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Thistle Kensington Palace

Property class: 2

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Reviews

6.0 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Restaurant
  • Business services
  • Bar
  • Laundry
  • Room service
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
De Vere Gardens, London, London, England, W8 5AF
  • Place, Kensington High Street
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Kensington Gardens
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Kensington Palace
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Airport, London (LHR-Heathrow)
    ‪56 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Double/Twin

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Executive Double/Twin

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Single room

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

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About the neighborhood

London

Located in London City Centre, Thistle Kensington Palace is next to popular attractions like Kensington High Street and Kensington Gardens. This 285-room hotel welcomes guests with conveniences like a restaurant, concierge services, and limo/town car service.

What's nearby

  • Kensington High Street - 1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Kensington Gardens - 1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Kensington Palace - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Royal Albert Hall - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Hyde Park - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles

Getting around

  • Kensington (Olympia) Underground Station - 4 min drive
  • High Street Kensington Station - 8 min walk
  • London City Airport (LCY) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Goat Tavern - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Joe & the Juice - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Origin Kensington - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Min Jiang - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Flat Iron - ‬5 min walk

About this property

Thistle Kensington Palace

Guests of Thistle Kensington Palace enjoy features like meeting rooms, conference space, and free newspapers. Transportation is made easy with limo/town car service. The 24-hour front desk has multilingual staff ready to assist with securing valuables, concierge services, and dry cleaning/laundry. Additional amenities include laundry facilities and an ATM.
TVs come with pay movies. Bathrooms offer hair dryers and free toiletries. Other standard amenities include coffee makers and desks.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Internet access (surcharge)
  • Available in some public areas: Internet access (surcharge)

Parking and transportation

  • Limo/town car service

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • In-room crib
  • Laundry facilities
  • Rollaway/extra bed

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Laundry facilities
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff

Business services

  • Conference space
  • Meeting rooms

Accessibility

  • Elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Crib
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Rollaway/extra bed

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom

Entertainment

  • Pay movies
  • TV with premium cable/satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Room service

More

  • Desk

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2 PM

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • This property doesn't allow pets

Children and extra beds

  • Rollaway/extra beds are available
  • Cribs/infant beds are available

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
  • Check-in: 2 PM
  • Check-out: noon
The front desk is open 24 hours a day.

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.

Property is also known as

Thistle Kensington London

Thistle Kensington Palace Hotel

Thistle Kensington Palace London

Thistle Kensington Palace Hotel London

Frequently asked questions

Is a free cancellation option available at Thistle Kensington Palace?

Thistle Kensington Palace provides free cancellation on certain room rates. For more details, take a look at the cancellation policy on our site.

What's there to do within easy reach of Thistle Kensington Palace?

This hotel is situated in London City Centre, just steps from Kensington High Street and Kensington Gardens, and within a short walk of Hyde Park. You'll also find Kensington Palace and Royal Albert Hall less than a mile away.

Is parking available on site at Thistle Kensington Palace?

No, this hotel doesn't offer parking.

Does Thistle Kensington Palace feature a casino on the premises?

No, Thistle Kensington Palace doesn't have a casino.

Will I find an indoor pool at Thistle Kensington Palace?

No, there is no indoor pool at this hotel.

Is Thistle Kensington Palace a good place to stay for couples?

Couples will appreciate amenities like a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and concierge services at this hotel.

Does Thistle Kensington Palace have a hot tub?

No, there isn't a spa tub at this hotel.

Does Thistle Kensington Palace have a restaurant that serves breakfast?

No, Thistle Kensington Palace doesn't have a restaurant that serves breakfast.

Will Thistle Kensington Palace allow pets to stay free of charge?

No, pets aren't allowed at Thistle Kensington Palace.

Does Thistle Kensington Palace have connecting rooms available?

No, this hotel doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.

How close is the airport from Thistle Kensington Palace?

The closest major airport to Thistle Kensington Palace is London City Airport (LCY), which is 11.4 mi away (58 minutes by car). Another top airport is Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is located 14.5 mi away (35-minute drive).

Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at Thistle Kensington Palace?

No, you won't find guestrooms with balconies at Thistle Kensington Palace.

