A QUIET HOTEL FOR CONVENIENT SIGHTSEEING
Written: Nov 10 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pleasantly renovated old hotel and renamed the Hilton. Service is excellent, room spacious for London.
Cons: Breakfast is pricey if it doesn't come with your room.
The Bottom Line: This hotel was said to be four stars but thats iffy. Nevertheless I like the hotel and would stay there again, mainly because of the location.
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| jdrum's Full Review: Hilton Kensington |
The Hilton Kensington is not what Americans expect of a Hilton because it is two or more English hotels renovated into one Hilton. The lobby and the dining rooms were bright and modern. The halls are still redolent of an old English hotel and several times we smelled fish in the hall. I'd swear someone was cooking in their room. However, we didn't smell anything in our room which was pleasantly decorated.
There is a nice little gift shop right by the elevators in the hotel. One nice thing the elevators never seemed to be crowded although the hotel seemed quite full. The stairs were a carpeted alternative which also reminded one of an older hotel.
You can check things with the concierge which is convenient and they are quite professional.
Our room was spacious for a London hotel. This seemed to be a hotel patronized by tour groups of which we were a member. We were told it was a ten minute walk to the tube station but one person's ten minute walk is another person's agony. However, after we got our weekly pass which permitted us to ride buses and underground we simply took the bus to and from the Kensington High station.
Kensington High street is a pleasant shopping area where real people live, work and shop so you can buy sandwiches at the Safeway and sit at their outdoor tables to eat. You can buy books of all kinds, underwear at Marks and Sparks and art supplies. Even a Talbots if you run short of clothes. In other words, a very convenient location.
During the tube strike I found Kensington was a great place to do 'Brit watching.' Holland Park is a short walk from the hotel and an excellent place to watch dog walkers and the English and their dogs. I also explored behind the main street and found delightful little gardens to sit in provided by churches. Also antique stores and a quaint little block of hairdressers' shops. It was a pleasant interlude from touring, and all a short walk from Kensington Hilton.
There are a number of restaurants and little food shops close by so you don't have to depend on expensive restaurants. All of the ones we tried were quite good.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jdrum
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Reviews written: 101
Trusted by: 2 members
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