Pros

  • Walking distance to shops, museums, and tube stop
  • Bright, modern rooms with contemporary decor
  • Meeting room and business center
  • Restaurant with generous portions open daily
  • Bar and coffeeshop on-site
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Traffic noise audible in some street-facing rooms
  • Guest rooms are small
  • No fitness center or on-site parking
  • Elevators reputedly break down frequently
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Bottom Line

The upscale Mercure London Kensington is a chain hotel with 82 rooms spread across six floors. From the outside, the concrete building makes the property look unattractive, but the inside is bright and modern. Rooms are small, however, and many suffer from traffic noise from the busy road outside. The location is close to Earl’s Court Exhibition Center and some tourist attractions such as the Natural History Museum, and there’s a tube station five minutes away. Room rates are reasonable for this part of London, although it's worth checking out the nearby Amsterdam Hotel, which is slightly cheaper and has extra perks including a garden and free breakfast.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Mercure London Kensington

Scene

Business hotel with light and modern, if a little uninspiring, decor

The hotel's lobby is bright and smart, although like many chain hotels, it lacks personality. Across from the reception area is a lounge bar with a flat-screen TV and lots of comfortable and stylish sofas in a gray, white, and purple color scheme. The decor in the restaurant is blander, although there are some nice black and white canvas prints of London landmarks on the walls. The hotel mainly attracts corporate travelers and those needing to be a short hop from Earls Court Exhibition Centre. 

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Location

Near Earls Court Exhibition Centre and walking distance to museums and shops

Located on a busy city road that leads in and out of West London, the hotel is a five-minute walk from Earl's Court Underground station and eight minutes from the Gloucester Road tube. The busy Earls Court Exhibition Centre is a 15-minute walk away. While it isn't the most central spot for tourists wanting to see the major London sights, there are some great museums nearby. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum are all within a 15-minute walk. Those taking in a show at the Royal Albert Hall can walk there in under 20 minutes. The trendy and exclusive shops of High Street Kensington are just a 10-minute walk away, and those arriving from Heathrow Airport can drive to the hotel in around 30 minutes. 

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Rooms

Compact rooms, but with decent amenities

Guest rooms have a sleek and modern decor, with silver and maroon accents and contemporary artwork. Many of the rooms are small. The Small Double Rooms are particularly tiny, with little space to move around the bed. They also lack minibars or mini-fridges, so while soft drinks and mineral water are provided free of charge, they can only be consumed at room temperature. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, small desks, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and laptop safes. Bathrooms are equally small and barebones. Light sleepers should request a room at the back of the hotel as some of the street facing rooms do get traffic noise -- free ear plugs are provided by the hotel.

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Features

Breakfast and parking cost extra, but Wi-Fi is free

The hotel has limited facilities, and lacks a gym, a pool, and a parking lot. However, hotel guests can use the parking lot across the street, although it's expensive. The hotel also offers copying, printing, and faxing services, and there’s a meeting room that seats up to 20 people along with free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is not included in the room rate, but can be taken in the restaurant, which is also open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and serves international cuisine. Although the portion sizes are generous, the quality of the food gets mixed reviews from guests, and there are plenty of better eateries in the local area. Room service is also available, albeit during limited hours. The hotel also has a bright, stylish, and relatively quiet lounge bar and there’s a coffee shop that serves light snacks along with tea and coffee. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Mercure London Kensington

Scene

Business hotel with light and modern, if a little uninspiring, decor

The hotel's lobby is bright and smart, although like many chain hotels, it lacks personality. Across from the reception area is a lounge bar with a flat-screen TV and lots of comfortable and stylish sofas in a gray, white, and purple color scheme. The decor in the restaurant is blander, although there are some nice black and white canvas prints of London landmarks on the walls. The hotel mainly attracts corporate travelers and those needing to be a short hop from Earls Court Exhibition Centre. 

See More Scene

Location

Near Earls Court Exhibition Centre and walking distance to museums and shops

Located on a busy city road that leads in and out of West London, the hotel is a five-minute walk from Earl's Court Underground station and eight minutes from the Gloucester Road tube. The busy Earls Court Exhibition Centre is a 15-minute walk away. While it isn't the most central spot for tourists wanting to see the major London sights, there are some great museums nearby. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum are all within a 15-minute walk. Those taking in a show at the Royal Albert Hall can walk there in under 20 minutes. The trendy and exclusive shops of High Street Kensington are just a 10-minute walk away, and those arriving from Heathrow Airport can drive to the hotel in around 30 minutes. 

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Rooms

Compact rooms, but with decent amenities

Guest rooms have a sleek and modern decor, with silver and maroon accents and contemporary artwork. Many of the rooms are small. The Small Double Rooms are particularly tiny, with little space to move around the bed. They also lack minibars or mini-fridges, so while soft drinks and mineral water are provided free of charge, they can only be consumed at room temperature. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, small desks, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and laptop safes. Bathrooms are equally small and barebones. Light sleepers should request a room at the back of the hotel as some of the street facing rooms do get traffic noise -- free ear plugs are provided by the hotel.

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Features

Breakfast and parking cost extra, but Wi-Fi is free

The hotel has limited facilities, and lacks a gym, a pool, and a parking lot. However, hotel guests can use the parking lot across the street, although it's expensive. The hotel also offers copying, printing, and faxing services, and there’s a meeting room that seats up to 20 people along with free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is not included in the room rate, but can be taken in the restaurant, which is also open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and serves international cuisine. Although the portion sizes are generous, the quality of the food gets mixed reviews from guests, and there are plenty of better eateries in the local area. Room service is also available, albeit during limited hours. The hotel also has a bright, stylish, and relatively quiet lounge bar and there’s a coffee shop that serves light snacks along with tea and coffee. 

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Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Swim-Up Bar

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.