Thistle Kensington Palace Reviews

Reviews

6.0
Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 31 reviews

6.8/10

Cleanliness

6.6/10

Staff & service

5.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Iain, London

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Great location

The hotel is in a great location on the edge of Hyde Park, the hotel was clean and tidy although it is starting to get very old.
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Pete, Sarasota, FL

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

It's Just OK

The rooms we had were very big for Europe, but that is all. They were old and very little up keep. The Staff was rude at best. The Bed we had was like sleeping on a cobble stone street. You would be much better off at the Kensington Close. They have smaller rooms but much, much, more comfortable and clean and safe. It is also close ( one block ) from the High Street Station.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Traveller, Scotland

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Not The Best

Not the best hotel we've stayed at! Obviously paying for the area and not the hotel. The hotel is in need of refurbishment and upgrade. Our room had missing lightbulbs, dirty nets and holes in the bed throw. The bathroom had broken tiles on the floor and the toilet seat was also broken across the middle. Grubby feel to the whole room. If we had been staying longer than the one night we would definitely have asked to have been moved.
Verified review

8/10 Good

David, Boston

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great room, great location

We had a beautiful and unexpectedly large room in a particularly nice part of the hotel, on the 4th floor overlooking the Kensington Gardens. Its a 5-minute walk to the Gloucester Road Tube Station and a 2-minute walk from some great little restaurants. Overall my wife and I were very pleased. The room was clean, the service fine, and the location wonderful.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Bryan, Sydney

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Good for the price - excellent for location

I thought the Thistle hotel would be in better shape, but it's very much an old style hotel in an old part of time - albeit a very nice part of town (I lived down the road for 6 months so know the area is VERY nice). Don't expect sweeping corridors and state of the art lifts, it's very much an old 1930s style hotel inside. Rooms are clean and comfortable, staff were helpful. I would recommend as it's great value for what you get, and the location. Not homeymoon material though.
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

julian, New York

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Bed

The bed was the major problem.... Old, convexed, sprung etc....... I asked about 3 times for it to be changed... to no avail.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Jon, Cardiff

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Typical business hotel for London

Price is ok considering the location near central london (5 stops on the tube) and the hotel, whilst impersonal, was ok
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Sonia, Cambridge

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not Impressed

We were staying in London for one night to see a show at the Royal Albert Hall and wanted somewhere close by but not too expensive. On the face of it this hotel ticked the boxes but, when we checked in, we were given the choice of a twin room (non-smoking) or a double room (smoking), despite booking a double non-smoking room. Being non-smokers the smell of stale cigarette smoke was abhorrent so chose the twin room option. Which was horrbile. On entering the room, it was clear that it was in need of modernisation (there were water stains on the wall-monted lampshades) and we had a lovely view of a rooftop. We complained and refused to budge. Reception staff gave us a complimentary upgrade to a 'deluxe double' room on the seventh floor. This too was quite shabby with peeling wallpaper, a broken picture light and a minibar abandoned in the middle of the room. The 'double' bed was two twin beds pushed together. All in all, the best thing about the room was the view of Kensington Palace and the gardens opposite and the location. In summary, the hotel itself is in desperate need of renovation and modernisation.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

James, World roamer in a wheelchair

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort

Not wheelchair accessible

after 2 nights they did find a sister holte North of Hyde park that was accessible. Thistle Kessington Gardens and Thistle Marble Arch's rooms are almost identical, would highly recomment these two Thistle holels. They did give back 50% for thos first two nights.
Verified review

8/10 Good

alain, france

Liked: Staff & service

qualite prix ok

les chambres meriteraient une mise à niveau
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Mina, New York

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Room for improvement

The hotel is desperately in need of renovation. The fire alarm went off twice during our six night stay. My key card had to be changed four times. The carpet was buckling and held in place by duct tape. The shower curtain fell down and wasn't fixed for two days. One of the elevators was out of service for three days.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Nathaniel, NYC metro area

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice Hotel

The room and bathroom were large (much larger than the typical budget hotel I stay at), coupled with the bargain price I paid, makes the hotel a super deal. It is a five minute walk from High Street Kensington stop on the circle and district lines.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Wolfgang, Düsseldorf

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort

Lage optimal zur Royal Albert Hall, mittelmäßiges Zimmer

Zimmer 512, Ausblick in alten Hinterhof, nicht beeindruckend, Flur mit muffeligem Teppichboden, Zimmer anfangs auch muffelig, mit offenem Fenster aber ok, sauber, im Bad keine Ablagen vorhanden und die Wanne schon ziemlich abgenutzt, wer es altenglisch mag, fuer den sicherlich ok freundlicher Service in der Bar, Einrichtung der Bar mit Hockern und Tischen eher lieblos drei Sterne gerade noch akzeptabel! Empfehlung daher auch eingeschränkt, jein, very british halt
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Bill, Vermont

