Reem Hotel

The three-pearl Reem Hotel is located in a charming period building and is run by the Crystal hotel group that also owns four West London hotels. The lobby of the hotel is bright and modern, with white floors and walls and a dramatic red carpet on the stairs. It has two dark wooden podiums which serve as reception check-in points, and elegant potted orchids by the large sash window. The breakfast room is light, bright, and modern, with pale wood paneling on the walls, and light wooden flooring and furniture. The hotel mainly attracts leisure travelers, drawn by the Hyde Park location.

Set in the quiet and leafy Prince's Square in the Bayswater area of London, this hotel is just a five-minute walk away from Hyde Park. Kensington Palace and Gardens, and the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, are a 10-minute walk away, while the Serpentine Gallery is 20 minutes away on foot. There are also numerous shops, dining, and entertainment options just five minutes away, in and around the Whiteley’s mall on Queensway and Porchester Gardens. For getting farther afield, Bayswater Underground station is a five-minute walk from the hotel. Heathrow Airport takes around 30 minutes on the underground or 40 minutes by taxi, though this depends on traffic.

Rooms are available in Single, Double, or Triple configurations. They are smartly decorated in neutral colors and have free Wi-Fi, an electric kettle, a phone, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, desk, and flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Rooms are not air-conditioned. There are warm wood tones throughout, and attractive red-and-beige patterned curtains. Some previous guests have commented that the rooms are very small, but this is not unusual in London. Bathrooms are spotless, with contemporary fixtures and fittings, and white tiling broken up with strips of mosaic tilework. There are fairly spacious shower units but no tubs. Space to hang clothes is limited. Renovation are expected to be complete by the end of 2015, and at the time of writing, not all rooms were refurbished and lacked the smart update. 

The Reem Hotel offers a free breakfast buffet to all guests, and the breakfast options are fresh, plentiful, and healthy. There are organic and vegetarian options, lots of fresh fruit, as well as rustic freshly baked bread -- a rarity for hotel's in this category in London. The restaurant closes after breakfast and does not offer any other meals, however, room service is available in the evenings and the extensive menu includes a variety of dishes from curry to pasta and stir fry. There’s no bar on-site, but coffee, tea, and soft drinks are available in reception. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The hotel also has deals on tours and public transportation cards.