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The Gainsborough Hotel

4.0 of 5
7 - 11 Queensberry Place | South Kensington, London SW7 2DL, England (Kensington and Hyde Park)
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The Gainsborough Hotel
Ranked #756 of 1,081 hotels in London
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213 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    13
    55
    48
    49
    48
Date Rating
Norwich, United Kingdom
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 24, 2013 NEW

It was Chelsea Flower Show week so most hotels wee fully booked and we were lucky to get a room. The Gainsborough is apparently a 4 star hotel but felt like a tired 3 star hotel. The hallway room number signs had seen better days (as had some of the electrical points) and were held together with cellotape in places.... More

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The Villages, Florida
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
15 hotel reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
36 helpful votes 36 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 23, 2013 NEW

Such a value for $85 a night! S. Kensington is my favorite London neighborhood because of ease of transportation, excellent restaurants, and proximity to museums and excellent shopping. Breakfast was excellent. The coffee was fresh and strong. The wait staff superior. One young lady went so far as to make me fresh lemonade. The front desk staff was perfunctory. A... More

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See 19 more reviews by Petruchka for London
London
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 23, 2013 NEW

I would definitely not rate this hotel as a four star. The decoration is definitely tired and I would call it "cheap English country style." The room did not seem very clean and the bed was very hard. Also, rooms facing the street are very noisy. Room rates are quite high so for this price, I think you can find... More

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See 3 more reviews by londonmlle for London

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Kent
Contributor
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6 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed May 8, 2013

We got a pokey room for three. Old fashioned decor, a tv that came from the ark. The room clean but the poor decor made it look grim. The beds were just the most uncomfy ever but good if you have back problems! Total lack of management, if you wish to complain, but don't worry the receptionist will kindly call... More

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Edinburgh
2 reviews
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 10, 2013

Just around the corner from V&A Museum, South Kensington Stations, a taxi rank, walking distance to Hyde Park etc etc. it's a great location with great access to London sights. Yes, as other have said, the rooms are very small and the place is dated (though not without a certain character it has to be said), the television is old... More

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England
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed March 26, 2013 via mobile

This hotel is in a perfect location for touring London. Was very worried after reading some bad reviews but for the price we paid (£89 for a twin room) in this location we couldn't complain. Yes, the rooms and en suites are a little tired, but ours was spotless and the beds were very comfortable. To be honest I could... More

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2 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed March 24, 2013 via mobile

Good value for location (twin room £89 for 1 night) right next to Royal Albert Hall. Room clean and beds were really comfy. No tea or coffee making facilities and no iron were the only let down. Breakfast wasn't included but was £10 (we went to Chelsea Kitchen instead for a lovely 5er brekkaz). Staff also very friendly. Will definitely... More

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Oxford, United Kingdom
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
2 of 5 stars Reviewed March 6, 2013

Was originally happily surprised by the hotel. The room wasn't as small as I had pictured after reading the other reviews and the bed was comfy enough. However the shower was a joke and impossible to use. The main negative issue though was I left my brand new hair straighteners in the room and rang later on to ask about... More

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Preston, United Kingdom
2 reviews
2 of 5 stars Reviewed February 27, 2013

This is not a good hotel, just look at the photos i have posted! The single room was tiny, there was no bedside table so you had to get up to switch the lamp on and off, portable air conditioning unit that had the extracting 'pipe' stuck through a window! And was so loud when it was on you could... More

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Yeovil, United Kingdom
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
3 of 5 stars Reviewed February 12, 2013

Fabulous position and first impression good. However, the beds were so rock hard we didn't get much sleep and struggled with our bodies aches and pains the following day! Ordered a glass of wine as a nightcap after a great day out only to be served up charged for a bottle before being told wine by the glass not available!... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
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Additional Information about The Gainsborough Hotel

Also Known As:
Gainsborough Hotel London
Gainsborough Hotel
The Gainsborough Hotel London, England
Address: 7 - 11 Queensberry Place | South Kensington, London SW7 2DL, England
Phone Number:
Region: United Kingdom > England > London > Kensington and Hyde Park
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge Free Breakfast Room Service Shuttle Bus service Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
#312 Luxury Hotels in London
Price Range: $$
Hotel Class:4 star (4*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Imagine an English country home magically whisked to the most exclusive London borough, and you have The Gainsborough. Named after the celebrated artist, The Gainsborough combines the attractive style of bygone days with an easy informality. To stay here is to enjoy London of fashionable South Kensington, Harrods, the restaurants and antique markets, pubs and delightful backwaters of Chelsea and Knightsbridge. You are at the heart of the capital's culture too with great museums - Science, Natural History, the Victoria & Albert - nearby; and for music lovers, the glorious Royal Albert Hall is just minutes away. The well-stocked lounge bar is the spot for a leisurely drink or a snack from the light menu. With 24-hour room service, butlers on immediate call and a reception ever ready to meet your needs, nothing is too much for our attentive staff. ... more   less 
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The Gainsborough Hotel
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