The Castleton Hotel

The three-star Castleton Hotel is a basic budget property with a top-notch location near Hyde Park. The lobby area here looks like an English drawing room, with its chandelier and just-so lampshades. The 46 guest rooms are much simpler, but they do the trick.

Quick read

Pros: Fantastic location. Very clean. Friendly service. Elevator.

Cons: Small rooms. Wi-Fi is only available in public spaces.

Rooms

We saw lots of reds at the Castleton: a rich red carpet, chairs upholstered in pink, modern, almost Pop Art pillows and oval, cherry-red tables. The feel is far more “clean and classic” than “sultry boudoir” though. Subdued shades of pale yellow and pine green accent the reds. And the coordination works far better than you might think, in large part due to the mix-and-match of antique and modern elements.

All of the Castleton’s rooms are equipped with air conditioning (rare on the London budget hotel scene), coffee/tea facilities, a TV and phone. Street-facing rooms can be noisy, so we suggest that light sleepers ask for a back-facing room.

Bathrooms

The private bathrooms, like the rooms, are comically small, but this is pretty much the norm for budget hotels in London. They are functional, clean and equipped with a hair dryer and basic toiletries.

Hotel

The Castleton is situated in a lovely Victorian home, and its reception area still resembles a classic parlor, complete with antique furnishings and gallery-style artwork. A major plus: This is one of the few London budget hotels that can claim a historical building and an elevator.

A full English breakfast is included in the room rate. Wi-Fi is free but only accessible in the hotel’s public areas.