Hotel Indigo London - Kensington by IHG

I don’t normally leave reviews because I have better things to do, but this place was really great. The free minibar items were a nice little extra, and having an iron and ironing board in the closet saved me time looking for them. The area was lovely and fun to walk around, with lots of cute shops and a wide range of places to eat. The Museum of Nature & Science was about a 30-minute walk away. The people who worked there were all pleasant and accommodating. Everything was very clean, from our room to the lobby and dining area. Breakfast had a great selection and tasted amazing.

I’ve stayed here a few times, and it’s a great experience every time. The hotel is ideally placed for lots of places, just a minute from Earl’s Court tube station. It’s warm and welcoming, with comfortable rooms and an excellent breakfast. The showers are hot, and the staff are friendly and accommodating, sorting out any issues right away.

The room was fairly modern, but the bed sounded as if it might fall apart, the pillows were lumpy and uncomfortable, the bedside switches didn’t work, and there was nowhere in the bathroom to put a toiletries bag. The whole stay was disappointing. I felt more like a prisoner in my room, unable to use the facilities, and I won’t stay here again. I’ll go to the Holiday Inn instead, where the staff are lovely and personable. I travel around the country for work and have Gold status with IHG, but this hotel fell far below the usual standard, despite being lovely and modern. The staff were rude and unhelpful. At check-in I was asked for a £50 deposit, but I don’t carry personal cards on work trips and use a company card for all transactions. I tried to explain that I had all the details to use it, but they insisted it had to be my personal card. When I explained again, I got attitude and sarcasm, and they said they didn’t believe me. Nobody told me anything about breakfast or the stay after that, and the poor handwriting on my key card left me guessing where my room was. My booking also had a food and drink allowance on that same company card. Later, when I tried to get a drink at the bar, I was refused. They said there was no card on the booking, even though the person who checked me in had referred to it and said they couldn’t charge it. I ended up without food or drink for the night.

We stayed three nights in London with two adults and one child, booking a family room with an extra bed. Before we arrived, reviews about basement rooms and the old building had made us unsure, but it all worked out really well. We got a spacious room on the second floor, large enough to fly an indoor boomerang, as my son tested! The hotel was clean, cosy and stylish. The staff at reception and in the restaurant were great. Anjali and Rouier were so friendly and sweet. On our last day, they even gave us breakfast to take away because we had an early flight. Breakfast was a highlight, too. The continental selection had lots of options, and the English breakfast was delicious, especially the bacon and sausage. The location was great, with a tube station just around the corner and bus stops close by. A couple of small issues: the floor in our room squeaked, and because the room faced the street, we sometimes heard traffic at night. We had a great stay and would come back if we visit London again.