Montcalm Royal London House — Hotel in London

This place is hot garbage and offers nowhere near a five star experience. Firstly, take a look at the reviews on here offering 5 star reviews, they're clearly generic autogenerated reviews posted by a bunch of bots to bump up and hide nasty experiences.

Biggest issues: The AC SUCKS. It barely runs, and can only be accessed on a janky tablet jammed into the wall that's running some ancient version of Android. The tablet doesn't even have normal touch screen technology and you have to jam your finger onto the screen out of some hope it registers. It's this SAME tablet that offers the only means of turning on your bathroom light. And there's NO WAY to turn off this enormous tablet, which means if you're trying to sleep all sorts of blue light is bouncing off this dumb device into your room.

You can call the front desk (which, incidentally, often takes a minute or more to pick up) and ask them about it, and they can promise they'll actually turn on the AC. They can do this, but the AC will run for only an hour or so before turning off.

It's NOT DARK. Our room had curtains that were too short to cover the window. As a result I was forced awake as soon as the sun rose, sweating, despite having gotten in past midnight. Maintenance was called out and attempted to adjust the curtains, but they were fundamentally too short, so their janky fix was to tape towels over the window and then duct tape the curtains together to try and block out more light. That did improve the situation, though not completely, and these measures are more what I'd expect in a third-world hostel, not a five-star London hotel.

The service is AWFUL. Don't believe me? Go ahead, just try and call them now. Pick up your phone, skype them if needed, and just see if you can get ahold of the front desk or the concierge. My guess is you're going to be waiting for many minutes, or not going to be able to get anyone. And when someone answers, they're going to BARELY speak English, to the point they're not going to be able to answer basic questions about what the hotel offers. Ask them if they'll mail a package for you, or when they offer shoe shines, or the best way to get to Mayfair, how to send a package to the hotel for your to pickup when you arrive or something else that's basic. I was told by the front desk that they DID NOT send mail, as in they would not send a stamped letter out! A later fellow contradicted this, as one would hope, but just the same the level of English spoken by the front desk is so poor that communication becomes a real challenge.

Later our door lock simply stopped working. The janky battery-powered only system that means when the battery dies they have to send out maintenance to replace the battery. A sane hotel would simply replace the batteries on a regular interval to avoid inconveniencing guests (or invest in a better system) but my impression is that this is beyond the Mountcalm.

After enough complaints the hotel offered to move us to another room which allegedly had better AC. We accepted. This room had better drapes, but the AC woes continued. In this room, the tablet had been removed, so the ONLY means of adjusting the thermostat was by calling the front desk, and changes to the thermostat again would only last for an hour, maximum. At some point our lighting simply froze- the lights would not turn off when the light buttons were pressed. The suggestion was to remove the keycard from the front of the room so that this would reset. We did this, and this turned off the AC, which the front desk assured us they would reenable. They did not.

Beds were mediocre and lumpy, cleaning was substandard- in our second room a half-eaten package of cookies occupied a drawer.

I do not have extraordinary requirements for a hotel. I would like a dark, cool bedroom in which to sleep wherever I stay. In a five-star hotel I would like a front desk that answers the phone, and a concierge that speaks fluent English- wherever in the world. Imagine my surprise that London...

I stayed at this hotel - Finsbury Square location for one night in September, expecting top service, but unfortunately the experience was extremely disappointing.

We had to move into three different rooms due to ongoing issues, and throughout the process we felt our concerns weren’t taken seriously, everything was made a joke by the staff even when we expressed our frustrations. The first room had a broken AC, which we reported three times, wasting almost two hours with no resolution. We were made to feel like a joke rather than valued guests. The second room, after much frustration, had no full-length mirror. The room also had a tiny window in the corner which faced another building. Again not city views we expected. We were then told a mirror would be sourced. Another 30 minutes wasted as a mirror was never going to be sourced as they didn’t have any but didn’t inform us only until we went to check at reception. The third and final room had stained curtains and even an eyelash on the towels. The room was also a smaller size than the club suite. We were assured the curtain would be changed while we were at dinner, but this was never done.

