London newspapers reported recently that there are plans to turn the Copthorne Tara into residential apartments. Maybe this is why the management aren't replacing torn wallpaper, flaking paint and worn carpets. Service is very erratic, and the breakfast room meet-and-greet people can be very terse, as though you are an inconvenience.

Los Angeles, CA

We were booked to stay in this hotel by our travel agent. We were told it was a four star hotel. I had read previous reviews and was very dubious of staying there but one hopes for the best and thinks maybe their experience will be different.

On the plus side the location is good, centrally located to the tubes. The lobby nice and clean so were the ground floors. Unfortunately, once you go to your room it was travelling through time. The room was extremely drab, torn furniture with stained carpets and walls. We stayed as little time as possible in the room. On our first night my friend accidently spilled ketchup on the duvet. We thought housekeeping would replace the duvet the next day. Housekeeping only flipped over the duvet putting the stain underneath out of sight.

The personnel were very polite and helpful. We would gladly stay there again if they only remodel the rooms. That was it's only downfall.

I’d never heard of the Copthorne Tara prior to purchasing a few non-refundable nights online. After reading various reviews, I have to admit that I wasn’t looking forward to my arrival there. Well it was pretty nice, especially considering what I had paid. The room was fine, clean, etc. The location was perfect, especially if you’d like to eat and drink locally (non hotel) But it was the staff that really surprised me! Wonderful (not my usual London experience) on each and every level of contact, they could not have been nicer or more helpful. I’d gladly stay there again and again.

I made the reservation via the hotel's website, I asked for a non-smoking room, I got the email confirmation and I even called to make sure that the room I got is indeed a non-smoking one.

Guess what? I arrive there, and there are no non-smoking rooms available.

The hotel itself was stuffy, which I guess is ok, if you like that sort of thing, and the staff weren't very polite.

I was tired, after 5 hours of flight and all I wanted was to put my feet up somewhere. I stayed there for only one night, which is why I didn't cancel the reservation and went to look for a different hotel.

A few days later I was meant to stay in London for the night again, but this time I booked a room in a different hotel, which turned out to be much better.