Pros

  • Quiet Kensington location, a five-minute walk from the Tube
  • Modern (if chain-like) rooms with flat-screen TVs and tea/coffee facilities
  • Higher-level rooms have excellent views across London
  • Brasserie, Asian, and British restaurants, plus grab-and-go cafe items
  • Club Lounge offering free drinks and snacks
  • Small fitness center
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • On-site parking available (though expensive)
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Cons

  • No pool or spa facilities
  • Reports of thin walls between rooms
  • Some dated and lackluster decor
  • Breakfast not included and gets super busy
  • Elevators can be slow
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Bottom Line

The huge 833-room Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington is an upper-middle-range property set in a modern, office-like building. Its relatively quiet, upmarket setting is the main draw, plus it's just a short walk from bustling Kensington High Street and its Tube station. Modern, chain-like rooms have electric kettles, mini-fridges, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and in some, excellent cityscape views, but bathrooms feel a bit worn. There are several eating and drinking options, including a brasserie open for all three meals. All in all, it's not the most polished of hotels and it lacks quality health facilities, but it's cheaper than many of its nearby competitors and conveniently located for central London. For a slightly higher rate, the nearby Park International Hotel includes a free breakfast and more modern bathrooms.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

Scene

Huge hotel with a dated facade and interiors that blend traditional and modern decor

From the outside, this glass and brick property has more in common with an office block than a hotel -- and at 833 rooms, a pretty huge one at that. On the other side of the glass facade, the lobby area is vast, with a wood-paneled reception desk and highly polished floors. There are a small gift shop, cafe, and a relaxed seating area with leather chairs. Carpeted hallways, some with wood-paneled walls, lead to the hotel's various restaurants, and three elevators (there can be waits, with so many guests) transport guests to one of 12 floors. Patterned carpets and parquet floors are a recurrent theme in the public areas, and the overall look mixes traditional and modern styling -- though decor can be dated and worn in places. The hotel mainly attracts business travelers with its range of on-site conference facilities, but it's also popular with tourists, particularly over the summer months, and with large groups, as the on-site parking can accommodate buses.

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Location

Peaceful setting in well-heeled Kensington and close to the Tube

Tucked away on a quiet street in a residential area, this hotel is located in the heart of upmarket Kensington; it's a five-minute walk from Kensington High Street and its underground station, as well as its excellent selection of shops and restaurants. It's 20 to 25 minutes on foot to the Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Science Museum. The Earls Court Exhibition Center is a 15-minute walk. Central London is just a few Tube stops away, while Knightsbridge and the iconic Harrods department store are a five- to 10-minute cab ride away. Travel to Heathrow Airport is an easy 30-minute drive or 35 minutes by train. 

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Rooms

Chain-like rooms with functional bathrooms and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs

This hotel has a dizzying 833 rooms, most of which are well-maintained. They include a slightly disjointed mixture of modern styling, traditional furnishings, and patterned fabrics and carpeting; the overall look is part contemporary chain hotel, part British gentleman's club, but it falls a bit short of advertised four-star expectations. Amenities are decent, and include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee facilities. Lackluster bathrooms are functional and clean with shower/tub combos and the odd sign of wear. Higher-level rooms afford some pretty decent views across London. Note that some guests have complained about noise issues from thin walls.

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Features

A brasserie, Asian eatery, British restaurant, gym, and (for a fee) parking

The hotel's main Brasserie Restaurant and Bar serves a buffet breakfast offering a good selection (not included in the rate), and is also open for lunch and dinner. Note that the breakfast can get overrun with guests. Other eateries offer Asian or modern British cooking, and there's a cocktail bar as well as a casual cafe with grab-and-go items. Guests in the Club rooms and suites have access to the Club Lounge, with free snacks and drinks. While there are no pool or spa facilities on-site, a small gym is available. There's ample on-site parking, but it costs a hefty daily fee. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. There's a range of on-site conference facilities. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

Scene

Huge hotel with a dated facade and interiors that blend traditional and modern decor

From the outside, this glass and brick property has more in common with an office block than a hotel -- and at 833 rooms, a pretty huge one at that. On the other side of the glass facade, the lobby area is vast, with a wood-paneled reception desk and highly polished floors. There are a small gift shop, cafe, and a relaxed seating area with leather chairs. Carpeted hallways, some with wood-paneled walls, lead to the hotel's various restaurants, and three elevators (there can be waits, with so many guests) transport guests to one of 12 floors. Patterned carpets and parquet floors are a recurrent theme in the public areas, and the overall look mixes traditional and modern styling -- though decor can be dated and worn in places. The hotel mainly attracts business travelers with its range of on-site conference facilities, but it's also popular with tourists, particularly over the summer months, and with large groups, as the on-site parking can accommodate buses.

See More Scene

Location

Peaceful setting in well-heeled Kensington and close to the Tube

Tucked away on a quiet street in a residential area, this hotel is located in the heart of upmarket Kensington; it's a five-minute walk from Kensington High Street and its underground station, as well as its excellent selection of shops and restaurants. It's 20 to 25 minutes on foot to the Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Science Museum. The Earls Court Exhibition Center is a 15-minute walk. Central London is just a few Tube stops away, while Knightsbridge and the iconic Harrods department store are a five- to 10-minute cab ride away. Travel to Heathrow Airport is an easy 30-minute drive or 35 minutes by train. 

See More Location

Rooms

Chain-like rooms with functional bathrooms and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs

This hotel has a dizzying 833 rooms, most of which are well-maintained. They include a slightly disjointed mixture of modern styling, traditional furnishings, and patterned fabrics and carpeting; the overall look is part contemporary chain hotel, part British gentleman's club, but it falls a bit short of advertised four-star expectations. Amenities are decent, and include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee facilities. Lackluster bathrooms are functional and clean with shower/tub combos and the odd sign of wear. Higher-level rooms afford some pretty decent views across London. Note that some guests have complained about noise issues from thin walls.

See More Rooms

Features

A brasserie, Asian eatery, British restaurant, gym, and (for a fee) parking

The hotel's main Brasserie Restaurant and Bar serves a buffet breakfast offering a good selection (not included in the rate), and is also open for lunch and dinner. Note that the breakfast can get overrun with guests. Other eateries offer Asian or modern British cooking, and there's a cocktail bar as well as a casual cafe with grab-and-go items. Guests in the Club rooms and suites have access to the Club Lounge, with free snacks and drinks. While there are no pool or spa facilities on-site, a small gym is available. There's ample on-site parking, but it costs a hefty daily fee. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. There's a range of on-site conference facilities. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Room Service

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.