Church Street Hotel

The Church Street Hotel is a lively affair, designed by Spanish-American brother duo Jose and Mel with Latino flair. The walnut-paneled lobby is cluttered but striking, with an altar front desk, shelves lined with Virgin Mary statues, crucifixes, and brightly painted ornaments, and large patterned armchairs draped with embroidered Mexican dresses. Narrow hallways and stairs lead to the first-floor Havana Lounge, a 24-hour spot with an Honesty Bar that allows guests to self-serve alcoholic beverages for a fee or tea and coffee for free. Wooden chairs have cross cutouts, while walls have Dia de los Muertos artwork and shelves lined with DVDs for borrow. The overt theme won't appeal to everyone, but budget-minded tourists seem to appreciate the thoughtful touches and departure from generic chain hotel decor. Note that there's no elevator, which may be a problem for those with limited mobility.

Overlooking a main road in the not-so-desirable Camberwell, the Church Street Hotel doesn't have the best location. Surrounded by gritty shops and fast food outlets, guests will need to rely on public transport to reach more attractive areas of London. Though a multiple-line bus stop sits across the street, it's still a 12-minute uphill walk to the nearest overground station of Denmark Hill and a 12-minute bus ride to the nearest tube station (Oval), where central London can be reached in about 30 minutes. The hotel is a 45-minute taxi ride from Heathrow Airport, or the Heathrow Express and a bus can get travelers there in just over an hour.

Multiple buses also lead to some of South London's nicer areas, with Southwark (and nearby Borough Market) and Dulwich both reachable in under half an hour. For live music, the O2 Academy Brixton is a 13-minute bus ride and the up-and-coming eclectic Brixton neighborhood is worth visiting for a feel of London's Afro-Caribbean culture. 

Spacious for London, contemporary rooms are individually designed with a similar, if toned down, design found in the rest of the property. From cobalt blue to lime-green, bright color-washed walls are striking, and offset by hardwood floors, white Colonial-style furniture, and wrought-iron bed frames. The comfy beds are topped with white sheets and woven blankets. Gilded full-length mirrors and wood-framed doorways add a sleek touch, while discreet alcoves with Catholic curios echo the hotel's theme. Some rooms lack air-conditioning and thin walls can make rooms noisy.

Beds are doubles or king-size and all rooms feature 32 inch (81cm) flat-screen TVs, DVD players, phones, and free Wi-Fi. Free organic chocolate, mineral water, and the hotel's homemade hot sauce give a nice welcome. There are no mini-fridges or tea- and coffee-making facilities, though free tea and coffee is always available in the downstairs lounge. Not all bathrooms are en-suite, but those that are have carved arched doorways, floor-to-ceiling colorful hand-painted Guadalajara-imported tiles, and ceramic sinks. They either have walk-in showers or baths, and all come with high-end L'Occitane toiletries. Hairdryers are located in the bedrooms. 

The 24-hour Havana Lounge is an Honesty Bar offering an impressive array of rum, beer, and tequila, as well as pastries. It's self-service and guests note what they take and are charged later. Tea and coffee is available here for free, and guests can borrow DVDs from the nearby shelves. The hotel's free-to-borrow DVD library is stored here and organic tea and coffee is free. Though there's no full restaurant (it closed in 2016), a quality breakfast is still served for a reasonable price. Options include made-to-order eggs and everything is either organic or locally sourced, from the pastries to the orange blossom honey. Alongside free newspapers, the hotel also provides discounted passes for a nearby leisure club where there's a 25-meter (82-foot) pool. Wi-Fi is free throughout.