11-13 Penywern Road, London, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Set in Victorian town house on a quiet tree-lined street
Two minutes' walk to Earls Court tube station
En-suite bathrooms with modern tiling
Amenities include flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning
Free continental buffet breakfast
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Computer corner in lobby
Some rooms are small, show some wear, or look out on a wall
Limited breakfast options
Noise from hallways, elevators, and neighboring rooms
The City
Continental London Kensington is a value hotel set in a
Victorian town house in London's Earls Court area. While not super-central, the
area is relatively quiet, and transportation links are good. The 74 rooms have a modern coordinated color scheme, but the carpeting shows wear in places and the leather chairs look old. Plus, some rooms are cramped and stuffy. Bathrooms, while small, have modern, spiffy tiling. Wi-Fi and a basic continental breakfast are included in the room rate. To get a bit more for their money, travelers might also want to check out the nearby Best Western The Boltons, where rooms have iPod docks and Nespresso machines.
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Scene
Value hotel in a converted Victorian town house with mostly modern style
The City
Continental London Kensington deviates little from the slew of converted
Victorian town house hotels that populate this slice of London. Initial
impressions are positive -- the hotel has a fresh facade adorned with
colorful flowers and potted shrubs. As guests step inside, they'll find an immaculate lobby, with a smart reception desk in natural wood and marble complemented
by minimalist styling and splashes of abstract art. Moving beyond the reception
area, however, decor becomes decidedly more budget, with gloomy lighting, and a musty smell in some of the hallways. There's also little in the way of common areas apart from the basement dining rooms, which some might find a bit claustrophobic. The hotel is still a good value for travelers looking to save a bit of money, and draws everyone from solo travelers and couples to families and businesspeople.
Location
Set on residential street, a two-minute walk from Earls Court Tube station
The hotel is located
on a relatively quiet, leafy side street off busy Earls Court Road
on the western fringes of central London. The area is a mix of
residential properties and similar hotels, plus convenience stores and the
occasional coffee shop chain. Earls Court Exhibition Center is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. Earls Court Tube station is two minutes
away on foot and connects to the West End in around 10 minutes. It's around 20 minutes on foot to the southwest corner of Hyde Park, and a bit farther to Kensington Palace. The tube reaches the Victoria and Albert Museum in less than 15 minutes, while the Tate Modern is a 30-minute journey from the hotel. Heathrow Airport is only 35 minutes away by tube, and trips to Gatwick Airport will take an hour by using the tube and trains.
Rooms
Modern rooms with clean bathrooms and flat-screen TVs, but a bit of wear
The hotel has 74
rooms, all of which have simple, modern decor that blends warm-toned wood finishes with
purple-gold patterned wallpaper and carpeted floors. The dark color palette gives the rooms a bit of flair, especially when compared to many fusty converted townhouse hotels in the area. They are also generally well maintained, though we did spot some signs of wear, especially on the carpets, some of which had bleach stains. While London hotel rooms are generally on the snug side, some units here are tiny, and views from rooms in the basement can be downright depressing. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, and tea- and coffee-making facilities, and all rooms are air-conditioned. Small but clean and modern bathrooms are
nicely finished with floor-to-ceiling tiles and walk-in showers. Toiletries and towels are provided. There have been some complaints of hearing noise from hallways, elevators, and neighboring rooms.
Features
Free but limited buffet breakfast and free Wi-Fi
This is a small hotel and like many others in this category in central London, features are limited. A small continental
buffet breakfast is included in the room rate, and is served in the basement breakfast rooms. There are no cooked items and options generally include toast and pastries, yogurt, cereals, and standard beverages. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and is generally reliable. For those without their own computer or mobile device, the hotel has a computer station for guest use.
