Montana Hotel

Like many buildings in the South Kensington area, this mid-range hotel is housed in an elegant white Victorian facade, and although it was refurbished in 2009 with contemporary touches, the interiors remain mostly blanketed in mid-19th century-inspired decor. Red carpeting and gold-patterned cream wallpaper are continuous throughout the chandelier-lined lobby, hallways, and dining areas. The front desk, reception counter, and door frames are bordered in gold as well. Classic wooden furniture, orange upholstery, heavy drapes and valances, and crystal drops dangling from floor lamps make the seating area look like a traditional English parlor. The vintage patterns and colors are a fun step back in time for the primarily tourist guests, but the overall look is slightly garish and dated.  

On a busy street in London’s affluent South Kensington neighborhood, Montana Hotel is one of the many hotels in the area and a quick walk to gardens and arts and culture institutions. The Victoria and Albert Museum is a 10-minute walk away. The Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Natural History Museum, and Science Museum are all under 15 minutes away on foot. For guests who don’t mind a further trek, the upmarket shops of Kensington High Street are a 20-minute walk away.Other London attractions are easy to get to from the Gloucester Road tube station that's a three-minute walk from the hotel. Thirty minutes or less on public transport will reach Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.Heathrow Airport is a 36-minute drive away, while Gatwick Airport is an hour and 17 minutes away by car. The hotel does offer a chauffeur service to and from the airports for extra fees.

Rooms here are clean and faintly echo the Victorian-themed common areas, with similar red carpeting and wallpaper, but most are small, with little windows and no views to speak of. Some Single Rooms don’t have en-suite bathrooms (shared bathrooms are available) and their TVs are awkwardly tucked into corners facing the beds. Double, Triple, and Family Rooms are bigger, but still have little space for anything besides comfortable beds and work desks. Quadruple Rooms are spacious, though their lounging options are limited to hard wooden benches. Outfitted with basic, dorm-like furniture and simple cream quilted bedspreads, the decor is pleasant, but unmemorable.All rooms come with air-conditioning, 26-inch LCD flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Mini-fridges and coffee-and-tea-making facilities are provided, along with ironing equipment. The marble-tiled bathrooms are well-kept and small, but surprisingly, only the Single and Twin Rooms come with shower/tub combos and fixed showerheads. Bathrooms in higher-category rooms come with walk-in showers and fixed showerheads. All bathrooms provide hairdryers and toiletries. 

With no gym, pool, or business center on-site, most of the hotel’s amenities center around dining options. The Light of India restaurant matches the lobby’s regal if not slightly old-fashioned, decor with upholstered chairs and classic white tablecloths in a warmly-lit room. Serving up fantastic and authentic Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner, it’s a popular choice among locals, and hotel guests get a discount when dining here. In the morning, the restaurant space functions as the hotel’s breakfast room. Hot items come with an extra charge, though there's a free continental buffet of breads, cereals, yogurts, cold meats, and fruit. The Lion’s Bar, adjacent to the lobby, has a vintage counter and stools, and minimal seating. It's an inviting setting, but closes early on the weekends. Underground parking is available at a nearby Holiday Inn, and prices are steep. Laundry is not available on-site, though a laundromat is located nearby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.