Novotel London Greenwich

I've stayed at this hotel a few years running now, all at roughly the same time of the year. It's a good hotel, in general, though there are a few problems.

As previous reviewers have mentioned, it's very close to Greenwich railway and DLR station and in many ways this is one of the hotel's attractions - you have frequent, regular and quick connections to different parts of London, right on the doorstep, *without* noise being a problem. Great.

The hotel is fairly modern, though as it ages things are beginning to get a little more worn, though I'm sure many people wouldn't spot this unless they'd been there when it was very new.

Check in was fine, except the key card I was given didn't work, and having returned to reception and been given a different card, that didn't work either, so I was then moved to a different room. The rooms are, as ever, clean and comfortable.

The one problem is that, as many other reviewers have pointed out, the air-conditioning, although giving you the impression you have some control over it - there's a regulator in the room - actually gives you no control at all and the rooms are quite simply too hot, and the windows don't open far. There are a few other touches which suggest the management have become a bit too relaxed - my remote control batteries were clearly on their last legs; there was no writing paper; very minor things they got right a few years ago...

Breakfasts are great, though - a very good and diverse buffet, including a non-greasy English breakfast. It's expensive, but worth it, actually, esp if you can get a deal which includes breakfast.

Overall, if you can put up with the heat, this is a reliable and clean, good hotel, well situated, and quiet, despite the location.

Reception was almost non existant when my family and I arrived at the hotel at 10pm on a Saturday. Took almost 40 minutes to check in. No porter service provided, despite being laden with two suitcases and a baby.

Room was well prepared and hotel had taken on board that we woudl be arriving with a baby and had provided a clean cot for her use.

Room was very clean , so was the bathroom. One of the cleanest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in.

Plasma screen TV in hotel room with full entertainment service.

Aircon was not working well, was quite warm in room.

Service in hotel was excellent, apart from breakfast time when the staff did not seem to wear ironed clothes ! or even washed! The dishes used at breakfast were still dirty, seems like their dishwasher did not work. Breakfast food choice was good. But who would eat breakfast on dirty dishes?

Hotel location is good, near BR railway and Docklands light railway. Lots of shops and restuarants near by, couldnt help feeling that Greenwich was nothing but a tourist trap. All the restuarants we visited servced sub standard food for the price being asked.

Novotel is charging alot of money for a budget hotel service really. Rooms are clean and service is good, but the price does not warrant a future stay. Would rather stay at the Holiday Inn in Greenwich or one of the newer hotels in docklands where you get what you pay for. !! i.e pay less and get the same budget service !