Pros
- Near public transportation, dining options, and some attractions
- Pleasant rooms with flat-screen TVs and kettles; some have mini-fridges
- Wellness area offers treatments, sauna, hot tub, and steam room
- Indoor lap pool provides aquatic classes
- Restaurant offers European cuisine and 24-hour room service
- Fully equipped gym with cardio and weight equipment
- Bar serves an afternoon tea and cocktails
- Full English breakfast buffet offered daily
- Business center, 13 meeting rooms, and Wi-Fi (fee)
- Lovely outdoor garden with seating
- On-site parking for a fee
Cons
- Rooms and bathrooms are small for this price range
- Lower-level rooms are dated in style
- Fees for Wi-Fi, breakfast, and use of spa, pool, and gym
Bottom Line
The four-pearl Kensington Hotel is fairly centralized, with easy access to dining, public transport, and some attractions on foot. Its 708 rooms range in style and size, featuring contemporary decor and amenities that include flat-screen TVs and kettles, but guests complain that the rooms are small and some are dated. The on-site restaurant and bar serve European fare and drinks all day. Business travelers are drawn to the hotel for its many meeting rooms and business center. Though the spa, indoor pool, and gym are well maintained and offer great services, they cost a fee to use -- plus there are extra charges for Wi-Fi and breakfast, which makes guests feel nickel-and-dimed. The nearby Park City Grand Plaza Kensington Hotel is another upscale option with similar amenities and free Wi-Fi.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Cribs
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
- Spa
Scene
Elegant, artistic hotel that attracts couples and business guests
The large brick building that houses Kensington Close Hotel doesn’t effectively reflect its modern and stylish interiors. The hotel was refurbished in 2012 and features sleek, elegant design with artsy touches. Brown and cream colors are accented by crimson details in the spacious lobby, where trendy high-backed chairs are placed here and there, while sofas provide seating in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. Artistic prints of blurred female figures hang on the walls throughout the hotel, an inspired touch that gives a bit of character to the seating nooks dotted about the property. Other public areas and hallways have a more elegant design, with glossy tiled floors, stylish carpeting, velour seating, and potted plants. The restaurant itself has an intimate vibe thanks to low lighting, white tablecloths, and just the right hint of playful tones in printed floral carpets, large statement circular lights, and maroon-colored booths. The same can be said of the back-lit bar and the area it services with its wooden floors that turn into fashionable carpet, mirror displays, and velour and printed armchairs around small wooden tables. Couples are particularly drawn to the hotel for its range in amenities, while business guests are catered to with a large number of meeting rooms.
Location
Located in Kensington, close to public transport and some attractions
Kensington Close Hotel is located on a fairly busy main road, within walking distance of many restaurants and bars. The area is well serviced by public transportation, with a bus stop that’s two minutes from the hotel, and South Kensington Station a five-minute walk away. There are some popular attractions within walking distance, such as the Natural History Museum (seven-minute walk), Victoria and Albert Museum (10-minute walk), and Kensington Palace (20-minute walk). The location is convenient for those visiting Imperial College, which is only an eight-minute walk away. Heathrow Airport is about a 40-minute drive or 50 minutes via public transportation, while Gatwick Airport can be reached in an hour by either car or public transit.
Rooms
Rooms with a range of decor, flat-screen TVs, kettles, Wi-Fi for a fee, and small bathrooms
The 708 rooms at the Kensington Close Hotel are modern in style, though they're individually designed. Only the Executive Club Rooms are spacious and feature a trendy style that befits a hotel of this rating, with dark navy tones, patterned carpets, stylish wooden furniture, velour armchairs, and black-and-white photographs on the walls. By contrast, the Standard, Superior, Executive, and Family Rooms are attractive enough -- if slightly chain-like and dated -- with warm wood headboards, red carpets, white linens, and streamlined blond-wood furniture.
Many guests have complained about the lack of space in the rooms, which isn’t uncommon for Europe, though perhaps a bit unexpected of a four-pearl hotel. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, kettles, safes, and Wi-Fi for a fee. Executive or Executive Club Rooms have added perks like free bottled water; mini-fridges are provided in Executive Club Rooms only, and can be stocked upon request. Neutral-toned bathrooms don’t offer a lot of space, but are modern, with either small showers, shower/tub combos, or separate showers and tubs (in Executive Club Rooms). Essential Elements toiletries are offered in lower-level rooms, while Molton Brown toiletries are stocked in the Executive Rooms; all rooms come with hairdryers.
Features
Restaurant, bar, and meeting rooms -- but fees apply for parking, spa, gym, pool, and breakfast
There’s little in the way of free features at the Kensington Close Hotel. Parking costs a fee, and only those staying in Executive Rooms are provided free Wi-Fi access. There’s a lovely spa with a sauna, steam room, hot tub, beauty treatments, and massages. Fitness lovers might appreciate an indoor lap pool that offers aquatic classes and a fully equipped gym with cardio and weight machines. Use of the pool, spa, and gym incurs a fee, however -- but they're free for guests staying in Executive Club Rooms.
