Review of The Kensington Hotel, by Eamonn Gearon

Among London’s greatest gems are the museums that are clustered around South Kensington, and discovering the cool yet traditional Kensington Hotel among them you will be sure to feel that you have uncovered another jewel of great value. The five-star experience begins at the reception, where one is met by the Kensington’s peerless staff, who swiftly make you feel as though this is your home away from home in the centre of London.

Recently refurbished throughout, the Kensington manages to feel both modern and timeless, and boasts only the very highest standards of furnishings throughout. From the lavish surroundings of the common areas, to the bar and restaurant, and on to the guest rooms, it is clear that everything in the Kensington Hotel – from the largest items of furniture to the softest of bedding – has been selected by people who care what their guests think and how they feel.

The Kensington Hotel is not an identikit hotel, thrown together by an absent designer leafing through catalogues, but the work of individuals who have spent a great deal of time in every one of the Hotel’s 150 rooms before deciding what would work in each space. The owners’ personal touches and sharp attention to detail is most welcome and felt throughout, from the carefully selected works of art on the walls of each uniquely furnished room, to the attention to such detail as the provision of complimentary, freshly brewed tea in one’s room before bed-time.

Guest rooms are more than large enough to spend time in comfortably, as are bathrooms, from which one might choose to enjoy the surroundings (or the bathroom’s own dedicated, recessed flat-screen TV) while recumbent in a full-size bath. For another view, one could do no better than head to the bar, a quietly-lit, relaxed and restful spot in which to sample either nothing more complicated than a glass of wine or a more exotic in-house cocktail creation.

In terms of high style, top location, and value in a central London hotel, the Kensington is hard to beat. What sets it apart is its success in seamlessly bringing together different elements, which make the Kensington the perfect blend of traditional not stuffy, and where modern amenities work quietly alongside old world charm and first rate hospitality. The only slight problem that might come up when staying at the Kensington Hotel is that the rooms are so comfortable you may decide to skip the museums.