London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [143]
Collingham Suites.
£££–££££ | In an attractive Georgian building in Kensington, the Collingham is filled with suites and small apartments; all rooms are tastefully decorated in contemporary style, with neutral carpets and a creamy pallet. Rooms are spacious by London standards, and most have separate living rooms and kitchens. The ambience is perhaps a little more geared to business than leisure travelers, but there’s plenty of space and a few handy extras, such as free Wi-Fi. Pros: more space than you usually get with a serviced apartment; no minimum length of stay. Cons: still a bit pricey for what you get; no in-house restaurant or bar. TripAdvisor: “staff are wonderfully friendly,” “pleasant alternative to a hotel stay,” “great location and easy tube access.” | 26–27 Collingham Gardens, Kensington | SW5 0HN | 0207/244–8677 | www.collinghamapartments.com | 26 rooms | In-room: a/c, kitchen, refrigerator, Wi-Fi | MC, V | Station: Gloucester Rd. .
The Cranley Hotel.
£££ | Old-fashioned British propriety is the overall feeling here at this small, Victorian town-house hotel; high ceilings, huge windows, and a pale, creamy color scheme make the bedrooms light and bright. Antique desks and four-poster or half-tester beds give the place historic authenticity. Even the bathrooms have traditional Victorian fittings—although the plumbing is completely modern. Afternoon tea and evening canapés (served with a glass of champagne) are complimentary—welcome after a long day of sightseeing. Pros: good-size rooms; friendly staff; free evening nibbles are a nice touch. Cons: steep stairs into lobby; no restaurant. TripAdvisor: “all staff were friendly,” “immaculately clean,” “charming and great location.” | 10–12 Bina Gardens, South Kensington | SW5 0LA | 020/7373–0123 | www.thecranley.com | 29 rooms, 5 suites, 4 apartments | In-room: a/c, safe, Internet. In-hotel: Wi-Fi (free), parking (paid) | AE, DC, MC, V | Gloucester Rd.
easyHotel South Kensington.
£ | This budget hotel, which opened in 2005 as London’s first “pod hotel,” has 34 tiny rooms, all with a double bed, private bathroom, and little else. Each is brightly decorated in the trademark orange and white of the easyGroup (which includes the budget airline easyJet). The idea behind the hotel is to provide high-quality basics (bed, sink, shower, and toilet) for little money. The small reception desk can’t offer much in terms of service, and if you want your room cleaned while you stay, it’s an additional £10 a day. The concept continues to be a huge hit—easyHotel is fully booked months in advance and has opened additional branches at Heathrow Airport, as well as near Victoria and Paddington stations and elsewhere in Kensington. Check the Web site for all locations. Pros: amazing price; safe and pleasant space. Cons: not for the claustrophobic; six floors, no elevator; no services; everything costs extra, from a TV in your room (£5 per day), to Wi-Fi (£3 per hour) and even fresh towels (£1 each). TripAdvisor: “friendly and helpful staff,” “do not expect any frills,” “very modern and clean.” | 14 Lexham Gardens, Kensington | W8 5JE | 020/7216–1717 | www.easyhotel.com | 34 rooms | In-room: no a/c, no phone | MC, V | Gloucester Rd.
The Gore Hotel.
£££–££££ | Just down the road from the Albert Hall, this gorgeous, friendly hotel has a luxurious mixture of the comfortable and the extraordinary; the lobby evokes a wealthy estate from centuries past, and upstairs most rooms are spacious and decorated in calming neutral tones with rich fabrics. A handful of rooms are spectacular: One is a Tudor fantasy with minstrel gallery, stained glass, and four-poster bed, another—the “Judy Garland”—is done up in over-the-top Hollywood style. Pros: small scale means the staff can lavish attention on you; spacious rooms. Cons: prices still rather high; bar can