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Reviews of The Columbia

3 out of 5
The Columbia
95-99 Lancaster Gate, London, England

Reviews

7.8

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 243 out of 1001 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 458 out of 1001 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 193 out of 1001 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 76 out of 1001 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 31 out of 1001 reviews" "

8.0/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

6.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Michael

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Robin

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, friendly staff
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

4/10 Poor

Heather

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is excellent, near Paddington Station and access to Kensington And Hyde Parks. Easy access to stores and restaurants. The hotel appears not to have changed since the fifties. It is shabby, the furniture and room amenities are old and dilapidated. The room ventilation is poor and would be extremely uncomfortable in the summer months. I stayed there over 20 years ago and not one thing has changed. I would not stay there again.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

2/10 Terrible

Catalina

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Unfortunately was completely not what we were expecting, very old building, floors cracking when you walk, douche was all rusty, drawers of the cabinet broken, lift was forcing to go move. We needed to cancel the stay and look for another place to stay. Front desk lady was very friendly and give us the refund without a problem

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved the old style splendour of the building. Our room was bright and airy, beds very clean and comfortable. Our room looked out over Hyde park. The staircase and rooms were spectacular! Shabby chic at its best. In easy reach of all transport modes. We will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Katharine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Beautiful old building, great location
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Sandrine

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Comfortable beds, room size was really good for London, walkable to various points of interest and very close to Lancaster Gate tube station (which unfortunately was closed for all 6 days we were there), street of affordable restaurants just a 2 min walk around the back (you have to try Les Filles' breakfast!). The style of the hotel is old, but it also feels old. Could use a bit of maintenance. I didn't trust the elevator personnaly and one was broken. Quite a maze to get to your room but didn't think it was a problem. Staff was super helpful getting out the sim card of our cellphone.

2/10 Terrible

Patrick

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Tracy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Comfortable stay for 4 of us in a quadruple family room. Near to underground subway and bus stop and walkable to Paddington station to take Heathrow express to airport. Best part is it is just opposite the Hyde park and Kensington gardens. Near to cafes, restaurants and supermarkets
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Danielle

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Columbia: This hotel is quite aged, almost to the point of being unnerving. The prison-like avocado bathroom included a temperamental shower and a sink with two separate faucets, one for hot and one for cold. The toilet needed a rest between flushes of about 15 minutes before it would do another full flush. The decor was straight out of the Victorian era it seemed. HOWEVER. It was impeccably clean, and that was very comforting. The hotel is very conveniently located close to Paddington Station and several excellent restaurants. Breakfast was a normal European continental that consisted of pastries, cheese, cold cuts and cereal. Was not awful, but was not anything to write home about either. It filled the stomach gaps! We appreciate the cleanliness here, and the friendliness of staff, but we may find something more updated next time.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

chloe

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The hotel staff were lovely, even held our bags after checking out so we could move about the day. Hotel is in good condition, it is an old hotel, but quaint and full of character. Room was small but good for one night, bed comfy, bathroom fine. The only downside is with it being an old property, the floors creak terribly and you can hear the water moving through the pipes, so light sleepers beware. Also the lift is an old service lift so small and has a large step out. Altogether nice hotel for a couple of nights but beware that is an old (well maintained) building and has the quirks that come with that
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anastasia

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely stay, all staff-- from front desk to janitorial to the breakfast server-- were very nice and welcoming. Location was super convenient for exploring London.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lai Man

Travelled with pets, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I have a short stay in The Columbia which is a wonderful holiday. From the moment I arrived, I was impressed by the warm hospitality and attentive staff. The underground is nearby making exploring the area a breeze, adding a layer of convenience to my stay. The proximity to Hype Park added a lovely touch, allowing me to unwind in a serene environment steps away.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

4/10 Poor

Craig

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This hotel is very outdated. Security is lacking. Checking our bags on our last day they didn’t put tags on them. We just placed them with many other bags. And we were told the hotel is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

4/10 Poor

Gareth

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ivan

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Emyr

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

6/10 Okay

Rob

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Outdated
Nice staff, great location, good parking although limited, but outdated and low quality bathroom facilities. Breakfast limited options.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Curtis

Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely staff
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Hugh

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
I have been staying at the Columbia since about 2000. The hotel is still clean enough to eat off the floor and is a great bargain, but there have been some disappointments. The hotel is in dire need of renovation with the floors in the reception area and breakfast area looking very worn and poorly maintained. The floor in my bathroom was covered with vinyl flooring, but the wood underneath was rotten to the point that each step you took felt squishy and actually concerning about collapsing. What used to be a full English breakfast is now a very basic continental breakfast. The bed was comfortable but the newish furniture in the room was bargain basement quality and the quality of the carpet was dated at best with stains and damage all over. The lift that was broken15 years ago is still broken. I will stay again, but I have greatly reduced my expectations.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

