Gainsborough Hotel

The location is an easy walk from great places like the Natural History Museum, Victorian Albert Museum and, a little farther away but still walkable, Royal Albert Hall. There are lots of little places to eat nearby. I didn't use the hotel across the road for breakfast, so I can't comment on that. I paid £125.10 for a single room for one night, then was asked for another £50 for a reason I still don't know. Reception muttered something about housekeeping, and I can't find any mention of the extra charge in emails from before I arrived. I won't stay again if they might spring another payment on me like that. Old age pensions don't make that kind of demand easy to manage. The lift was broken, though a very helpful receptionist offered to carry my suitcase. The single room was small but fully equipped, the bed was very comfortable and the road outside was quiet overnight. The wall to the next room was paper thin. I'll say no more! The shower was INCREDIBLY slippery, Torville and Dean standard. There was a notice telling you to use a rubber mat, but none was provided.

The room was very good value, and we'd definitely consider staying again. The hotel is centrally located near museums and hospitals. My wife and I stayed one night in a large, quiet and comfortable room on the lower ground floor. The bathroom was small, and the radiator was quite hot, but everything was clean. Amenities included tea, coffee, a hairdryer and a large flat-screen TV.

South Kensington worked perfectly for the area we wanted to visit. Restaurants, good coffee and pastry shops, the underground, buses and many tourist attractions are all a short walk away. We went to two theater performances using the underground, which is just a block from the hotel. We also took a tour at Royal Albert Hall, which was a superb experience. If we return to this part of London, we'll definitely stay at the Gainsborough again. We stayed seven nights and couldn't have been happier with the staff. Every person we encountered was friendly, welcoming, kind and attentive, from check-in and casual greetings to helping with requests and seeing us off. The renovated hotel has a charming, comfortable feel, unlike the more spacious, cookie-cutter places. It felt cozy to come back to each day after the busy city nearby. Our room had room to unpack large suitcases, a very comfortable bed and very little noise, even at night. The lighting was well designed, especially by the bathroom mirror. The heated bathroom floor and spacious shower were a nice bonus. There are a few minor signs of wear that could be attended to eventually, but the room was clean and well stocked with amenities throughout our stay.

I found the staff very friendly and helpful, and would stay again. The hotel is in an excellent spot opposite the Natural History Museum, about a five-minute walk to South Kensington tube and ten minutes to Harrods. Outside noise started around 6am, but you're in central London. The room was clean and well furnished, though, like most London hotel rooms, quite small unless you pay a lot. Each day there was a bottle of water and biscuits, which was nice. The air conditioning seemed to work OK. Better curtains would have helped keep out more light, and the lift is tiny, though it worked OK. Breakfast is served at the sister hotel across the road. It's continental, but there was enough to set us up for the day.