled sausage (not consistent quality) bacon, beans, tomatoes (tinned) toast & jams, tea/coffee hot & cold milk.
I’ll definitely be going back again we arrived at Kings Cross train Station and took the tube to Russell Square a 3 minute walk from hotel which was in a good safe area.
Hotel is basic, cheap and most of all clean, well worth the money. I can’t understand why there are negative comments about it; believe me I’m well known for being hard to please and I was happy with it.
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pieter_jan_v
- Reviews: 3564
User Rating
Helpfulness
Over 1500 rooms
The Royal National Hotel is part of the Imperial London Hotel. It's a BIG straightaway building with a central inner court with the lobby. Don't be surprised if 4 busses with Italian schoolclasses are in front of you when you want to check in. This is an ever busy and very lively hotel. The rooms are well used and suited for housing soccer hooligans to just a one night stand. Nothing fancy; just basic British "comfort".
If you have a "breakfast included" arrangement, prepare yourself for a queue or a food battle straight away. The typical British breakfast with saucages, eggs and tomatoes is charged extra.
The hotel is served by Airport shuttles and that might be the best option to take.
Unique Quality: Luggage depot for just 50p per day.
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Related to: Theme Park Trips, Study Abroad, Adventure Travel
Royal National Hotel Photo: Royal National hotel - Inner Court
4 more images-
reminio
- Reviews: 91
User Rating
Helpfulness
very nice location
very clean..good breakfast...and nice location !!
- Opinion of Price: about average
- Related to: Budget Travel, Family Travel
Royal National Hotel
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stgavros
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
bad choice
I booked this Hotel via BA hotel offer. I stayed there last week (April 2007) for 5 days and it was dirty! This place needs a renovation! And the breakfast is very poor. I payed 100 euros per night which is probably good for an expensive city like London.
Unique Quality: Very good location.
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klevicki
- Reviews: 1
User Rating
Helpfulness
Not a good place to stay
As an American it did not even come close to American standards. The room was tiny, with a twin bed that felt like a baby crib. I asked for a double bed, and the hotel clerk said they were only for couples and that they didn't have that many. There were cracks in the ceiling, and somebody's hair was on the floor in the bathroom.
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royal national hotel russell square
hi folks
has anybody stayed at the royal national russell square.
what would your opion be on it
cheers
RE: royal national hotel russell square
Reviewers at www.tripadvisor.com seemed to like this hotel quite a bit. It's in a great neighborhood and very handy for getting around central London.
RE: RE: royal national hotel russell square
thanks
RE: RE: royal national hotel russell square
I stayed there for a few nights in fall of 2001. It's a huge huge hotel, with over 500 rooms if I remember correctly; though it wasn't too confusing. The walls are thin, the accomodations are sparse, but the basics were all there. Many young people were staying in this hotel and it also serves as the London headquarters for Contiki. I went on a Contiki tour and almost all fellow travelers spend a night or two before and after their trip at this hotel.
The location is fantastic though in London - the Russel Square tube stop is half a block away, and it is about 2 blocks from the British Museum (free) and a few blocks from Tottenham Rd where there is a lot of shopping, a large Sainsbury grocery store, large internet cafes, and part of the UCL (University College of London) campus is right there as well.
Overall, for the budget traveler, I'd recommend it.
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Royal National Hotel
We've found that other people looking for this hotel also know it by these names:
- Royal National Hotel London
- Royal National London
- Hotel National Royal
- Hotel Royal National
Address: Bedford Way at Russell Square, London, WC1H 0DG, United Kingdom