Queens Park Hotel

Spanning multiple floors in a beautiful white-painted Victorian townhouse and surrounded by residential homes and other small hotels, the Queens Park is more attractive from the outside than inside. The lobby is blandly decorated with black-leather seating and marble floors, though a front desk and separate concierge desk certainly set this property apart from others in its category. The adjacent breakfast room has wooden tables and chairs, and a touch more personality thanks to canvas prints of London landmarks along the walls. Many past guests have complained of the dining area being chaotic during breakfast, however. A definite plus for older London hotels, there is an elevator, although guests should note some rooms are only accessible via stairs.

On a beautiful calm street filled with tall Victorian townhouses, the Queens Park Hotel is elegant both in architecture and location. A three-minute walk to Kensington Gardens -- which leads to Hyde Park -- it's ideal for travelers wanting open spaces and greenery while still being in the city center. The tube stations of Bayswater and Queensway are both five minutes away on foot; being on the Central Line, Queensway is ideal for reaching Oxford Street and financial district,  The City. Fashionable Notting Hill is a 20-minute walk and the endless restaurants, bars, and theater scene of Soho can be reached on foot in 15 minutes. For more extensive journeys, Paddington Station is equally close.

An express train from Heathrow to nearby Paddington Station takes just thirty minutes, or it's a little longer by car. Gatwick Airport is around an hour, both by car and public transport, and it's a slightly shorter journey for London City Airport. Street parking and an underground parking lot can be found nearby for a fee.

Rooms could benefit from a revamp, but they're comfortable and outfitted with the essentials. Matching the furniture, light beech wood headboards are simple but contemporary, and pops of color come from red and beige bed runners and matching drapes, plus attractive modern artwork on the walls. In other rooms, browns and beiges are livened up with fun London photography. Deep-red or striped carpets are the most dated element and are a bit worn, but the linens are notably crisp and clean. Note that some double beds are two twins pushed together. Every room has a flat-screen plasma TV, phone, desk and chair, and hairdryer. There are also tea- and coffee-making facilities, a safe, and for rooms that are not air-conditioned, a fan, but no mini-fridge. Wi-Fi can be spotty and it's not included in all rates. Bathrooms are compact but modern, with walk-in showers, daily replaced towels, and a few sachet toiletries. 

There's no full restaurant here, but a buffet-style breakfast is served in the dining room off the lobby. Cooked English-style items include scrambled eggs, sausages, baked beans, and tomatoes offer a hearty start to the day, plus there are cereals, pastries, yogurt, and fruit. Tea and coffee is served alongside juice. Not all rates include breakfast and guests have reported the dining area being a bit chaotic in the mornings.

Air-conditioned conference rooms holding up to 25 people can be reserved and catered for (both at a fee) and include a TV monitor, projectors, screens, and Wi-Fi. The hotel's concierge desk offers assistance and helps with tours and advice on the city. Wi-Fi, as with breakfast, has been included in the rate for some, but other guests have been charged and connection can be poor. Luggage storage is available at a cost.