Mercure London Kensington

The hotel's lobby is bright and smart, although like many chain hotels, it lacks personality. Across from the reception area is a lounge bar with a flat-screen TV and lots of comfortable and stylish sofas in a gray, white, and purple color scheme. The decor in the restaurant is blander, although there are some nice black and white canvas prints of London landmarks on the walls. The hotel mainly attracts corporate travelers and those needing to be a short hop from Earls Court Exhibition Centre. 

Located on a busy city road that leads in and out of West London, the hotel is a five-minute walk from Earl's Court Underground station and eight minutes from the Gloucester Road tube. The busy Earls Court Exhibition Centre is a 15-minute walk away. While it isn't the most central spot for tourists wanting to see the major London sights, there are some great museums nearby. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum are all within a 15-minute walk. Those taking in a show at the Royal Albert Hall can walk there in under 20 minutes. The trendy and exclusive shops of High Street Kensington are just a 10-minute walk away, and those arriving from Heathrow Airport can drive to the hotel in around 30 minutes. 

Guest rooms have a sleek and modern decor, with silver and maroon accents and contemporary artwork. Many of the rooms are small. The Small Double Rooms are particularly tiny, with little space to move around the bed. They also lack minibars or mini-fridges, so while soft drinks and mineral water are provided free of charge, they can only be consumed at room temperature. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, small desks, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and laptop safes. Bathrooms are equally small and barebones. Light sleepers should request a room at the back of the hotel as some of the street facing rooms do get traffic noise -- free ear plugs are provided by the hotel.

The hotel has limited facilities, and lacks a gym, a pool, and a parking lot. However, hotel guests can use the parking lot across the street, although it's expensive. The hotel also offers copying, printing, and faxing services, and there’s a meeting room that seats up to 20 people along with free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is not included in the room rate, but can be taken in the restaurant, which is also open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and serves international cuisine. Although the portion sizes are generous, the quality of the food gets mixed reviews from guests, and there are plenty of better eateries in the local area. Room service is also available, albeit during limited hours. The hotel also has a bright, stylish, and relatively quiet lounge bar and there’s a coffee shop that serves light snacks along with tea and coffee.