After booking a room at the Lonsdale Hotel in Holborn, which ranks bottom on TripAdvisor among over 1,000 London hotels, a journalist expected a grim experience. The hotel has 466 'terrible' reviews out of 632, with complaints about outdated furnishings, cramped rooms, and poor cleanliness.
Upon arrival, the journalist found the hotel closed for deep cleaning and was redirected to the adjacent Thanet Hotel, which has a 4-star rating on TripAdvisor. The receptionist explained that both hotels are owned by the same company, and guests may be placed in either.
The room at the Thanet was ordinary but clean and comfortable, with no signs of dust or disrepair. The TV did not work, but the bed was clean and the room was inoffensive. The journalist felt cheated, having wanted to experience the notorious Lonsdale.
The Lonsdale Hotel previously claimed that TripAdvisor reviews were 'unreliable' due to ongoing refurbishments during the pandemic. The journalist's stay suggests that the hotel's reputation may not reflect its current state, though the actual Lonsdale remains untested.
