London Kensington by Meliá

The location was lovely, and the lobby was cute, but the room was small and worn. There were carpet and towel stains, mouldy bathroom grout, chipped baseboards, dents in the cabinets, and very poor, dark lighting at night. Even after staff moved us to a larger room, it still had carpet stains, possibly blood, and towels with holes. How does that happen? To their credit, they moved my family again to a bigger suite, which was finally large enough for the bed, but the carpet was still stained and the towels still had holes. When my wife and daughter asked to cancel, the hotel wouldn't let us. It seemed like staff were following policy, but our concerns were legitimate. They eventually let us leave the last night, which was better than nothing. Still, it shouldn't take a fight to get out when the room clearly isn't up to standard.

Breakfast was lovely, and the omelettes they make to order were really good. I had an amazing stay and really enjoyed the room. The staff were all great, especially Paula at reception and Manuel serving breakfast. Being able to speak Spanish with them made me feel more comfortable, almost like being at home. I'll definitely come back!

There are plenty of restaurants, bakeries, and shops on the street, and a bus stop right outside. The Piccadilly Line, which connects directly to Heathrow, plus the District and Circle Lines are all about a five-minute walk away, so the location is fantastic. Staff were warm, welcoming, and helpful from check-in right through checkout. I'd highly recommend staying here for a business trip or a city break.

The front office team were the highlight for me. Jamie checked me in and was super nice, as was the colleague working with him. Being greeted warmly makes all the difference. It's in my favourite part of London, and the rooms are cozy, nicely decorated, and have everything you need. I'll definitely book here again on my next trip.