2/10 Terrible

Irina

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Housekeepers ignore “do not disturb” sign and still enter the room. Walls are really thin and you can hear everything. Really really old hotel, needs renovation. The only good thing about this hotel is the location
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I thought the place was great - the accommodations were comfortable and clean, the location was convenient to transportation, etc. The only suggestion I would make is some of the male staff behind the desk could have been a little nicer - such as greeting us as we came in, asking how are rooms were, etc., instead of ignoring us, treating us as if we did not exist and did not matter. The rest of the staff acted appropriately. The staff members attending to our rooms were very nice and thorough.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Loved the huge common rooms with their quirky architectural details. Beautiful old building, rooms big for the price.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Ann

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marcia

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful hotel. Bathroom was clean but could use an update.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The good: location - near tube stops, restaurants and right across from Hyde Park. Walkable to so many things. Room size was good. Staff were great. Great value. My only negative comments are that the wifi was weak (couldn't even load simple websites on iPad) and the room, especially the bath room was extremely dated.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charlene

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I loved, loved, loved this large, quirky and totally atmospheric hotel. The floorboards creaked and the elevator was so tiny and slow that I usually used the stairs instead. My room (a standard double on the top floor) was simply furnished but quite spacious for a London hotel in this price range. The windows overlooked Kensington Gardens (mostly trees from up that high). Surprisingly, traffic noise from Bayswater Road below wasn't a problem, even with the windows open. My entire stay occurred during a heat wave (90 degrees farenheit most days), but the room's oscillator fan -- and the park across the street -- kept thing very comfortable. I'd love to stay at this hotel again on my next visit.
Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Great hotel, but outdated
I have loved this hotel since I first stayed there in 1992. It has always been a bit quirky, but that was part of the charm! The location is perfect, right across from the park, and very convenient to public transportation. The staff is amazing, and two of them recognized me even though it had been four years since I last visited. However, some things disappointed me. The delicious English breakfast is gone, replaced by a Continental breakfast which was quite sparse even by Continental standards. This was served in the bar rather than the spacious dining room. Extra tables have been placed in the parlor, greatly detracting from that beautiful room. Other new furniture in that room is not in keeping with the style of the room. My bedroom seemed much the same as I remembered - dated, but very comfortable with a great bed. The main elevator is out of order, so one must use a tiny service elevator. I still love this hotel, but it is in desperate need of renovation. Please bring back the English breakfast!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Cynthia

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent central location. However, you get what you pay for. The rooms are very simple and old, as is the lift. They also get quite warm and there is no AC or fridge. It's fairly clean. However, on our last night the cleaning staff came in and threw away a few items they presumed were trash we wanted to keep. They also broke my friend's ornament she bought from Harrods (presumably while cleaning) and just put it back - they didn't leave a note or anything. So I would say this place is fine for the price, but if you have other options stay elsewhere.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Susan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Pleasant staff, nice location, needs a bit of updating.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tess

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was wonderful and helpful with all of our questions. They were so kind pack us a bag lunch for our tour day. The room was small by American standards but it was kind and comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Daniele, ROCKINGHAM

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location great; bed comfortable - hotel got the job done for being a reasonably priced, centrally located spot. Room decor very outdated and tired, room’s chairs had crumbs on them (clearly not systemically cleaned) but otherwise clean enough. Would return due to the good location and comfortable bed.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Loved that the property has retained the decoration that makes it feel like you are stepping back into a fine historical hotel, and can’t give it a high enough rating for cleanliness. The lift was out of order throughout our stay which was inconvenient with luggage and stairs. There is a laundry just down the street and the bar and lounge area was very nice. Breakfast was standard continental; there are a few nice restaurant options an easy walk away. Tour bus stop is literally around the corner which was super convenient for us. Daily housekeeping which is not something you get everywhere anymore.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

4/10 Poor

Emily

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Functional… at best!
Needs updating! It’s not decorated in 90s chic to be trendy or ironic; it’s just old and a little falling apart (with the exception of the lobby). There is no AC which made fairly mild weekend, pretty unbearable without three fans in the room.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Kristen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Christine

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Columbia is in a great location - the staff were very pleasant and amenable, it is an older hotel and decor needs some updating ... but we found the Columbia to be very clean. The staff were great about answering emails even before we arrived in England. The continental breakfast was very good with several choices,
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

micah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dave

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

randolph

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The rooms did not have air conditioning. The full-size bed could only be entered from one side. The bath tub was too tall for my wife to take a shower.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

4/10 Poor

Marsha

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
The staff are the best. Really helpful weesee to se she s
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Ka Ki

Disliked: Amenities
Overall clean but it’s a very old building, the interior is 1950s style and probably the amenities never been changed ever since. I only stayed for 1 night so it’s fine, but I don’t want to stay in the room for any longer. No air conditioning btw. It’s not too bad but just very very old
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Darren

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bingxi

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

4/10 Poor

Nikita

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bedrooms smelt like an old people home,dust all over bathroom,very old fashioned ,lift terrible and old thought it was going to give up on us ! Rooms are boiling hot,no air or fans provided .Beds were clean but very out dated rooms and hallways,breakfast was very disappointing,rolls with cheese and ham ,no toast available no fryed breakfast,tiny coffees .staff were lovly tho,walkable distance to carnival and other shops.wont be staying again im affaid
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Louise

Room was clean and reception staff helpful
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023