Norfolk House Hotel

Here is the rub, it's cheap.

The truth: it's cheap, and I mean affordable by that. It has a great bar maid named Agnes from Poland. It is OK.

Here is the harder truths: They lie a lot. They say:

Easy to find and get to from London. NOPE. Train to West Croyden station then a 1.5 mile walk to the place or the bus. Not a hated walk, but if you have luggage, it would suck. Also, you have no idea which way to go (away from the city center). Underground to the Balham station: NOPE 14 Pounds (~$25) taxi ride is the only way from here. One way! Car: maybe Bus: really? C'mon.

Internet: Free WiFi ~ Kinda. It only works in the lobby and there is no place to work, per se except of of your lap. With a couple hundred bucks, they could do much better.

Restaurant: Non functioning. If it is, I never saw a single plate come out of it.

The place is occupied during the week days by people that commute into London from here and then go 'home' on the weekends to their families. Sad. Then the tourists are here on the weekend. The rooms are OK. Not too much problems. There is some mold in the tub and in the window sill, but it is England right? The water was hot and plenty of it. The amenities were simple but present. The TV was a 13" job (which I have not seen since the 80's) and has 4 (yes FOUR!) channels and works off of rabbit ears. (made me laugh) The beds are old, and the springs pop when you move. The sheets are clean and not that bad though. There is no fridge, but as it's winter here, I noticed lots of people putting beers, etc out on the window sills.

Worrisome: the security camera was turned around to the wall in the stairwell and the corridor where my room was. What do you make of that Mr. Holmes?

The desk is run by every nationality but English, so there is little to poor English spoken there. One afternoon the only person there was a sleeping old Indian man that when awoke had a mouth full of fig and was clueless to anything asked of him. A bad person to mind the store, I would say.

Overall, do not be lulled into staying in Croydon because of price. I have stayed in a comparable Hostel in central Paddington for just a little more and was not put out by any of this.

It's a scam.

Decent hotel at competitive prices good customer service and decent rooms

It looked not very nice from outside but its just a little bit old. We got a brilliant room, how was new restored. We smelled the new color. We had a great sleep and the breakfast was easy but okay. Just toast and jelly. Old, a little bit dirty but really cheap !