Garden Court Hotel

Deep in the heart of Bayswater, on the very verdant Kensington Gardens Square, sits the Garden Court Hotel, a sweet and simple family-run spot that has been plying its trade since 1954.

Quick read...

Pros: Quiet, pretty location. Cozy, homey vibe. Lovely garden. Elevator.
Cons: A little pricey for what it is.

Rooms

The Garden Court Hotel’s 32 rooms are standard-issue and quite minimalist in terms of design: Ikea-like beds and desks, busy print wallpaper, with often clashing print bedspreads. Still, they are comfortable with a homey feel. Each room is equipped with a telephone, flat-screen TV and little else.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms are, again, quite unremarkable, although we noted with pleasure the free-standing showers. Many rooms have private bathrooms, while the cheapest quarters share facilities. Some bathrooms are comically small. A hair dryer is available in all rooms.

Hotel

The plusses at the Garden Court Hotel are many. It’s located in a charming, historic building, with delightfully appointed common rooms and a pretty ivy-covered back garden—and all in an upscale neighborhood that isn’t overwhelmed with tourists. There’s an elevator in the building as well, a perk not always on offer in small guesthouses located in older buildings. It’s very tiny, but an elevator nonetheless.

Rates are slightly higher than the budget hotel average for the neighborhood, but not dramatically so. Note that single and double rooms with shared facilities are markedly less expensive than those with private facilities. At Garden Court, expect to run into a mixed clientele of students and families.

A breakfast buffet is included in the room rate, or guests can pay an additional fee for a cooked breakfast. Complimentary hot drinks are also available throughout the day in the tranquil garden area. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and there is also an Internet station in the lounge (for a small charge)