I don't know how many of you Londoners know the Regent Palace Hotel, just off Piccadilly Circus and on the edge of Soho.
It was built for J Lyons and Co Ltd and opened on May 16, 1915. At that time, it was the largest hotel in Europe with 1028 bedrooms.
Over the years the hotel became rundown and shabby and suffered from the fact that very few of the rooms had ensuite bathroom facilities. A trek down the long corridor was required.
It also had a reputation for being used by 'ladies of the street'.
In recent years it was rated with only 2 stars and accommodation was available from £25 per night.
The Regent Palace closed on the 31st of December 2006, as it had become increasingly uneconomic to operate to the standards required by a 21st century clientele.
At the moment the building is boarded up and bears notices stating that it is permanently closd. It is obviously a valuable redevelopment site.
However, in Betjeman's day the hotel was very busy and popular with tourists who were looking for a cheap stay in the capital.
Such a person was Lilian, who has come down from Bootle in Lancashire (now Merseyside), with her friend Alice, for a little excitement!