Extinguishers contribute to the symmetry of the two doors, signage and warning signs, whilst the carpet adds to the feeling of an almost deco structure to the composition.

The furniture design in the bedrooms presents a pared down, truly minimalist statement that nevertheless is not unattractive and is functional. Indeed some of the design touches could be imitated elsewhere with benefit.

Using good materials where the guest has contact, like the desk top, is straightforward, as is using tough materials where they are perhaps not so evident to the guest. Thus the desk, a reasonable size, not compromised by carrying the television as well, is a timber top – supported on one aluminium leg. This is simple, functional, and visually acceptable. All the myriad of leaflets that hotels seem to find it necessary to throw at a guest are neatly contained in a simple perspex holder on the wall. Neat, again visually acceptable and better than cluttering the desk the guest needs for working.

The overall impression of the room is not Spartan although it does present a clean simple appearance. The decorative elements are restrained but coordinated and I have stayed in expensive hotels with much worse bedroom environments. The rooms have a settee, and as they are let on a room price this is designed to let down into another bed (see the rollover) creating a room suitable for parent/child occupancy increasing attractiveness of the hotel for the weekend traffic, when room prices are discounted.

Colour added through throws and imagery. Simplicity of construction too - wardrobe contains TCMF, Mirror etc. all assembled off site and just dropped into place (rollover for bed) Desk is simple but large enough to work on, and is not cluttered with extras, which are instead held tidily in a (rollover to see) perspex wall box

The simplicity of the approach is not unsophisticated and the rooms are not visually bleak or stark. Clean and simple yes, but still welcoming and warm. The paring down has not been at the expense of facilities either, and the simple furniture still has all the elements needed to provide guest comfort. Again the care has been put in to ensure that minimum levels are passed leaving the uncomfortable thought that this modern hotel is actually a cut above many older four stars - a thought uncomfortable that is, for people making the ratings, who surely need to revise their standards?.

Included is a tea and coffee making facility and the price includes breakfast. The TCMF is housed within a skeletal wardrobe with the shelf above the hanging rail in a different timber referencing other wood in the room. Basic colour scheme is red and white, with the red of the throw over the foot of the bed echoing a single slab of red wall inside the door.

There are effective controls for air conditioning and heating, something that more expensive hotels often fail to allow. With the room being quiet, and a shower room with powerful water pressure, this was more than just acceptable – at this level and cost in London, if this is representative of Express by Holiday Inn generally then there are a number of four star hotels that may have difficulty justifying their rates, whilst three star hotels will find the competition tough.

In the public areas the designers have had more room to innovate, again without being able to move far away from the brand guidelines. Interestingly their solution in the corridors is remarkable similar to the solution that has been applied in the Four Points in New York, (see Review archive for a review of the Four Points Chelsea in New York City – a direct and interesting comparison). In the conference area there has been more scope and the hotel colour scheme and identity has been thoughtfully and successfully worked through. The Business rooms have been placed on the top floor giving the maximum views over Croydon, and taking most of the light blasted from the floodlighting which is also on this floor.