Nothing wrong per se with Travelodge, or Premier Inn, or Holiday Inn Express (etc.) in the UK - though, like anything, if you are used to a certain standard of luxury then I suspect they'd be something of a step down.

A lot is down to the age of the property, the maintenance, and the staff - all of which can vary dramatically. I've recently stayed in all three on multiple occasions, and must say that the Premier Inns have felt to me the most comfortable/least spartan.

One word of warning: I stayed in a Travelodge in the north west (in a west facing room) during the mini heatwave we experienced a few weeks back. There was no air conditioning in any rooms - and it was stifling. Opening the window didn't help - large, noisy chiller units for a nearby supermarket right outside!

When I spoke to the young lady at the desk, she apologised and said that only 4 Travelodges in the UK - all in London - were built with air conditioning in the rooms (presumably on cost grounds). I don't know the factual accuracy of this statement, but when I stayed at one near Hounslow Central tube a month ago, it certainly didn't have it either.

Most of the time, given our climate, this isn't an issue... but perhaps worth remembering if you're going somewhere in summer! All the Premier Inns and HIEs I've been in recently (and Ibis range) have had air con.