Melville Hotel

Few of the small hotels that fill King's Cross are as thoughtfully styled as the Melville. Spanning several Georgian townhouses and set across five floors, attention to detail covers every inch of the property. A ritzy lobby of wood-paneled walls, heavy black-glossed doors, and exposed brick is tastefully decorated with black period furniture and colorful Art Deco sculptures. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors and original windows let in plenty of light and the white-tiled floors and chandelier give an opulent feel. Hushed elegance is similar in the lounge, where ochre walls with gray accents and damask curtains are furnished with white leather sofas, a large coffee table, and accessorizing corner globe. Decorative touches continue in the hallways with a wall mural of Amy Winehouse.

While the aesthetic is attractive, we can't say a stay at the Melville is guaranteed to be equally pleasurable. It's rare for management to be so consistently poor we have to comment on it, but on this occasion, the service (or lack of it) is marked. Guests have reported an array of surprises, from being relocated to one of the Melville's sister hotels to rooms lacking hairdryers and cleanliness issues.

Overlooking a quaint garden square and mostly residential or Georgian properties, the Melville is in a great location, right by the national and international stations of King's Cross. The nearest tube, King's Cross St. Pancras is a three-minute walk and St. Pancras International is five minutes away. The British Library is an eight-minute walk and arts, music, and club venue, Scala even closer. A Tesco supermarket is five minutes away.

Serving six lines, endless destinations can be reached with the nearby tube. Camden Town is just two stops away, as is Europe's largest arts and culture center, the Barbican. From the hotel, Covent Garden and London's financial district -- The City --  can be reached in 10 minutes. Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament are a quick 20 minutes away. Since the hotel doesn't offer food, King's Cross has endless cafes and fast food joints.

Heathrow Airport is 55 minutes by taxi and slightly less by public transport. Gatwick is a good hour and a half by car or 50 minutes by public transit. The nearest airport of London City is 40 minutes both by car and train.

Ranging from Singles and Doubles to the Club Signature and Family Suite, rooms all carry a somewhat mishmash of decor that's mostly attractive. Most rooms have carpeted floors, wood-paneled walls, and well-presented beds with red or brown throws. Some walls are adorned with cheesy-looking stained-glass hangings of flowers, while others have classic portraits and paintings. All rooms have flat-screen Freeview TVs, a digital radio on tasteful jacquard-print bed stands, and a small desk and chair, plus a kettle for tea- and coffee-making. Closet and hanging space is limited and there's a small fan in every room alongside a safe. Rooms lack phones, some lack a hairdryer and use of the hotel's iron and ironing board is on request. The Family Suite takes on a more classic tone, with old-fashioned paintings, original parquet floors and a fancy chandelier but still gets a modern burst with a funky Union-Jack-print chair. Bathrooms are all en-suite and modern with walk-in showers, some dark-wood accents, mirrored cabinets, and a few toiletries. Note that many guests have complained of maintenance and cleanliness issues in the rooms.

There are almost no amenities offered here, as Hotel Melville lacks a restaurant, gym, and business center. The only common area is a cozy, elegant lounge with a few leather sofas and magazines. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and though unlikely to need a car, guests can make the most of the free street parking.