The on-site restaurant serves modern European cuisine for lunch and dinner, plus a full English breakfast buffet is also available (for an extra fee, but included in Executive Club Room rates). The bar provides afternoon tea and cocktails throughout the day and evening. Room service is available 24/7 as well. Business guests are drawn to the hotel for its 13 fully equipped meeting rooms that hold up to 250 people and a business center with two desktops, a printer, and a flat-screen TV. In good weather, guests can take advantage of the outdoor patio garden with a pond and outdoor furniture for seating.
Scene
Elegant, artistic hotel that attracts couples and business guests
The large brick building that houses Kensington Close Hotel doesn’t effectively reflect its modern and stylish interiors. The hotel was refurbished in 2012 and features sleek, elegant design with artsy touches. Brown and cream colors are accented by crimson details in the spacious lobby, where trendy high-backed chairs are placed here and there, while sofas provide seating in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. Artistic prints of blurred female figures hang on the walls throughout the hotel, an inspired touch that gives a bit of character to the seating nooks dotted about the property. Other public areas and hallways have a more elegant design, with glossy tiled floors, stylish carpeting, velour seating, and potted plants. The restaurant itself has an intimate vibe thanks to low lighting, white tablecloths, and just the right hint of playful tones in printed floral carpets, large statement circular lights, and maroon-colored booths. The same can be said of the back-lit bar and the area it services with its wooden floors that turn into fashionable carpet, mirror displays, and velour and printed armchairs around small wooden tables. Couples are particularly drawn to the hotel for its range in amenities, while business guests are catered to with a large number of meeting rooms.
Location
Located in Kensington, close to public transport and some attractions
Kensington Close Hotel is located on a fairly busy main road, within walking distance of many restaurants and bars. The area is well serviced by public transportation, with a bus stop that’s two minutes from the hotel, and South Kensington Station a five-minute walk away. There are some popular attractions within walking distance, such as the Natural History Museum (seven-minute walk), Victoria and Albert Museum (10-minute walk), and Kensington Palace (20-minute walk). The location is convenient for those visiting Imperial College, which is only an eight-minute walk away. Heathrow Airport is about a 40-minute drive or 50 minutes via public transportation, while Gatwick Airport can be reached in an hour by either car or public transit.
Rooms
Rooms with a range of decor, flat-screen TVs, kettles, Wi-Fi for a fee, and small bathrooms
The 708 rooms at the Kensington Close Hotel are modern in style, though they're individually designed. Only the Executive Club Rooms are spacious and feature a trendy style that befits a hotel of this rating, with dark navy tones, patterned carpets, stylish wooden furniture, velour armchairs, and black-and-white photographs on the walls. By contrast, the Standard, Superior, Executive, and Family Rooms are attractive enough -- if slightly chain-like and dated -- with warm wood headboards, red carpets, white linens, and streamlined blond-wood furniture.
Many guests have complained about the lack of space in the rooms, which isn’t uncommon for Europe, though perhaps a bit unexpected of a four-pearl hotel. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, kettles, safes, and Wi-Fi for a fee. Executive or Executive Club Rooms have added perks like free bottled water; mini-fridges are provided in Executive Club Rooms only, and can be stocked upon request. Neutral-toned bathrooms don’t offer a lot of space, but are modern, with either small showers, shower/tub combos, or separate showers and tubs (in Executive Club Rooms). Essential Elements toiletries are offered in lower-level rooms, while Molton Brown toiletries are stocked in the Executive Rooms; all rooms come with hairdryers.
Features
Restaurant, bar, and meeting rooms -- but fees apply for parking, spa, gym, pool, and breakfast
There’s little in the way of free features at the Kensington Close Hotel. Parking costs a fee, and only those staying in Executive Rooms are provided free Wi-Fi access. There’s a lovely spa with a sauna, steam room, hot tub, beauty treatments, and massages. Fitness lovers might appreciate an indoor lap pool that offers aquatic classes and a fully equipped gym with cardio and weight machines. Use of the pool, spa, and gym incurs a fee, however -- but they're free for guests staying in Executive Club Rooms.
The on-site restaurant serves modern European cuisine for lunch and dinner, plus a full English breakfast buffet is also available (for an extra fee, but included in Executive Club Room rates). The bar provides afternoon tea and cocktails throughout the day and evening. Room service is available 24/7 as well. Business guests are drawn to the hotel for its 13 fully equipped meeting rooms that hold up to 250 people and a business center with two desktops, a printer, and a flat-screen TV. In good weather, guests can take advantage of the outdoor patio garden with a pond and outdoor furniture for seating.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
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Air Conditioner
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Airport Transportation
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Babysitting Services
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Basic Television
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Business Center
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Cable
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Concierge
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Cribs
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Dry Cleaning
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Fitness Center
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Internet
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Jacuzzi
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Kids Allowed
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Laundry
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Meeting / Conference Rooms
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Mini Bar (with liquor)
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Pool
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Room Service
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Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
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Spa
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.