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Finally, a real Victorian House! About five stories high, and a short stroll from Kensington Palace, the Vicarage is a wonderful throw back to good ol' Victorian Britain. (This goes for payments as well, which are accepted only in cash and recorded with a handwritten receipt!)
At the Vicarage, large floral arrangements greet you on every landing. Paintings of the English countryside and Victorian scenes of gentrified fox hunting are dotted about all over the place. And there's even fine china behind a tall wood-carved cabinet. The lounge feels like a living room, and the included breakfast (a full English) is served with Colman's mustard, brown sauce, and Marmite. If you are looking for that perfectly nuanced English experience, then this place ought to do the trick!
Rooms are simple, and decor is effortless and simple, adding the charm of the home. Furniture varies from Victorian-inspired to modern country cottage. Of the 18 bedrooms, only a few are en suite. Request ahead. And the shared bathrooms, we must admit, could use a bit of sprucing up: the floor is linoleum, the showers are small, and the toilets sit pretty close by.
Be advised: the hotel is a bit of a trek from the nearest tube station and a little hidden among London's infamous side streets (you could get lost trying to find it basically). However, if you want to keep it real, in UK style, this is a good place to stay. Many, many a guidebook agrees with our conclusion, so book early.
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