London Hotel Tips by scaevolatn

Location, location, location!

I chose this hotel upon the recommendation of a previous guest, and was not disappointed. I booked the room online through Holiday Inn's website, encountered a surprisingly brief check-in, and proceded to a non-smoking 25th-floor room with a spectacular view of South Kensington, Knightsbridge, St. James and beyond.

The bed was very comfortable. The air conditioning worked well, when I needed it. The bathroom included a great tub that Americans don't often get to experience, and a scale on which you either needed to know stones or kilos. The desk included a North American-style electrical outlet, so I didn't need to bring my converter after all.

Room service was prompt and fine, though of course not the best value for money. The bar in the lobby was convenient for a morning coffee. The maid service was impeccable.

The hotel charges for local calls from your room, so even if you've bought a phone card for long distance calls, don't make those calls from your room.

The hotel is just a couple of minutes walk from the Gloucester Road Underground station, which is served by the Circle, District and Piccadilly lines. Adjacent to the station is the Gloucester Arcade, which contains a great grocery selection at Waitrose, a Boots pharmacy, a coffee bar and several restaurants. For those not wanting to rush into London culture, there's even a Starbucks across the street from the station, as there is across the street from most things in London nowadays.

I would definitely stay at this hotel again.

Unique Qualities: This hotel is advertised as the tallest in the UK, and its views are unrivaled.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Address: 97 Cromwell Road, London, England SW7
Directions: Leaving the Gloucester Road Tube station, bear left and follow the sidewalk for 1 block, along Cromwell Road, to Ashburn Place, which borders the hotel. Cross the street, turn left and walk 1 block along Ashburn Place to the hotel entrance.
Website: http://london-kensingtonforum.holiday-inn.com/

I found this to be a charming boutique hotel with a great room and great location. The staff were very friendly and helpful when needed. Check-in and check-out were speedy and efficient. The hotel has been recently renovated. My room had great air-conditioning, a comfortable bed and a beautiful ensuite bathroom. There was no trouser press or ironing board in the room. There was a small exercise room in the basement with a standard offering of machines. My room was equipped with a flat-screen TV with main BBC channels, SkyTV and iTV. There was also a mini-refrigerator and a microwave oven, which I used regularly. I had a basement room with no window, but it did have a nice light shaft with screen, and the ceiling was painted with glow-in-the-dark dots that gave the appearance of sleeping under the stars. The location of this hotel (two minutes' walk down quiet Hogarth Road to the Earls Court Underground Station, 1 minute walk to Cromwell Road) and the price of the room made this property a great value for its area.

I would definitely stay at this property again.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 020 7370 6831
Address: 33 - 37 Hogarth Road, Kensington, London SW5 0QQ
Directions: Kensington/Earls Court area, 200 yards northeast of the Earls Court Underground station
Website: http://www.shaftesburykensington.co.uk/