ibis London Blackfriars

ibis London Blackfriars

Greater London, UK

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Do Not Stay
Bed bugs confirmed multiple times
25%
Low confidence.
Based on 438 detailed reviews.
Score-only reviews are excluded.

This hotel has confirmed bed bug infestations as recently as August 2025, with multiple guests reporting bites and the hotel failing to respond to complaints. While the location is excellent and recent reviews show some positives, the critical pest issues and ongoing problems with plastic bathroom pods, heating failures, and plumbing noise make it unsafe to recommend.

🚩 Red Flags

Bed bugs and pest bites
critical
Mentioned 3 times, last 7 months ago
I started to see and feel the bedbugs bites - on my back and arms

I stayed 3 nights there and on the last day I started to see and feel the bedbugs bites - on my back and arms. I showed to the staff and they asked me to send an email to report the incident. It's been 4 days, 2 emails sent and no reply. The bites have gotten worse, I have more than 100 bites from the forehead/face to my feet.

7 months ago·Netherlands·Score: 4/10

I got bitten in the bed and didn't sleep because they were itching. I must have had 8 bites.

2 years ago·United Kingdom·Score: 5/10

Pretty sure I was bitten by fleas during our stay.

1 year ago·United States·Score: 1/10
Prefab plastic bathroom pods
high
Mentioned 8 times, last 2 weeks ago
The ridiculous bathroom pod, that was so small you nearly needed to exit it in order to turn around

The ridiculous bathroom pod, that was so small you nearly needed to exit it in order to turn around.

1 year ago·United States·Score: 1/10

The bathroom very much felt like I was in a caravan. For the price of the room I would have expected more.

2 weeks ago·United Kingdom·Score: 7/10

It is a kind of built-in toilet like you can find in caravans or on cruise ships. Everything is made of plastic and very loud when used.

2 weeks ago·Germany·Score: 8/10
Plumbing noise and issues
high
Mentioned 5 times, last 2 weeks ago
The pipes in the toilet are loud. You can hear the water running from the room above

The pipes in the toilet are loud. You can hear the water running from the room above, quite loudly.

1 month ago·Croatia·Score: 10/10

Noise in the room due to water drain column. Every now and then you could hear this noise (fortunately not at night)

2 weeks ago·Italy·Score: 8/10

The toilet bowl vibrates when a customer from an upper floor flushes.

2 weeks ago·France·Score: 7/10
Bathroom odor problems
high
Mentioned 4 times, last 1 month ago
Bathroom smells bad

Bathroom was horrible and had an extreme smell of urine. Even after multiple requests to clean the toilette.

1 month ago·Switzerland·Score: 2/10

The bathroom had a strange and unpleasant smell. Couldn't figure out where it came from - maybe the sewage drain or wet towels

1 year ago·United States·Score: 4/10

Bathroom smells bad

1 month ago·Turkey·Score: 6/10
Heating system failures
high
Mentioned 2 times, last 1 month ago
The heating did not work in the room

The heating did not work in the room, which is unacceptable for a February month, especially given the price paid. The only solution proposed by the establishment was to give us a very small electric heater and an extra duvet.

1 month ago·Belgium·Score: 2/10

No heating in room. Our superior room had 3 windows and was on 11th floor. There was no double glazing. We were supplied with an extra duvet and a succession of malfunctioning heaters.

2 months ago·United Kingdom·Score: 2/10

🙂‍↔️ Avoid if you're...

sensitive to pest issuesclaustrophobica light sleeperexpecting luxury amenities