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The Kensington

109 - 113 Queen's Gate South Kensington, London SW7 5LP England
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Traveler (1471)
360
Panoramas (32)
Videos (1)
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About

#25 of 1,225 hotels in London
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.8
Value
4.4
Travelers' Choice
Traditional service and Victorian grandeur come together with sleek style and contemporary comfort at the Kensington, in one of London’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods. Embrace a sophisticated member’s club vibe, whether over afternoon tea in the light, lively drawing rooms, cocktails in glamorous K Bar, or dinner in the refined Town House. From the splendour of The Brompton Suite to the contemporary charm of The Knightsbridge Suite, the hotel’s signature suites offer comfort and space, with The Kensington Suite offering one of London’s largest townhouse suite, with three bedrooms. Set in the heart of one of London’s most desirable neighbourhoods, The Kensington’s grand stucco façade is characteristic of this affluent 19th Century district, home to cultural treasures such as the Natural History and the Victoria & Albert Museums and the Royal Albert Hall, with the green spaces of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park; and world-famous Harrods and Harvey Nichols only a short walk away.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Bicycle rental
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Baggage storage
Concierge
Wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Butler service
Doorperson
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Boutique
Languages Spoken
English, French
Hotel links
Special Offer:Save up to 30% when you book direct, a minimum of 14 days in advance

Location

99Great for walkers
Grade: 99 out of 100
173Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
22Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
4191Reviews71Q+A100Room tips
Traveler rating
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Safari112617 wrote a review Yesterday
1 contribution
Go to the Kensington You deserve it! I rarely write reviews but have been traveling the past 35 years mostly to 4 and 5 star resorts and hotels in the US Canada and Europe. This was a 10 day post covid anniversary trip - stayed in 2 other 5 stars (more expensive) first - my wife was feeling very disappointed - she felt unwelcome - commenting that no matter how much you spend and how "famous" a hotel you stay in they treat you are an inconvenience. Arriving at the Kensington saved the whole trip. From the moment you arrive at the front door - everyone treats you like they are glad you are there. One of the assistant hotel managers Dario even gave us a short tour of the hotel and showed us to our lovely room where several welcome and anniversary treats and notes were waiting for us! To the bellman, front desk, cleaning, restaurant staff and to the hotel manager thank you for a wonderful stay. I give the Kensington 6 stars!
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Location is amazing - Waitrose right across the street. The staff/decor are warm and welcoming...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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kalyani m wrote a review Aug 2022
Boston2 contributions3 helpful votes
Hotel's Favorite
My family and I visited London and chose The Kensington Hotel as our place to stay this time. I have no words to describe the warmth and care the staff here have provided us through the entire stay. We want to thank everyone who has gone above and beyond to make our stay comfortable. I would like to acknowledge 1) Miss Almire: She is a perfect host and thought of every detail including for our twins. She thought about a fun night theme for the kids and made it absolutely memorable with gifts, popcorn and foot tapping music. Kids had a blast. Almire is absolutely a joy and gem to this establishment. 2) Mr. Thomas Keating: He is such a wonderful manager. He made us feel special everyday. He showed through his actions how much he cared. He along with Miss Almire made our kids have that extra special night of fun. We are absolutely overjoyed seeing this hospitality. 3) Mr. Emiliano: He is one of the most organized persons I have come across. He organized all of our day trips and took extra care to help us with it. Thank you so much. 4) Mr. Mario: He went out of his way everyday to ensure we had the best transportation. He was extremely attentive to our needs. He would greet us with a smile every time we walked in and out which made it so nice. He is extremely courteous. 5) Mr. Pavel: Another wonderful person in the organization who helped us along with Mr. Emiliano. Always with a smile. He even advised my husband regarding getting wonderful shoes. 6) Ms. Genesis: I had been communicating with Ms. Genesis regarding organizing a high tea for me and my friends. She was so patient with my planning and helped me get it done. Thank you! 7) Mr. Mateo: He is a thorough gentleman. My friends and I will always remember how he helped procure us vegetarian dishes for the afternoon tea in a matter of minutes. 8) Mr. Gurcan: Always helpful and attentive with a smile. Very courteous. 9) Front desk reception: Every single member of the team is outstanding. 9) Housekeeping: Absolutely fantastic. Thank you again for creating this absolutely wonderful place for travelers and taking into account every detail to make our stay an enjoyable and memorable experience. Look forward to coming back here again.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3 Helpful votes
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Response from Yannick Godfrind, Guest Services / Front Office at The Kensington
Responded Aug 13, 2022
Dear Kalyani M, Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your experience here at The Kensington. It is so gratifying and motivating to receive such praise and I will be sharing your feedback with the entire team. Everyone will be so proud. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you back. Kind regards, Yannick Godfrind Front Office Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leslie S wrote a review Sep 26
