Whether you’re visiting London, or live in another part of the city, a weekend in South Kensington lets you feel like a tourist again. Harrods, Hyde Park, Harvey Nicks, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum… being based here really does make you feel like you’re looking at London from a different vantage point.
The Hotel
Two minutes from South Ken tube station, you’re right in the heart of it. The streets around may be crowded – it feels like there are a lot of schools here – but the townhouse feels like a fortress, away from it all. Check in, nip out, settle back in.
The Vibe
For décor, they’ve applied an eccentric, mismatched style throughout: it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is nice. This is not a trendy spot, it’s a confident, established one. Sunlight streams in from the restaurant’s front windows, and both locals and tourists buzz in and out.
The Rooms
Room highlights include standalone tubs and thick robes, luxe bathrooms with checkered floors, thick towelling and expensive hardware, and gratis that include healthy options. Décor inspiration is taken from astronomy and music, geometry and botanicals, paying tribute to the hotel’s surroundings.
Restaurants/ Bars
A subterranean Mediterranean restaurant, Apero, has exposed brick and white tiles, with counter dining in comfy chairs and windows that let the sunshine in. It’s a laid-back urban feel that offsets the drawing room vibe upstairs.
Highlights
The tea. As a nod to their location and neighbouring museums, they have both a science and a Jurassic Park-themed afternoon tea, with creative elements like a volcano eruption, dinosaur egg nest and chocolate soil, potions, petri dishes, and jellies. There’s (good for you) dry-like smoke and drinks in duck eggs, and they even have a dinosaur tea tray that we’d like to own and use at home; this really is about as much fun as you can have at tea. They have Champagne add-ons, as well as non-alcoholic options, and the crowd was a mix of parents, kids, and adults.
Anything Else
The hotel is part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and featured on Smith Hotels and Tablet.
