London isn’t known for being good value, so when you do manage to find a bargain it’s all the more satisfying. Yet I managed to find a great hotel during the holiday season, and it wasn’t difficult! https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/park-plaza-london-park-royal

I stay in a lot of hotels. I don’t get paid to travel and I’m not on business. So I need to look around to find somewhere nice, in a good location, and a main Hotel brand that has a loyalty scheme. The best offers for rooms tend to be off-season, or on quieter days. You get a cheaper room rate if you stay on Sunday than Friday night. Following this rule will only get you so far, though. On the whole, an average price for a 3-star hotel in London will be $148 (thanks Google). and a lot of hotels at his rate will only offer very small rooms, middling to poor service, or be old and tired inside. And 3-star hotels don’t offer much for service, or provide extras (gyms, free breakfast or late check-out).

Finding a VFM 4 star Hotel in London

You don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds a night for the kind of luxury you think you need. Yes, the top hotels are going to be out of reach for most travellers. But, looking outside the centre, you can find some real bargains!

Last year I booked a room mid-week in London that I was not expecting anything from. By chance, it turned out to be my best London Hotel stay of the year. Most people would struggle to find any decent hotel in central London for under 100, even under 200 would be pushing it. However, the Park Plaza Park Royal is a fantastic hotel that simply cannot be beaten for price or quality.

The hotel is recently built so you don’t see any of the dodgy plumbing, tired wall paper or slow, out of work lifts. the building is fully up to date. Here’s a quick breakdown of my trip.

Location

Location might be your top priority, and whilst the hotel is not central London, it’s next to a tube station (Park Royal), and it’s near Wembley Stadium, which is one of the main tourist attractions in the capital. And it’s 45 minutes from Heathrow, which is really not that far.

check-in

I had received emails regarding check-in, but I checked in at the desk. It was well-staffed. I certainly didn’t need to wait long to be served.

Reception and lobby

the hotel offers a modern and slightly opulent design. You don’t feel like you are in Wembley next to a busy fly-over. The Staff uniforms are elegant and understated, plus the lobby is spaced out so you don’t feel crowded, and the place is quiet without being devoid of character.

The room

The room was a decent size. There was a well-appointed bathroom. The bed was thick , comfortable and spacious. I was more than satisfied by the room’s furniture and design.

Tea and coffee

There was a kettle with tea bags and coffee sachets for making hot drinks, as well as fridge with complimentary bottled water.

TV/satelite

The TV was fixed to the wall and was a good size. the channels were mainly standard ‘Freeview’ offerings.

Bed.

I had no problems sleeping in the room and the bed was luxurious, I couldn’t wait to hunker down.

Breakfast included?

Yes, they gave me breakfast at no extra cost, the buffet was very full and the staff were not putting anyone in a hurry to finish their breakfast. There were options to order from the menu as well as a full hot English breakfast.

Checkout

I checked out past one. I was very comfortable in the hotel. There is a large waiting area past the lobby where you can relax, read magazines and just chill.

Verdict

this is an absolute bargain for London. You are right next to tube station that connects you to central London in around 20 minutes. You aren’t staying a stones throw from the palace, but do you really need to be ? For less than a £100 – the hotel offers stylish design, great service, and breakfast. For even a 3-star hotel like a Hampton in a more central area you would pay more than double that. This puts Park Plaza at number one for best value hotel in London. This is ideal both for business and leisure travellers. I’m glad I made this choice and I look forward to staying in more Park Plaza hotels.