2 contributions
Our two week stay at the Kensington Hotel in London was fantastic! It exceeded our expectations in the quality of the staff who were so kind, so helpful and so professional, the accommodations were fantastic, the location was brilliant being close to museums, shops and wonderful for strolling, the restaurant was great and we ate there several times. Perhaps the best part was the superb concierge service especially Emiliano who got us hard to get tickets for the just opened “Chanel” at the Victoria & Albert museum. The also helped us get tickets to a new play with Ian McKlellen and Roger Allam and book train tickets to the country north. The staff made our stay in London memorable. Leslie & Norm
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: Book your vacation early for best prices on railways, hotels, Chunnel to Europe.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Departure647474 wrote a review Sep 21
1 contribution
+1
We visited London and was initially booked at a different hotel across the street from this hotel. Our experience was awful and we checked out after only one night. We were able to get a king room R the last minute and immediately checked in. I was greeted by very kind staff who understood our situation and went about and beyond to make sure the rest of our stay was amazing! The front desk clerk ( Gabriela) was AWESOME! Harvey- the Trip Advisor was incredible, helpful, attentive to our request. George - guest staff was very nice and helpful. They turned a potential NEGATIVE into. POSITIVE! I couldn’t be more pleased. The entire staff was amazing! The room was nice, hotel was beautiful. I plan to come back to London and stay here again.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Muhuba Anshoor, Other at The Kensington
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Departure647474, Thank you for taking the time to write about your recent visit at The Kensington. We are really pleased to read that despite your first night in London, we were able to make you experience with us magical and that our team ensured you had a comfortable and amazing time with us at The Kensington. We are delighted to learn how much you enjoyed your experience with us. Thank you for your wonderful compliments about the hotel and the team, I will make sure to pass on your kind compliment to Gabriela, Harvey, and the team. Thank you again for sharing your experience, we look forward to welcoming you back at The Kensington. Kind regards, Muhuba Anshoor Executive Assistant and Business Excellence
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Courtney S wrote a review Sep 20
1 contribution
I cannot say enough about the hotel Kensington. Wonderful Restaraunt with free breakfast. The food was exceptional, service was perfect. I also loved the bar on the ground floor for cocktails late night. Harvey was always an incredible help. If we needed assistance with a taxi, or directions to the subway, where to go for breakfast, or help with our bags. I think he works with the consierge.. we were there for 4 days and he always found us immediately with a huge smile and figured out what we wanted. I will absolutely stay there again.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Fabulous - highly recommend
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Muhuba Anshoor, Other at The Kensington
Responded 3 days ago
Dear L8138EKcourtneys, Thank you for taking the time to write about your recent stay at The Kensington. Our team member Harvey is passionate about providing the best for our customers with outstanding experiences and he will be delighted to know about your wonderful compliments. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back at The Kensington. Kind regards, Muhuba Anshoor Executive Assistant and Business Excellence
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Olivia S wrote a review Sep 20
1 contribution
The Kensington was a wonderful hotel to stay at. The staff was so nice to deal with and made sure our stay was extra special. Harvey, in particular, was very helpful and professional. Overall, I would highly recommend staying at this hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Muhuba Anshoor, Other at The Kensington
Responded 3 days ago
Dear I1858NFolivias, Thank you for taking the time to write about your recent stay at The Kensington. We are delighted to learn how much you enjoyed your experience with us. Thank you for your wonderful compliments about the hotel and the team, I will make sure to pass on your kind compliment to Harvey and the team. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back at The Kensington. Kind regards, Muhuba Anshoor Executive Assistant and Business Excellence
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NCTraveller1 wrote a review Sep 14
Cary, North Carolina79 contributions69 helpful votes
+1
Everything about our visit was terrific. London was our first stop on our vacation journey. The hotel was ready for our check-in early, and everything in the room was perfect. It was exceptionally warm in London during our visit, but the room was comfortably cool. They sent us a lovely welcome gift to our room for our anniversary. All of the staff that we encountered was exceptional. Everyone is willing to help regardless of their ‘job’. This is truly a team effort. Concierge support for recommendations and reservations was fantastic. Breakfast is good with many options, depending upon your needs. The K-Bar is a great spot for a cocktail/snack before heading out to dinner or after returning from a long sight-seeing day. The cocktails are all very good and if you’re sitting at the bar, they love testing new recipes with you. Overall, I’d highly recommend the hotel. We truly enjoyed our stay ne wer always made to feel very welcome and at home.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Muhuba Anshoor, Other at The Kensington
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Dear NCTraveller1, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback following your recent stay at The Kensington. We always appreciate hearing back from our guests, and it gives us great pleasure to learn that you had such a memorable anniversary experience. We are delighted to learn how much you enjoyed your experience with us. Thank you for your wonderful compliments about the hotel and the team, I will make sure to pass on your kind compliment to them. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back at The Kensington. Kind regards, Muhuba Anshoor Executive Assistant and Business Excellence
