London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Traveller in Heathrow hotel quarantine reports rats in room

Traveller in Heathrow hotel quarantine reports rats in room

A musician forced to quarantine in a Government-approved hotel has described having to move room twice because of a “disgusting” rat problem.
The 25-year-old man from York, who has to pay £1,750 to quarantine in the Mercure London Heathrow, said he felt “shocked and anxious” over the ordeal.

The man had flown in from Rio de Janeiro on July 24 before going into the 10 day quarantine in the west London hotel.

The musician, who asked to remain anonymous, said the first incident happened in the early hours of Friday morning when a rat climbed out of the pipe system.

He told the Standard: “I was in that room for nearly five days before I noticed it. But obviously it would have been happening the whole time.

“I just saw a rat come from behind the fridge. Then it quickly went back behind it when I jumped.

“They moved me to another room, just down the corridor. Then it happened there last night. They are coming from a hole in the wall where the pipes are.

“When I left the room and all my stuff was in the hallway…there was another guy opposite me who opened his door and said: ‘Have you got a rat in your room as well? Because I’ve got one as well.’

“The room I’m in now is my third move.”

He added: “I feel disgusted, shocked, stressed, anxious. Just to think I’ve had apples and fruit lying on the table that maybe I’ll eat the next morning and there’s probably been rats crawling on that as well.

“Every night when I’ve been asleep they would have been coming out when the lights were out and it was quiet. I had a biscuit that was nibbled on as well.”

He has to pay-off the stay over a 12-month period through instalments of £140 a month, but added: “If you stay at the Ritz hotel, a Travelodge, wherever, if you get rats in your room you’re not going to pay anything because it’s such a health and safety hazard. It’s caused me a severe amount of stress and anxiety. I haven’t really slept at all.”

His local MP Rachael Maskell said: “People are having to pay extortionate amounts to stay in these conditions – that’s completely unacceptable.”

A spokesperson for the Mercure London Heathrow said: “We take complaints such as this very seriously. An external pest control professional has checked the hotel and concluded no evidence of pest activity. The safety of all our guests and staff members is of the upmost importance to us and continues to be our number one focus. The hotel continues to abide by all quarantine guidelines, cleaning protocols and safety measures as set out by the government.”

A government spokesperson said: “Guests should raise any issues directly with the hotel in the first instance, and we expect them to do their utmost to address any concerns.

“Our top priority has always been protecting the public and the robust border and testing regime we have in place is helping minimise the risk of new variants coming into the UK.”

Travellers from red list countries such as India, South Africa and Brazil must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days after they arrive in England.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×