European Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
European Hotel is the sleeper hit of the group — a budget 2-star that still posts an 8.9/10 from real guests.
European Hotel is the sleeper hit of the group — a budget 2-star that still posts an 8.9/10 from real guests.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The rooms are small in the honest London-budget way, but they're clean and serviced daily. A recent review put it plainly: "clean and the staff are very friendly, small room but comfortable." You get a comfortable bed, a TV, free Wi-Fi and a basic tea/coffee maker. The look is classic British rather than designed — nothing luxurious, nothing missing. The honest catch is the thin walls; several guests hear the room next door and the corridor, especially in peak season when the place fills up. A few reviews also flag tired older bathrooms. But an 8.9/10 from 5,600+ stays says those are the exception, not the rule.
Food and amenities
The included Full English breakfast buffet is the thing reviewers bring up first. It runs every morning with eggs done several ways, bacon, sausage, baked beans, toast and a continental option, and guests call it "generous, tasty and exactly what you want before a full day out." Staff are friendly and the front desk is open 24 hours, with free Wi-Fi everywhere. There's no lunch or dinner service on site — but the streets around Cartwright Gardens are full of cafes, restaurants and pubs worth a stop. Note that parts of the building have no lift.
Location and getting there
The location clearly beats the price. Cartwright Gardens is a green square that stays calmer than the main roads ringing the station, yet it's a 2-minute walk to King's Cross St Pancras — six Underground lines from one spot, plus the Eurostar to Europe. Bloomsbury carries a real literary feel, the British Museum is 10-15 minutes on foot, and the University of London is right nearby. Reckon on 20 minutes to Covent Garden and 25 to Oxford Street.
Things to know before booking
Go in expecting a budget 2-star, not a boutique. The walls are thin, so light sleepers should pack earplugs or ask for a room facing the gardens. Rooms are small, a few older bathrooms feel dated, and there's no on-site lunch or dinner. Parts of the building have no lift, which matters if you're hauling big bags. None of that is hidden — it's the trade you make for the price and the address.
Our take
This is the one that surprises people. If you're a solo traveler or a couple who values value-for-money over space, and you can live with a bit of noise and a small room, the combination of an 8.9/10 score and an included Full English breakfast from around $63 a night is genuinely hard to match this close to King's Cross. You also get to sleep in Bloomsbury, which has more character than the King's Cross thoroughfares a few streets over.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- An 8.9/10 review score from more than 5,600 guests — genuinely excellent for a 2-star, and higher than several pricier hotels on this list.
- A Full English breakfast buffet is included in the rate, with eggs done several ways, bacon, sausage, baked beans and toast — enough to skip lunch.
- It faces Cartwright Gardens, a leafy square that stays quieter than the hotels lined up along the main roads near the station.
- Friendly staff and a front desk open 24 hours, with free Wi-Fi in every part of the hotel.
- The location punches well above the price: a 2-minute walk to King's Cross St Pancras and 10-15 minutes on foot to the British Museum.
- The walls are thin. Plenty of reviewers clearly hear the room next door and the corridor, especially in peak season when the hotel is full.
- A handful of reviews flag cleanliness in certain rooms, usually the older bathrooms — not the norm across 5,600+ stays, but worth knowing.
- Rooms are small in the classic London-budget way, there's no on-site lunch or dinner, and parts of the building have no lift.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room facing Cartwright Gardens if one is free — you get a calm green view in the morning and it's quieter than the rooms at the back.
- Cartwright Gardens has public tennis courts that are free to use in parts of summer — check with the front desk for open slots before you head out.
- Eat the included Full English big and late, then skip a sit-down lunch — the surrounding Bloomsbury streets are full of cafes and pubs for a cheaper bite later.