Victoria Inn

The Victoria Inn occupies a respectable looking, cream-colored Victorian townhouse; one in a row of many identical buildings that line both sides of the street. The family-run property has a modern lobby with white marble floors and a seating area with sleek black couches. Kid-size furniture and iPads mounted on one wall make for handy distractions for children. There's a pair of colorful rocking horse-style chairs too. Past the small reception desk, a door leads out to an outdoor courtyard patio, but there only other common space is a windowless breakfast room. Most guests are families or couples traveling on a budget, but the hotel also attracts its share friends traveling together and people in town on business. 

The hotel is on a residential street in central London’s Pimlico area, about a three-minute walk to the Pimlico underground station. Several restaurants and pubs are within walking distance, and Westminster Cathedral is a 10-minute walk away as well. Buckingham Palace is less than a 20-minute trip away on public transportation. It's a convenient location for travelers arriving or departing from Gatwick Airport (44 minutes via public transportation), since the Gatwick Express (a 37-minute ride) arrives directly at Victoria Station, which is about an eight-minute walk from the hotel. Heathrow Airport is at least 45 minutes away by car, or closer to an hour trip via public transportation. 

The hotel's 43 guest rooms have a modern decor with eclectic wall art and bold colors, but they're simply furnished and lack some basic amenities. Overall, however, the rooms are well-maintained and all have windows that open to the courtyard or street views. Standard Rooms are on the small side, with twin or double beds and no real seating areas or work desks. Low stools accompany narrow tables with just enough space for the electric kettles, cups, and guest free loaner smartphones. Free Wi-Fi comes standard along with small flat-screen TVs, but there are no mini-fridges. In some rooms, there's barely enough space to walk around the beds, and the only place for clothes and storage are metal wall hangars. Upgraded Double Rooms have seating areas with armchairs, and there are also Triple and Quad rooms with a mix of twin and double beds. The tiled bathrooms are small and all have walk-in showers, and all contain wall-mounted hairdryers and toiletries. 

The hotel has limited amenities -- there's no full restaurant and bar or fitness center -- but there's a free continental breakfast offered in a bright and cheerful breakfast room, though it's windowless. The ample spread includes cereal, fruit, cheese, bread, muffins, and croissants, as well as hot options like scrambled eggs on weekdays. There's also an outdoor courtyard patio with seating at several tables. Guests are given free loaner smartphones to use during their stay, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.