Derby Hotel

This is a very nice place to stay in London. The staff are friendly and accomodating. the breakfast (continental free, English breakfast 5 Pounds extra) is good and filling, though loaded up on carbs for those watching their intake. The location is on a main road, and there is a grocery just across the street (refigerator in the room we had). Lots of restaurants to choose from and all different styles. The tube is several blocks away, though, and walking to it can be a bit of a slog. That said, being on a main road, it is very noisy. Cromwell Hospital is right in front of the hotel, and the sirens go all night. I didn't much care because I was so tired, I could have slept through a hurricane. Others will be unhappy unless they get a room on the back of the building. We struggled with the shower and could not get anything but scalding hot water out of it. We wound up bathing ourselves in the tub in very cold water. Again, not so bad for me, but others will be unhappy (room 203). No dead bolt locks at all on room doors, but felt secure anyway. It's in a good neighboorhood. Look for the plaque on #153 next dooe that says Sir Alfred Hitchcock lived there. You have to go across the street to the Quality Crown to get WiFi internet. Internet offered in the lobbly for 1 Pound for 20 minutes. Can't access all web sites through it, though. Most people would give this hotel a three star rating, but I gave it four.

The plumbing was a disaster, you could only get scalding water in the shower, water pressure was very uneven. Location was not too bad, but less convenient than advertised.