We inquired about the oddly named Abcone Hotel in London, only to learn that its name is actually pretty straight-forward: it’s the first three letters of the alphabet followed by “one.” So much for our advance online research efforts to determine a place name or Romance language origin for the word.
Abcone Hotel’s reception area is glittery and chandeliered, and it runs counter to rooms. The hotel’s 38 en suite rooms, some with bathtubs, cleave aesthetically to a familiar chain hotel template. Matching bedspreads and curtains enforce a purple-and-gold directive. Furniture is pretty standard-issue as well. Bed units are of tan pressboard, and blockish bedside tables match. Bathrooms feature marble-topped sinks and nicely tiled floors. Showers are standalone.
The hotel’s location in South Kensington, not far from Earls Court, is very quiet. Though the neighborhood is indisputably central, Abcone’s corner of the city has only light tourist traffic. The hotel’s clientele is truly international, with a range of corporate and leisure travelers. For its medium-cheap rates and friendly team, Abcone is a good bet, particularly for visitors to London who don’t mind being away from the center of the action.
Continental breakfast is included; English breakfast is extra. And while Wi-Fi saturates the building, it also costs extra.
» Vivien Kim Thorp
Note: This hotel was visited by a EuroCheapo editor and is recommended based on cleanliness, location, price and overall quality. EuroCheapo did not charge this hotel to be listed.
About the Abcone Hotel neighborhood
Sandwiched between the posh neighborhoods of Kensington and Chelsea (and next to Earls Court), South Kensington is home to a quite few sightseeing gems, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, Imperial College, and the Royal College of Music. A wealthy neighborhood, South Kensington is a bit livelier (and cheaper) than adjacent hoods thanks to the students and tourists on its streets. You'll find clusters of restaurants and shops around the South Kensington and Gloucester Road Tube stations. Kensington Gardens forms the area's northern border.
more about South Kensington