47-48 Leinster Gardens, London, United Kingdom | (251) 219-4428
Set in a Victorian townhouse, with some original
features intact
On a tree-lined, quiet street in Bayswater
10-minute walk to Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, and the Serpentine
Gallery
Five-minute walk to Queensway and Bayswater Underground stations
Modern rooms have flat-screen TVs and tea- and coffee-making
facilities
Contemporary and stylish bathrooms with rainfall showerheads
Continental buffet breakfast available for a fee
Free Wi-Fi throughout the property
Breakfast is not included in the room rate
Some rooms are small and mattresses could use an update
No restaurant or bar on-site
There’s no elevator and rooms are not air-conditioned
As its name implies, the 42 rooms at this mid-range Victorian hotel are only a 10-minute walk from attractions like Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. While many of the guest rooms are extremely large, others are
tight on space. Style across the board is bright, homey, and simple, and rooms have high ceilings and contemporary bathrooms. Facilities are lacking here, though, and while a cold buffet breakfast is available for a fee, there is no restaurant or bar, and rooms are not air conditioned. Guests should also consider BEST WESTERN Shaftesbury Paddington Court London for a nearby three-pearl option that features a small bar and fitness center.
Scene
Victorian building with bright, contemporary interiors
The hotel is set is a gorgeous Victorian house, which is now Grade 1 listed -- meaning it's of exceptional
historic interest. Many of the original features remain, such as the ornate
ceilings, but decor throughout has been given a modern makeover. The main hall has a classic black-and-white tiled floor that leads to
the carpeted staircase with original ornate iron stair railings. The lobby has laminate wood flooring, a wooden reception
desk, and a decorative chandelier. There's a flat-screen TV on the wall and a
stand of tourist brochures beneath it. The breakfast room is equally
modern, with the same flooring and chandelier plus contemporary black
tables and chairs. The hotel attracts a range of tourists and some business
guests, though there’s no elevator, so anyone with mobility issues should check ahead before reserving a room here.
Location
On a quiet and pretty street close to lots of attractions
A row of Victorian townhouses line the quiet street where the hotel resides and the front door is just a five-minute walk from Queensway and Bayswater Underground
stations. Paddington Station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel for rail connections directly to Heathrow Airport in under 30 minutes. London’s beautiful Hyde Park
is 10 minutes away on foot and there are a number of popular attractions in and
around the park. Kensington Palace and Gardens are a 10-minute walk from the hotel, as are the
Princess Diana Memorial Playground and the Serpentine Gallery. Whiteleys of Bayswater, a shopping mall that's loaded with restaurants and services, is just five minutes away on foot.
Rooms
Modern, simple, and homey rooms with stylish bathrooms
There are several room configurations available here, though sizes vary enormously -- some are extremely cramped while others are large and feel more like apartments than hotel
rooms. Rooms are modern and bright, but decor is plain, with soft blues and neutral tones throughout -- some rooms have high ceilings with ornate ceiling roses and cornicing. Walnut veneer headboards and furniture have simple, contemporary lines, and rooms all have brown carpeting, with pops of color in bird-motif throw pillows, giving them a homey charm. Past guests have complained that the mattresses are lumpy or thin, and there is no air-conditioning in any room. Every room is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, and tea- and
coffee-making facilities, but other amenities like hairdryers and irons have to be
requested from reception. Bathrooms are contemporary and stylish, with white tiles, black flooring, and rainfall showerheads. There are no bathtubs, but shower stalls are fairly spacious. Some guests have reported hearing noise from neighboring rooms.
Features
Continental buffet breakfast and free Wi-Fi
Guests tend to stay at the Hyde Park Boutique for the location and the
rooms rather than the on-site facilities, which are fairly thin. There’s no restaurant or bar, but there is a breakfast room where
guests can help themselves to a cold continental buffet in the mornings.
It’s not included in the room rate, though, and the selection is fairly limited: mainly toast, pastries, fruit, and cereal. Porters are on hand to carry luggage up the stairs, as there isn't an elevator. Wi-Fi is free
throughout the building, and the signal is good.