Lancaster Gate Hotel

The Lancaster Gate Hotel is located in a charming row of white Victorian town houses that is quintessentially London. The common areas, which have been renovated, are tasteful and well-maintained if a bit generic. In the lobby, black tiles edge white tiles under a rich wood reception desk, and cream-colored walls show off elegant white molding. Large windows let in lots of natural light, and a small rug sets off a sitting area, with brown leather couches and square-shaped ottomans. Off the lobby is a sleek bar, with wood floors and bar, brown leather bar stools, vintage architectural accents, and a pleasant seating area. The hallways, with loud red, green, and blue carpeting and yellow walls with white trim, reveal the hotel's more dated side. Well-situated in the Bayswater area, this well-priced central London property is a magnet for budget-minded tourists, and business travelers too. 

Located on a charming street one road over from the main thoroughfare that runs parallel to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, the Lancaster Gate Hotel is in Lancaster Gate, in the cosmopolitan, hotel-heavy area of Bayswater. It's within walking distance of several transportation links, including several bus stops and two London Underground Stations, which comprise four total lines of the city’s metro system. From the metro, it's possible to get pretty much anywhere in London within 20 to 30 minutes. While there is no on-site parking, the nearby Queensway tube station has a parking lot.

• Two-minute walk to Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park
• Five-minute walk to Queensway Station (Central Line)
• Eight-minute walk to Bayswater Station (Circle, District, and Hammersmith and City Lines)
• 10-minute walk to Kensington Palace
• 11-minute walk to Paddington
• 15-minute walk to Notting Hill Gate
• 20 minutes to St. Paul’s Cathedral via public transport
• 22 minutes to The Victoria and Albert Museum via public transport
• 22 minutes to Buckingham Palace via public transport
• 26 minutes to the National Gallery via public transport
• 28 minutes to Palace of Westminster via public transport
• 30 minutes to Tate Modern via public transport
• 30 minutes to Heathrow Airport via public transport
• 35 minutes to Tower of London via public transport
• One hour to Gatwick Airport via public transport

Given its location within an older building, rooms at the Lancaster Gate Hotel -- including rooms in the same category -- range in style, size, and layout but are roomy when compared with other rooms in central London. Rooms include the essentials and are clean, but the decor is generic, uninspired, and somewhat dated. Twin Rooms, for example, have plaid green-and-red carpeting, yellow walls, and generic wood furniture. White bedding is accented with dark green fabric that matches the drapes. Bathrooms are similarly generic with white tiling, shower/ tub combos, heated towel racks, and toiletries. Guests have complained about water pressure. All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, flat-screenTVs with satellite channels and pay-per-view movies, tea/ coffeemakers, safes, and hairdryers. Rooms also have work desks and small wardrobes. Mini-fridges are available in some rooms. Guests have complained about noise that comes through the thin walls, and that not all rooms have views. In-room Wi-Fi comes with a fee, and guests complain that it's slow.

The hotel’s on-site restaurant and bar have kept the attractive wood floors and molded details in the spirit of the Victorian property. The hotel serves an English Breakfast buffet, which is not included in the room rate. The hotel also has two on-site meeting rooms, the largest of which can hold up to 50 people. Same-day dry cleaning and laundry service is available, as is 24-hour room service. There's a daily fee for Wi-Fi, and another fee for luggage storage. A computer in the lobby is available for guests' use.