Hyde Park Suites

The Hyde Park Suites targets low-maintenance, self-sufficient travelers. As it's a collection of apartment-style suites rather than a typical hotel, there is little common space, although a small check-in area with two leather couches and a vending machine offers a welcoming enough reception area. The apartments themselves are scattered in Victorian townhouses along a block and half of wide boulevard near Hyde Park. On nicer days, outside of the Hyde Park Suites's reception, there are a few teak chairs in which to catch the sun. 

Perhaps the Hyde Park Suites biggest selling point is its location. The immediate area around the hotel is generally safe, and there are several groceries stores and restaurants within walking distance. The suites are just up the road from Hyde Park, about a three- to five-minute walk. The Kensington Palace Gardens is also nearby, and the shopping of Notting Hill and Portobello road are about a 20-minute walk or a 15-minute tube ride away. Bayswater and Queensway tube stations are both just a few minutes' walk from the property and Heathrow can be reached in about 40 minutes. 

The benefit of a staying at the Hyde Park Suites is the space and self-sufficiency of its units. Apartments range from Studios (with one to three beds) to Three-Bedroom Apartments suitable for large groups. All come with flat-screen TVs and have kitchenettes or kitchens with ovens, stoves, microwaves, toasters, and electric kettles so that guests can prepare their own meals or heat up leftovers. Some of the larger apartments also have washing machines. The style and level of upkeep in the apartments ranges dramatically, however, with some in real need of refurbishment. While updated apartments have simple, but tasteful seating and dining areas, older units are downright spartan, with scuffed up, dorm-like decor and hot-plate stoves that look lethal. Even in these nicer units, there's a throw-together sense of style, and some odd decor choices have been made — such as the oversized leather living room furniture with stylized wood and gold trim found in one of the Three-Bedroom Apartments. Bathrooms range as well from clean enough to less so, and are generally cramped. Expect the possibility of mildewy grout, calcified shower heads, or slow drains. 

An apartment-style hotel, the Hyde Park Suites offer few amenities. The hotel does provide free Wi-Fi in all its units, though, and a cleaning service comes in to do light service and towel and sheet exchange every two days.