My boyfriend and I booked this hotel with the help of a travel agent. With so many choices out there we needed to narrow down our options. Other than a clean hotel in a nice/safe area that offered breakfast, our main criteria included a shower, air conditioning and an elevator. (After hauling luggage through the Tube an elevator is worth it.) After reading other site's reviews, browsing photos and doing some other research I was convinced Fraser Place offered the best value for my wallet.
Kensington is the perfect part of town to escape from the hustle and bustle of the touristy crowd. It is a really nice part of London. As a matter of fact, our cab driver thought he made a mistake because the hotel looks like any other apartment/townhouse on the street. You know you've made a good choice when the street is lined with a Porsche here, a Bentley there and a woman parking her Benz right out front.
Compared to other UK/European hotels our room was quite large. And we opted for the studio rather than the 1 bedroom deluxe. The bed was suitable. I believe it was queen sized. I passed out every night from being up all day walking around and taking in the city.
Our room on the fifth floor was right across from the elevator and it was surprisingly quiet. No noisy disturbances. It was a nice surprise to find a big balcony with a decent view. There was even a little table and two chairs where you could relax and have some morning coffee/tea.
There is a small kitchenette equipped with a sink, mini fridge, utensils, tableware and pots and pans. The mini fridge was great ... especially since there was a WaitRose (a mini grocery store) around the corner. Yay for chilled beer!!
The bathroom was big, as far as UK standards are concerned ... meaning two people could be in there at the same time. It had a large window, which I also liked. The shower was not ideal. Poor water pressure unfortunately. It was especially bothersome to get the water to stay warm and not super hot. The L'Occitane bath products were a nice touch though.
Our package included breakfast, which was pretty standard, self-serve. Choice of cereals, doughnuts, croissants and jam, toast, yogurt and fresh fruit. The fruit was the best part: apples, oranges, pears and bananas. Coffee, hot chocolate, OJ and water were offered.
The nearest Tube is Gloucester Road, which is a short walk from the hotel. There is a post office nearby as well, which is handy if you need to mail post cards. Also, check out the restaurant Byron for a really good burger on Kensington High Street just around the corner. Be aware though, don't plan on shopping for souvenirs in this area. Even though there are a few hotels scattered around this area, it is still very residential, which definitely adds to its appeal.
Overall, good experience. Great, friendly service. Clean, comfortable room. I would stay here again on my next UK trip. read more