Kensington Suite Hotel

The lap of luxury it ain’t, but the three-star Kensington Suite Hotel is a solid value in a pricey neighborhood. Each of its 40 air-conditioned guest rooms offers a private bathroom, flat-screen TV, minibar and phone, and kitchenettes (toaster, microwave, fridge and coffeemaker) make them an especially good deal for self-catering guests.

The basics

• Excellent value. The Kensington Suite Hotel offers very low rates for this coveted neighborhood, making it a great deal for unfussy guests looking for a central, cheap sleep.

• Teensy rooms with good facilities. “Suite” might be the wrong word to describe these minuscule rooms, but a fridge and microwave offer added value, and guests report that rooms are very clean.

• Some guest complaints. Guests primarily complain about room size and noise (both common problems in hotels throughout London. Some also say that the bathrooms don’t have the best ventilation, and a few mention that their rooms did not have a microwave (ask ahead if this is important).

• Elevator. Elevators can be hard to come by in London, especially in budget hotels, so for heavy packers or those with mobility issues this is a definite perk.

• Breakfast is included in the room rate. Guests complain that it’s basic and the breakfast room is small (but hey, it’s free).

• Extra charges. The Kensington Suites Hotel charges extra for Internet access and luggage storage.

• Wi-Fi is available for an additional charge in the public areas.

Location

Location is the Kensington Suite Hotel’s best asset. Upscale Kensington is not known for affordable hotels, but this budget baby offers easy access to Holland Park, Kensington High Street, Notting Hill and a number of Tube lines. Kensington Palace, Hyde Park and Earl’s Court are all within a half-hour walk.

• Tube: The Kensington Suite Hotel is a five-minute walk from the Kensington Olympia stop on the London Overground line, as well as the Shepherd’s Bush stop on the Central line.