Review of Prince Arthur 3*

Started out as a disaster. As do most of my most treasured relationships. 10:00 AM: We arrive from train station. Thought this was a normal hotel, but it's JRR Tolkein-style inn above a pub! We are now trapped outside waiting for the pub to open in the afternoon. We are pathetic. All our bags and us, just sitting here on a picnic bench on the side of the road. Great way to kick off our experience in London! 10:30 AM: The French chef arrives, begs us not to ask too many questions because it is too early in the morning and he has a headache (for some reason this makes us suspect that he is an excellent chef, we are excited to eat here), and tells us that someone will be here in five minutes to let us in. 11:10 AM: A nice young man named Raphael allows us to store our bags in a secure room at the base of the stairs. 5:30 PM: After a trip to the British Museum, we walk past the Hilton and the Travelodge and wish we'd stayed at the Travelodge, which claims to be cheaper on Google for our requested dates. But still, we check into the hotel. We have to pay at time of check-in, so we ask to see the room first. Raphael calls his boss, who agrees. Raphael is super-nice about our request. The shared (among four rooms) bathroom is clean and houses toilet, shower, and hand soap. Towels are in our room. The windows are double-paned but can be opened to the street outside. A friendly Brit walks by and waves at me as I peek out the window. I sit on one of the comfortable twin beds and contemplate sleep vs shower. I decide on shower. 6:30 PM: The shower is a rainfall shower. So your hair may get wet. Don't have shower gel? There's a market a few doors down. Use the lowest knob to make the water run, the highest knob control the hot water, and there are three little shower heads that don't do anything which was fine by me. There is a heater in the bathroom, controlled by a pull string. 7:30 PM: We go down for a drink. Raphael is there. He gives us some great transportation advice. We have wine and enjoy the ambiance. Music is awesome. My mom is now glad that we are staying here. Me too. We are having fun! Rating has evolved to 5 stars as we are having a great time.