Liked: Staff & service

Decent value for London

The staff is friendly & helpful, the location is upscale and the room was quiet. Things to look out for: 1) the shower was prone to hot water surges, and 2) although the hotel is listed as having high-speed internet access, we didn't use it as it came with a hefty charge per minute. Try the internet cafe down the street.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

AWi, Fürth, D

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Charm vergangener Tage

+ gute Lage (Kensington-/Hydepark), 15min mit Bus ins Zentrum, 7..8min zu Fuss zur U-Bahn; + Baustil und Ambiente hat was vom "Good old England" - Renovierungsbedürftig (Lichtschalter defekt, Toilettenbrille auf Nachfrage repariert, Fenster Scharnier herausgerissen, Teppiche durchgetreten) - Service des Personals beschränkt sich auf das notwendigste
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Laurent, Grasse-Magagnosc - France

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Idéalement placé, chambre spacieuse et agréable

Hôtel situé en face du parc de Kensington et des rues commerçantes. Idéal pour le shopping et la découverte des monuments historiques ou musées. L'hôtel est de style victorien ; le personnel est compétent et les chambres confortables, spacieuses et propres. Nous n'avons pas testé le restaurant. Nous avons aimé dans l'ensemble.
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Tom, Seattle, WA

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Location Great, but nothing else

When we checked in, London was very warm. We were given the Expedia special Rate, and so were assigned a room with no air conditioning. The room was stuffy and warm. The window, which looked out on an air shaft, would only open 12" and afforded us no breeze. As it was warm, over 90 degrees, we wanted to take a shower. We could not as the shower was broken and was not fixed until the next day. When it was fixed, the temperature control and water pressure were quite variable. We requested a fan, and had to make 4 additional requests before one was delivered, 12 hours after the original request. Need we say more?
Verified review

8/10 Good

Kathy, Western Massachusetts

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good budget accommodations.

My husband and I spent four nights here in late June. While the carpet is worn and the bathroom facilities dated, the hotel was clean, comfortable, and convenient. The hotel staff were helpful and friendly. I'd definitely stay here again.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Tonya, NY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Very nice location.

Very nice location, close to everything.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Helen, France

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Would definitely stay here again

Great location, very quiet, lovely room for price.
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Wendy

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Find Another Hotel

As a frequent business traveler to London, I want to strongly encourage other visitors to find another hotel at this very convenient location. The Thistle Kensington is outdated and understaffed. There are few services for business travelers. The Kensington High Street neighborhood is terrific with easy transport options and great restaurants. If you're looking for moderately priced accomodation in London, there are better destinations than this poorly maintained property.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

robert, indian trail,n.c.

Disliked: Room comfort

would recommend with reservations

would recommend with reservation,room adquate but the location is wonderful
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Dave, Los Angeles, CA

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Spartan at best

Well located old hotel. Torn, worn out carpeting and an overall run down condition. I thought saving money on a room would be a good idea but I won't do it again. Every day when I came back to my room I was disapointed. More like a two star than the three stars given.
Verified review

4/10 Poor

barbara, west hartford, CT

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Don't go

Just returned from out trip to the Thistle kensington palace. The room was the dreariest we had ever seen...view of the firescape and hallway carpet repaired with duct tape. In extreme need of an extreme makeover. The lobby sofas were thread bare and no minibar or refrigs in the room. If you like the smell of stale air and lingering smoke...the hotel's tavern/bar is the spot for you.We immediately asked for another room which was a better. Location was great...but would not stay again.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

John, St. Louis, Mo.

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location, poor accomodations

We were impressed by the location and exterior appearance of the hotel, but that's where the good impressions ended. The hotel is poorly maintained, the bed in our room was laughable. We jokingly referred to it as "Rice Krispies" because it snapped, crackled and popped every time you moved on the bed. It was extremely hard and when we asked for another room, we were told that all of the beds were the same. The elevators (lifts) were unreliable. They would occasional malfunction and refuse to let you out on your floor. One was completely out of order for a day, leaving us with one for the entire hotel. The location, however is excellent. It is just across the street from Kensington Park and Kensington Palace, within walking distance of shopping, including Harrods, and other attractions.