The Park City Grand Plaza Kensington Hotel

The lobby of The Parkcity is a blend of old and new, as sleek, contemporary furnishings and designer light sculptures sit comfortably under beautiful Victorian coffered ceilings. As evidenced by the classic Victorian features of the exterior facade, this building was originally seven period townhouses that have now been combined to form the hotel. Not all original fittings have been preserved, however: An original fireplace in the lobby seems to have been replaced with one sporting a gray concrete, minimalist design. The hotel's karaoke and mocktail bar, Selesa Lounge, continues the modern vibe but in a darker, more handsome way than the airy lobby.Compared to these spaces, though, the rooms fall a bit short design-wise -- it's all a tad generic with plain (but pleasant) oak furnishings and single-color bedspreads.

The west side of Gloucester Road leading to Earl’s Court is the more affordable side of Kensington, and this is telling by the numerous chain hotels you’ll encounter along the way to The Parkcity. This doesn’t make the area any less interesting, though -- Hyde Park and other area attractions are a short walk away.- 35-minute drive to Heathrow Airport

• 13-minute walk to Hyde Park
• 14-minute walk to the Natural History Museum
• 15-minute walk to the Royal Albert Hall and Science Museum
• 13-minute tube ride to Knightsbridge station and Knightsbridge shopping district, including designer shops and Harrod’s
• 13-minute tube ride to Sloane Square station, including Sloane Square shopping district and Saatchi Gallery
• 14-minute tube ride to Notting Hill Gate station and Portobello Market *15-minute tube ride to Hyde Park Corner station and Buckingham Palace
• 19-minute tube ride to Westminster station, including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, and scenic walks along the Thames
• 20-minute tube ride to Piccadilly Circus station and the theatre district
• 21-minute tube ride to Embankment station, including Trafalgar Square, National Portrait Gallery, London ICA, Tate Modern, and the South Bank
• 22-minute tube ride to Covent Garden

Rooms are all spacious and comfortable, decorated in a streamlined modern decor full of oak furnishings, contemporary (though small) art pieces, and maroon accents. There are several suites in this hotel; rooms are otherwise divided into two simple categories that differ in floor space – Deluxe or Executive -- though even the "smallest" room is spacious for London standards.- Bose CD players, flat-screen TVs

• Modern shower/tub combos with rainfall shower head
• ELSYL toiletries
• Mini-fridges with free mineral water
• Tea kettles with free tea
• Some rooms have their original high ceilings

• Selesa Lounge provides non-alcoholic drinks and light bites, and a karaoke system is available for private functions
• Selesa Restaurant serves Malaysian cuisine, and doubles as a private-hire dining space
• Lovely, quiet back patio and garden area
• Free Wi-Fi
• Fitness center with basic cardio equipment, weight machine, and free weights
• Business center with two computers and a printer, fees apply