Thistle Kensington Gardens

This tip was written in 2009 but we are here again in 2011.

We usually have quite a nice room on the 3rd floor and we always ask for a 'Park View'...yes the hotel is right across the road from the park. Oh the corner rooms are a little more spacious. And they have a towel heater...ask how to turn it on so you can dry your clothes...and there is a bath.

The bed and pillows are a little firm.

Of course the rooms get smaller and more expensive as one gets closer to London.

You can walk across the park to Harrods or up the road to Oxford Street...or you can walk in the park or run or hop or see the horses! on parade

It is a short walk to Bayswater.. near two tube stations ...and buses outside the door almost.

See my tip on' things to do 'and you will find heaps on Bayswater

Unique Quality: Now the lounge and dining room area is to me very cosy. I think my favourite barman will be retired next time we stay there and I will miss him.(2009)Reasonable food is available in the bar and very nice breakfast and dinner in the restaurant.

The dining area has been refurbished ...very nice.(2011) The dining room menu and the lounge menu is now the same. There is a nice relaxed 'flow on' feel about this area.

They have a good luggage storage area and have allowed me to leave an extra bag there...no problem.

Now the hotel is situated above a service station and the concierge area is not flash and you do have to go to first floor for reception and this might be a problem for some but we go back again and again. Now the lifts are improved (2011) and you can only access the residential floors with a key card.

There is not usually anyone at the door late at night but the office is manned.
There is an internet cafe down the road ...the one in hotel is the euro/pound/voucher gobbler type. Vouchers are available for a wi fi connection in the room but it is not free.

Directions: Bayswater/Lancaster Gate area. There is a service station on Bayswater Road on the corner and you just go around the corner for the entry to the Hotel.

I stayed at Thistle Hotel Kensington Gardens in December 2005 for the New Years holidays; I was there for 5 nights from 29/12/05 - 02/01/06. The double-room I got was rather small but nice and clean. I didn't mind the smallness because I spent majority of my time outside the hotel. The bed was comfortable, the TV has satellite programs, the small fridge was cold enough for my drinks, and there were sufficient glasses and cutleries by the mini-bar. The glasses came handy when I buy drinks from supermarkets.

Unique Quality: The hotel is close to the Baywaters area, which has excellent chinese restaurant. It is also very conveniently close to the public transport such as buses and underground trains.

Directions: Near to the Baywaters Underground station.

I paid 55 pounds for the week for a share years ago, don't know how much it is now.

Unique Quality: Rents by the week and includes breakfast. More comfortable than a hostel and a interesting neighborhood-close to bus/tube, shops, nightlife and restaurants.

Directions: 84 Kensington Gardens
Bayswater W2

Nearest tube station: Bayswater or Lancaster Gate