Number Sixteen Hotel, Firmdale Hotels

The staff were warm and accommodating throughout, and Number Sixteen felt like a home away from home. It ended up being the highlight of our trip. We loved the interior design, the spacious sitting rooms were lovely for unwinding after a long day, and the beds were incredibly comfortable with luxurious linens. The breakfast is not to be missed, and the orangery and outdoor patio were a delight. Everything was spotless. From the details to the service, it was all exquisite and beyond expectations. If we could give 100 stars, we would.

I can’t wait to come back to Firmdale. Since discovering them, they’ve always been my favourite hotels, and I think number 16 will be the one I rush back to. The garden is absolutely divine, and the service is impeccable as usual. A special shout out this time to Theo and Naryan. My bedroom, number 303, was so pretty. See you soon!

The Kensington is nearby and has a similar taste level, with more for less money. If we could leave now and go there, we would, but Number 16 took full payment and blocked £50 per day for incidentals, so leaving would cost us £650 per night. Number 16 doesn’t seem to prioritize residents, and it hasn’t been a relaxing stay. The common rooms and garden are very small and often unavailable to guests when the public has booked them, as the event hire policy below describes. There’s barely a lobby, just a small standing area with people constantly shuffling past as others come and go. Waiters also keep running through the lounge to serve the restaurant, carrying cups and glasses. The place feels too small for the number of people working, dining and staying there, and it’s far too busy for its compact size. Lovely Kit Kemp decor can’t make up for that. By comparison, The Kensington Hotel has beautiful, spacious common rooms, a welcome drink on arrival, a spa, a gym and marble baths. The property is available for private hire. Number Sixteen has a tree-filled garden and orangery for private or corporate events, wedding receptions, meetings and other celebrations. The hotel is also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies.

The room we got was in the basement, with little natural light and a humming air conditioning unit outside the window. We couldn’t sleep with the window open. Even though the hotel met our high standards in other ways, I still feel we were put in a room nobody wants, and that has left a shadow over the stay. I paid just over €500.00 per night and expected a room like the ones shown in the online photos. That’s why I was so disappointed, and I probably won’t return. The hotel is in South Kensington, a short walk from the Underground and near many lovely, high-quality shops. It looks magnificent and elegant from outside. Inside, the decor is colourful, welcoming and high-quality, as the photos show, but the hotel is much smaller than they make it look. That wasn’t a drawback for us, as it felt cosy and never overcrowded. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the toiletries were excellent, and breakfast was varied and left a positive impression.