We booked a club suite specifically for the city views, but due to all the room changes, we didn’t get what we paid for. We were given Prosecco as a “gesture,” but this turned out to be standard for all guests, not a genuine acknowledgment of the inconvenience.

Because of the disorganization, we missed two reservations we had planned, as we checked in at 12 but weren’t settled into a room until after 5pm. Staff repeatedly told us issues would be escalated, but with no general manager on-site over the weekend, (which sounds bizzare at a busy 5 star supposedly hotel) nothing was resolved. Nearly a week later, we are still waiting for the promised refund and follow-up email.

As we booked through booking.com we were told that the hotel would be writing an email to ensure a refund was issued upon checking out (7th September 2025). It was confirmed, after calling today (15th September 2025) this has not happened and no contact was made from the hotel to booking.com as promised to initiate a refund.

We have been patient enough in waiting for over a week to have this sorted. We have numerously tried to call to have this sorted but no answer. We should not have to be chasing for a resolution and trust that the hotel would do this on our behalf. We have spoken to bookingroom.com all day today for hours and hours with them constantly telling us the hotel has not initiated anything. However trying to call the hotel and have someone answer the reception is a joke…I’ve been on hold for over half hour with no joy and constantly calling back to try get someone to answer my call. Absolutely appalling service. What are reception there for? I should not have to wait 30 minutes to have my call attempt to be answered. After 30 minutes I had no joy and hung up but will be escalating this issue. Upon calling again for almost an hour later that evening my call was disconnected by the hotel - the call was picked up and the phone was put down their end. Absolutely awful service

For almost £300, this stay did not meet expectations in terms of service, cleanliness, or overall value. Instead of feeling like guests, we felt like an afterthought. The lack of accountability and basic customer care was unacceptable, and still to this day nothing has...

A Hidden Gem with Exceptional Service - Burdock at Montcalm Royal London House

Burdock at the Montcalm Royal London House isn't just a restaurant; it's a hidden gem offering a casual but lovely dining experience. From the moment you step inside, you enter a relaxed atmosphere that seamlessly blends contemporary style with a warm, inviting ambiance before you reach the hotel’s reception area. My recent visit was nothing short of exceptional, and I have to give complete credit to the staff working there Zhivko, Inza and Chef Anass.

Burdock's menu is a delightful celebration of modern British cuisine, with a creative twist. On this particular day, I was working remotely and changing hotels after the bank holiday weekend and I had the pleasure of sampling the small plates. The spicy chicken wings were incredibly tender and flavorful, while the truffle crisps (or French fries for Americans) were cooked to perfection. And as an added bonus the sticky toffee with salted caramel ice cream was the highlight of the meal. But it wasn't just the food that made my visit so special; it was the impeccable service.

The staff at Burdock are truly dedicated to providing an outstanding dining experience. From the moment I entered the restaurant, I was greeted at the door, and I felt welcomed and valued. My server Zhivko was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful recommendations and answering all my questions with patience and a genuine smile.

What really stood out was the staff's attentiveness. They were always there when I needed them, without being intrusive. I was checked on regularly to ensure that everything was to my liking. This level of care and attention to detail is rare and elevates the entire dining experience despite the price point. Excellent service is excellent service.

Beyond the food and service, the ambiance of Burdock is also worth noting. The restaurant boasts a stylish and contemporary design, with comfortable seating, soft lighting, and a vibrant energy. It's the perfect setting for a casual lunch, a romantic dinner, or a celebratory gathering with friends. The open kitchen adds an element of excitement, allowing diners to watch the chefs at work, creating their culinary magic.

In conclusion, my dining experience at Burdock was wonderful The combination of exquisite food, impeccable service, and a stylish ambiance makes it a must visit East London destination. I also think the staff needs to be recognized for their work and even given a raise because they do care, and it shows in the excellent customer service. Whether you're a foodie, a casual diner, or simply someone who appreciates great service, I would highly recommend Burdock. I'm already looking forward to...