Staple Inn

First night, I was given room (in the annex) with non-functioning aircon. Fortunately they pass me a small stand fan. They changed my room the next day and it was all good

Burn or accept to be awaken by a fire alarm. Spent 4 nights on the 3rd floor. Very clean, my room was of very acceptable size for one person ("compact double", more compact than double though), bathroom in perfect condition, great front desk, copious breakfast, excellent value. Two problems though, one minor and one major: Minor problem: the elevator is the slowest possible elevator anywhere on the planet since the invention of the elevator and then, quite often, when going from the reception to the third floor, it would actually first go to the fourth floor and then turn back down to the third. Major problem: on the first night at around 1 am, I was awaken by the fire alarm and again on the fourth night it awakened me once at 2:30 am and a second time at 5:30 am. Many people actually went down the stairs during the 2:30 alarm because it lasted for some time. They have oversensitive smoke detectors that are triggered by steam from hot showers or by spray. 2 nights out of 4 awaken by a false alarm is a bit too much and I will not return before reassurances that the problem has been fixed.

It was so convenient to Paddington station for the tube or train. Very clean and continental breakfast or you can pay for full breakfast. We stayed here five nights, then went to the Cotswolds, and came back here and stayed another eight days. We would highly recommend and will stay here again if we come to London.