Z Hotel City London Review: Central but Uncomfortable

Finding a central and affordable hotel in London can feel like a win. But sometimes that lower price comes with trade offs you only notice once you’re already there.

I stayed four nights at Z Hotel City, one of several Z Hotel locations in London. This one is located on Fleet Street in the City of London.

I booked it because it was central and more affordable than most hotels in the area. I already knew the rooms were tiny and that mine wouldn’t have a window.

I thought I was prepared for that.

What I didn’t expect was how uncomfortable the sleep would be and how awkward some of the design choices felt after a few days.

If you’re considering booking this hotel, here’s exactly what it was like and why I probably would not stay here again.

Location and Price: The Only Positives

The biggest reason to book Z Hotel City is simple: location and price.

It’s right in the City of London, close to Fleet Street and within walking distance of major attractions. You can easily get to Covent Garden, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Thames on foot.

For London, that’s huge.

Accommodation in central London is expensive. That’s just the reality. So when I found something this central at a lower price point, it felt like a smart compromise.

And to be fair:

• The WiFi was good
• The room was cleaned every second day
• Check in was smooth and quick
• There was free infused water at reception
• There was often a basket of fresh apples

Reception, Staff and Privacy Could Be Better

Check in at Z Hotel City was smooth and quick. No issues there.

After that, though, the experience felt quite impersonal. Every time we walked past reception, the staff didn’t even look up. No hello, no eye contact. I don’t know about you, but personally, I do appreciate at least a small acknowledgment when entering a hotel.

During the day, you don’t need a key card to access the hotel floors. You only need it for your room. After around 10pm, you do need your key card to enter the building.

Because it’s a fairly large hotel and staff didn’t acknowledge guests much, that might feel like a privacy concern for some people.

There were a couple of nice touches, though:

• A water station with lemon or cucumber infused water
• A basket of fresh apples

The Tiny, Windowless Room Experience

Z Hotel does offer rooms with windows, but we booked pretty last minute and the only option still available was the cheapest one, which was a windowless room.

To be fair, we chose it. We knew what we were booking. But knowing something in theory and experiencing it for four nights are two different things.

The room is tiny. That’s expected with Z Hotel. We managed fine with our luggage since my boyfriend and me both travel with only a personal item sized bag, with two big suitcases it would be really challenging in this room.

The real problem was the lack of natural light.

Without a window, the room feels even smaller than it already is. It also feels darker and honestly a bit depressing after a while. During the day, you have no sense of time unless you check your phone.

You can’t just glance outside to see the weather. You have to check your phone to see if it’s raining.

For one night, it would have been fine. For four nights, it started to feel uncomfortable.

If I could do it again, I would absolutely book a room with a window, even if it costs more. That extra bit of natural light would have changed the whole atmosphere of the stay.

🪟 Want to experience how it is to stay in a room without windows? Book your stay here (or look for a better hotel there 😉)

Why The Bathroom Design is Just Horrible

The bathroom setup was one of the most awkward parts of the stay.

Instead of a proper solid door, there’s a glass sliding door. It doesn’t fully close in a way that blocks sound, and there’s very little real privacy.

I was staying there with my boyfriend, and honestly, every time one of us needed to use the toilet properly, the other one would just wait in the hallway.

I don’t need to hear everything.

It’s one of those modern design choices that looks sleek but doesn’t really work in real life.

🚽 Don’t care about privacy? Book your stay here (or look for a better hotel there 😉)

Sleep Quality: The Biggest Problem

The biggest issue for me was the sleep.

The mattress was so uncomfortable. I barely slept properly during our stay.

For one night, I probably could have ignored it. For four nights, it became exhausting.

The pillows were another problem. I only realized on the last day that they were feather pillows.

As a vegan, I don’t want to sleep on feathers. It just doesn’t feel right. If that matters to you too, it’s something to check before you stay.

Between the uncomfortable mattress and the pillows, I never felt properly rested. And when you’re walking around London all day, good sleep really matters.

This was the main reason I wouldn’t book this hotel again for a longer stay.

Would I Stay at Z Hotel City Again?

Honestly? Probably not.

If I were staying in London for just one night and everything else was fully booked or way too expensive, I might consider it again.

But for anything longer than one or two nights, I wouldn’t.

The location is excellent. The price is competitive for central London. The WiFi worked well, and housekeeping was completely fine.

But the uncomfortable mattress, the windowless room, and the awkward bathroom setup made the stay feel longer than it needed to.

After four nights, I was genuinely looking forward to sleeping somewhere else.

If you’re on a tight budget and only need a place to crash for a short city trip, Z Hotel City could work for you.

If comfort, privacy, and good sleep matter to you, I would personally look at other options in central London.

Finding a Better Alternative in Central London

I honestly couldn’t find a hotel in the exact same central location and price range that also offered better comfort and higher ratings.

In London, you usually compromise on one of three things:

• Location
• Price
• Comfort

If you want something just as central but more comfortable, expect to pay more. If you want a similar price, you’ll likely need to stay further out.

Rather than recommending a hotel I haven’t personally tried, I suggest comparing options yourself using the map below.

You can filter by rating, check prices in real time, and look specifically for rooms with windows.

That way, you can decide what matters most to you.

Read more about London:

• 4 Day Itinerary for London: What to See & Do
• 21 Best Things to Do in London in August
• 15 Amazing Things to Do in Soho London
• Best Fully Vegan Restaurants in Soho London
• How to get to Harry Potter Studios from London
• 21 Magical Harry Potter Locations in London
• 13 Magical Harry Potter Things to Do in London
• 10 Most Magical Harry Potter Shops in London
• Do You Tip in London? All You Need to Know
• The Best Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
• Top 10 Most Vegan Friendly Cities in Europe You Should Visit

Pin it for later: