The hotel rooms are very nice. There's plenty of space, and the beds are really comfortable. Each room has two windows to view the city from. They have breakfast each morning that is included in your hotel price. You have many choices, and they make you feel right at home. The lobby has lots of couches, tables, and even a bar to relax at after a day’s travel. There are two telephone booths to make any calls you'd like. It's a very nice hotel!

The Blakemore Hotel is located at 30 Leinster Gardens in Bayswater, a few blocks from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace and within walking distance of both the Queensway and Bayswater tube stops. It seems to be marketed to a combination of buisnessmen and tourists, so the decor is neat, trim, and dentist's-office bland. All that's missing are the potted ficus trees....

The lobby and common areas are pleasant, recently remodeled, wood paneled, and have comfy couches to sit in.

The standard twin room is tiny but serviceable. People who aren't used to European hotel rooms, which are often much smaller than ones in the U.S., may find them a bit too small. There is a teeny bathroom with a toilet and shower. Soap and shampoo are found in dispensers on the shower wall. The sink is located in the bedroom (which actually turned out to be convenient for face-washing and tooth-brushing while somebody was in the shower).

The rooms have recently been renovated in shades of peachy pink and green. Each room has a TV, phone, built-in wardrobe, desk, as well as a hair dryer and hot pot for making coffee or tea.

Continental breakfast is complimentary and is served in the basement restaurant. It's not half bad, consisting of orange or grapefruit juice, coffee or tea, cereal, fruit salad, cheese, croissants, rolls, and butter or jam. Everything provided is fresh, and the staff is very attentive when it comes to replacing depleted rolls, coffee, and the like.

If you want to write home, there's a 24-hour Internet cafe located a short distance towards Hyde Park, down Leinster Gardens, where you can email home for 1 pound per 20 minutes.

The Bayswater area is full of reasonably priced restaurants for lunch and dinner, especially on its main street, Queensway.

Rack rates for the Blakemore are 110 pounds per night for a twin room, but we stayed there on a package, which included round-trip airfare and three nights' hotel for $289 per person. This makes the Blakemore an inexpensive and comfortable base for a visit to London.

The Blakesmore's website is www.blakemorehotel.activehotels.com/GOF.

The Blakemore Hotel is located in the Bayswater area of London, which is mostly comprised of hotels and apartments. Many of the buildings are historic, painted beautifully, with large windows and luxury atmosphere. The Blakemore itself is about five minutes from two tube stations that cover all of the major travel lines. It also borders on Hyde Park, so the location is ideal and is its best asset. The hotel is an older building which is tastefully decorated, with a bright and lovely lobby. A bar, restaurant, and conference facilities are all within the building.

Breakfast is included in the nightly rate, which is posted in the lobby as 110 pounds for a double room. But rooms may be reserved for less online. The breakfast is certainly not a "full" one, with only one type of roll, coffee, juice, and cereal provided. Everything else, including yogurt and fruit, costs a good bit extra.

Our room was a typical (small) European room, with the exception of a shower that was almost American size. In the room we found a hairdryer, coffee maker and coffee, and a separate vanity area. There were plenty of fluffy towels provided underneath the large mirror and sink. The decor was a bit dated, but it was clean and comfortable enough for a short stay. A basic television and telephone were also provided.

Computer lovers will be happy to know that an internet cafe is only steps away, where e-mail can be checked for only 99p. Restaurants line Queensway across from Hyde Park, and there are also great local shops on the side streets. There you'll find freshly made sandwiches for a fraction of the price of a restaurant meal.

In summary, staying at the Blakemore is a great way to experience London while sticking to a reasonable budget. The combination of location and amenities makes it a hotel that I recommend.