Few corners of London do genteel quite like South Kensington, and The Kensington Hotel is quite at home in a row of white-stucco townhouses on a peaceful residential road. Inside, you'll feel as if you've stepped into a well-loved private home: high ceilings, heritage touches and pretty, handpicked furniture atop gorgeous hardwood floors. The atmosphere is charming and friendly, never stuffy, and the team is one of loveliest in the city. It helps that the neighbourhood is one of the city's most desirable, too, all garden squares, red-brick mansions and pavement cafés - and you're mere metres from the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and the V&A.
Step into a room and the first thing you notice is the sense of calm. Soft tones, period proportions and a scatter of antiques make for a truly restful abode and the beds are big and welcoming. Bathrooms are relatively generous and the Malin&Goetz toiletries are lovely. The standard rooms are stylish and contemporary but can be cosy; suites are more traditional but have plenty of room to spread out with sitting areas, four-posters and windows overlooking the street. The signature Kensington Suite on the first floor is our favourite!
Coming in from the cold to an open fire and a deep armchair. The drawing rooms here are made for a pot of tea and a good book - and there's usually a dog dozing nearby, too!
For breakfast, skip the hotel one morning and walk two minutes to Bute Street, a little run of cafés and bakeries where South Ken locals start their day.
The entry-level rooms are called Cosy for a reason and they're really quite small. If you like room to spread out, it's worth booking up a category or two.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
The Kensington can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made UK trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended UK trips featuring The Kensington or get advice and suggestions from one of our UK specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at The Kensington start from around $230, or US$230, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
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With a borough for every possible mood and sightseeing for days, London has genuinely never been better.
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