Iolanthe

Beautiful part of London, lovely properties and good walks…however Iolanthe for us was a disappointment. It literally is someone’s house so much so that we whispered at all times and couldn’t relax. No doubt some will see this as quaint and typically English but it was like being at your grandparents where you will be told off for breaking the house rules. You have to remove your shoes at the door which I hated. There were slippers available but I also don’t want to use old slippers that someone else has used. Our bed was extremely hard and we didn’t sleep well, partly due to hearing all the clocks chiming! There is a strange breakfast ordering system where you have chose your time (but not when anyone else has!) and a very prescriptive a-e selection of food and drink but don’t chose too much as there is a £10 fee! The food was not cooked well and choice in reality was poor e.g only orange juice. Other peoples dirty plates were left laying around. Condiments were out of date and the little jam pots were refilled and not new. Toast is literally one slice each. No one checked if everything was ok or if wanted anything else. Overall it was ok but only just ok, we would not stay here again.

My friends stayed with Iolanthe and loved it - for all the reasons mentioned here already. However, I have a different motive to praise this address as the landlady really helped me receiving a valued parcel that could not be shipped to an address outside the UK. We have never met in person but she was only too willing to let me use her address and keep my parcel save until my friends could pick it up during their stay. Quite a special act of kindness for a lady who is, no doubt, very busy running such a popular an lovely Bed & Breakfast. I have already started looking at opportunities to visit London soon and will certainly book a room at her house. Thank you so much, Rosy!