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Desi F wrote a review Sep 9
7 contributions6 helpful votes
I noticed the Kensington in 2022 as I walked nearby my hotel and decided to go in and check it out. I was greeted warmly as if I were a treasured guest and ended up having a delicious dinner in the elegant and spacious lobby, which feels like a comfortable living room. When plans evolved to return to London in 2023, I looked to book online, but prices were high. I decided to call the hotel directly and ended up booking a reasonably priced classic queen room, their most basic level - but it was anything but basic. The room was cozy but decorated beautifully, with a nice sized marble bathroom, and breakfast was included. The staff provide a truly remarkable level of service, greeting you by name once they’ve met you and offering to help with whatever you may need. The concierge is one of the best I’ve ever encountered. All in all, I can’t imagine staying anywhere else in London.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Muhuba Anshoor, Other at The Kensington
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Desi F, Thank you for taking the time to write about your recent stay at The Kensington. We always appreciate hearing back from our guests, and it gives us great pleasure to learn that you had such a memorable experience. We are delighted to learn how much you enjoyed your experience with us. Thank you for your wonderful compliments about the hotel and the team, I will make sure to pass on your kind compliment to the team. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back at The Kensington. Kind regards, Muhuba Anshoor Executive Assistant and Business Excellence
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Natalie C wrote a review Sep 3
New York City, New York7 contributions7 helpful votes
Couldn’t say enough lovely things about this hotel. It is perfect for couples or for families. My boyfriend and I had the best time in London and the staff was so helpful in recommending places and ensuring we had a great stay. This hotel does not disappoint!
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Rooms are a bit small so if you need more space book one of the larger ones
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Noemi Fusari, Other at The Kensington
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear 341nataliec, Thank you for taking the time to write about your recent visit at The Kensington. I am really pleased to read that despite all the hurdles your experience with us was magical and that our team ensured you had a comfortable and continuously enjoyable time. Thank you for your wonderful compliments I’ll make sure to share it with the entire team, they will be thrilled how much you appreciated their warm, attentive and professional service. We hope you are well, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Kind regards, Noemi Fusari F&B Coordinator
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
D N wrote a review Aug 2023
1 contribution
I took my family to London a few weeks ago, and our stay at the Kensington was a highlight. The hotel itself is excellent, with well-appointed rooms and a fantastic restaurant, Town House. The location is perfect, with wonderful restaurants, shops and a neighborhood feel while still being very close to the South Kensington tube stop. More importantly, the staff at the Kensington made our entire family feel at home. Thomas and his guest services team even went through the trouble of asking about our sons' interests prior to our visit so that they could prepare some special keepsakes from London for them upon our arrival. I could not recommend the Kensington more highly.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Noemi Fusari, Other at The Kensington
Responded 3 weeks ago
Dear dn420, Thanks for your great review of our service. We’ve passed your kind words on to our team. Our team member Thomas is passionate about providing to our customers with outstanding experiences and he will be delighted to know he hit the mark with you. We hope that in the future we’ll be able to provide a similarly excellent experience. We’re looking forward to making your day once more when you next visit The Kensington hotel. Kind regards, Noemi Fusari F&B Coordinator
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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PRICE RANGE
$388 - $524 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
kensington hotel london
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandLondonSouth Kensington
NUMBER OF ROOMS
150
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THE KENSINGTON - Updated 2023 Prices & Hotel Reviews (London, England)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Kensington
Which popular attractions are close to The Kensington?
Nearby attractions include Natural History Museum (0.3 miles), South Kensington (0.07 miles), and Holy Trinity Brompton Church (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Kensington?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at The Kensington?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The Kensington?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Kensington?
Conveniently located restaurants include K Bar, Khan's of Kensington, and Town House.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Kensington?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness center during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Kensington?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does The Kensington offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Kensington?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and French.
Are there any historical sites close to The Kensington?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Houses of Parliament (2.3 miles), Churchill War Rooms (2.2 miles), and Tower of London (4.5 miles).
Is The Kensington accessible?
Yes, it offers facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.