Melrose House

We arrived at Melrose House after a very long trip from Australia. We had pre-booked a car to pick us up at Heathrow Airport, so finding the accommodation wasn't a problem.

We were in an attic room in the main house (with 3 single beds) which was very nice, but I must admit that the sloping ceilings did make it feel a little cramped at times and I felt that we had to be constantly aware of what we were doing so as not to hit our heads. Our friends who were travelling with us however had a huge room located out in the garden (a family room for 4).

The breakfasts were plentiful and of good quality. The set-up for breakfast (one large table) also makes it easy to meet and chat with other guests.

We didn't really find the location to be an issue. The station is only a 10 minute walk away and we never had to wait long for a train to arrive for the 15 minute trip into Victoria. We did however find that if we were coming back from London late (which in our case was around 8-9pm) we did have a 50 minute wait one evening until the next train, so I would suggest checking the train schedules beforehand.

Overall, a good experience and great value in a very expensive city.

As I've read a few rather caustic reviews about Melrose House, I've wondered whether these writers actually stayed in the same B&B that I know. I stayed at Melrose House for fifteen delightful nights (two different rooms, at my own request) in March 2009, and my own experience was perfectly fine. If I could, I'd go again tomorrow!

I'm a recently retired teacher, and I love London. In fact, since the late 1970's, I've made twenty-two trips to London. Let me tell you, I've seen some fairly seedy B&B's in those years. Melrose House is certainly excellent by comparison.

I fear that my fellow Americans sometimes expect a lot more for their money (especially in room size, plushness, and amenities) than they're going to receive in very pricey London. which always ranks among the world's most expensive cities. Melrose House is superb value for money. It's clean, decent, and attractive. It's well-run and well-maintained. Yes, the owner has some rules. That didn't bother me. I gladly followed her rules, as I had some definite guidelines in my classroom during the forty-one years that I taught. I respect people with firm but fair standards, whatever their profession.

I found the owner, Frances, very friendly. I liked her husband, her helpful daughter, and the attractive "breakfast prepaper". I loved those daily large and varied breakfasts, which made lunch a non-entity for me most days. Melrose House offers sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans, grapefruit segments, fresh fruit, two juices, several cereals, toast, pastries, yogurt, etc. If one doesn't find a fresh, tasty breakfast, it's his/her own fault.

There were some very pleasant, personable fellow travelers to talk with, too. I made friends with two other solo travelers, and we even went out to eat a few times. Very pleasant! Another "singleton" guest and I even attended the very friendly local church, Holy Trinity, on Sunday morning. The parishioners welcomed us very cordially. Melrose House rents to a good-quality clientel. It's not a place for riff-raff, and that's OK with me.

Admittedly, Melrose House is off-the-beaten-track. Penge East, the local station, is about an 18-20 minute ride into Victoria Station, from which one can travel virtually anywhere by bus or tube. (Do avoid the jam-packed computer trains before 9:30 AM. After that, it's easy to find a seat.) I liked the quiet, away-from-it-all atmosphere in Penge. The Penge High Street has nearly everything a person needs. Nearby Beckenham High Street is larger and a bit more upscale.

I had initially worried about the South London location, since all large cities have their dicey areas. However, the immediate neighborhood was fine and decent. I felt safe coming and going, even at night when returning alone from concerts or day trips. There are many very attractive Victorian or Edwardian houses in the neighborhood, and plenty of expensive vehicles parked around. Without hesitation, I'd say that the Penge/Beckenham residents were MUCH friendlier than those one encounters in Central London---probably because the former don't need to deal with so many tourists like me!

As an alternative to the train, I sometimes took the local 176 bus from the Penge High Street into London. (The 176 goes by Waterloo Station and up and down the Strand, near Trafalgar Square.) It's a long and time-consuming ride, but it's fascinating. The bus route travels through parts of London that the average tourist, regardless of nationality, seldom sees. Give it a try once or twice, if you have the time.

To summarize, I'd highly recommend Melrose House. I loved it there, and I'm hoping for a return trip there in a year or two. Frankly, you're NOT going to find a B&B that nice for a similar price in Central London.

Steven Henry - Topeka, Kansas USA

We booked this place on a whim when all of our other hotel choices were booked. The place was very charming looking with a private bathroom. The breakfast was excellent!! The B and B took about 20-25 minutes to get to from London tourist sights... you must take a train and then walk a bit. The owner was not very friendly, especially for a B and B, but she also wasn't rude, just not very talkative. The stairs are fairly steep, so if that is a problem, request a room on a lower floor. Free wifi. Lots of signs telling you what you can and can't do and a book full of info on London and other nearby places. If you are coming from the London City Airport MAKE SURE to get directions on how to get there by train BEFORE getting to London, we relied on the Train Info Staff and we got very very lost! After the first getting lost though, it was very simple to get there! The ride on the train was about 20 minutes, but this was not a big deal because you could plan your day with your guidebook, look out the window, or read the paper! Overall, it was great!