Holiday Inn Express London – Chingford – North Circular

From the outside, the Holiday Inn Express London - Chingford - North Circular resembles a slightly weathered, beige-colored airplane hangar. The lobby is on brand with a blond-wood and light-gray reception desk. A handful of leather armchairs is arranged for guests to relax, but the low ceilings and lack of light aren't very appealing. The lobby shares space with the dining area, which also includes a bar, vending machines, and a small business center. The restaurant section is carpeted and has dark-wood tables and chairs with red leather cushions, as well as a long, blond-wood buffet. A conference room, with a long wooden table and chairs, is best suited for a boardroom meeting but can also be rearranged for a presentation. Hallways are similarly low-key with brown and red carpet and white walls. This level of Holiday Inn speaks well to business travelers and families looking for affordable London lodging, though it's far from tourist sights.

The Holiday Inn Express' location along the North Circular road makes it a convenient spot for business people. It's a relatively painless commute to locations along the semi-circle on the north side of London, such as Chiswick (37-minute drive) and Woolwich (42-minute drive). It's also just a few minutes' walk from a Sainsbury's grocery store. Tourists who want to see London's sights will either need a car or a bit of patience with the public transportation system. The hotel recommends getting a bus that has a stop about five minutes' walk away and taking it to a Tube station (Walthamstow Central) for a 35- to 45-minute ride into the city. Buckingham Palace is about a 45-minute drive or about 50 minutes by public transportation. The Tower of London is a 25-minute drive or 60 minutes by public transportation. Travelers arriving at Heathrow Airport should expect the ride to the hotel to take about 45 minutes by car or about 80 minutes by public transportation. Getting to the hotel from Gatwick will take about 70 minutes by car or 90 minutes by public transportation.

While its 102 rooms are not huge, Holiday Inn packs in a decent amount of functionality. Storage space in the room we saw consisted of a wooden shelving unit with a cubbyhole and an attached rod for clothes. Small desks and (in some Double Rooms) loveseats with pullout beds are also provided (though guests find their mattresses a bit thin). Asymmetrical wooden headboards frame the beds (either twin-size or double), which guests report as comfortable. Decor is basic but includes a refreshing splash of bright blue in artwork and bed runners, plus accent walls with dark-gray wallpaper. Flat-screen TVs are provided, and there's free Wi-Fi in all rooms. Coffee/tea facilities are in all rooms, but supplies are a bit limited. The bathrooms are compact and decorated with white tile and blue Formica countertops. Fittings are contemporary, if plain, and shower stalls have pump dispensers. Note that some rooms can experience street noise. 

Features here add to the hotel's convenience, though they don't exactly inspire guests to linger. The free breakfast buffet includes dishes such as scrambled eggs, beans, and sausages, and is well-received. The Great Room restaurant also serves light dishes for dinner as well as drinks at the bar. Vending machines provide snacks around the clock. Guests interested in working out must go to an off-site health club where the Holiday Inn has a discount deal. A meeting room can fit up to 20 people. On-site parking is free, and Wi-Fi is also free throughout the property.