Vicarage Hotel

Situated in a lovely townhouse in a very posh part of Kensington, the 17-room Vicarage Hotel is a simple yet sweet charmer. Its furnishings may be a bit worn, and its rates aren’t exactly Cheapo, but those looking for a cozy respite in a fabulous location will find this B&B worth a splurge.

Quick read

Pros: Homey atmosphere. Sought-after neighborhood. Great breakfast.

Cons: Can be pricey (but a good value for the location). No elevator. A bit outdated.

Rooms

Rooms at the Vicarage Hotel are full of yellows and peaches. Some would say the décor is a little tired, while others might find that rooms have a “lived-in” feel. Either way, wrought-iron (or good imitation, we suppose) beds set rooms apart from the boring chain hotel look so prevalent in London. Carpeted floors, framed prints and big oval mirrors are other nice touches.

Some rooms are huge and feel more like suites. The only downside we can come up with is that these rooms don’t have telephones (they do have a small TV and fan).

Bathrooms

We liked the cute bathrooms, with little diamond-shaped black-on-white tiles. Bargain-hunting travelers should be aware that the Vicarage’s rooms with shared bath are considerably cheaper than those with private facilities. Hair dryers are available at reception.

Hotel

Beyond rooms, there is also a television lounge for social hour. Guests of the Vicarage Hotel include lots of business travelers from North America and Europe.

The folks at the Vicarage are especially proud of their full English breakfast, included in the room rate. Free Wi-Fi is also available. Note that the hotel does not have an elavator.

Location

Rates may seem a bit steep, but keep in mind that you’re paying for location. The Vicarage Hotel is uncommonly affordable for Kensington, and is positioned more or less halfway between the Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington Tube stations. Both are about seven minutes by foot from the guesthouse, and Hyde Park, Portabello Market and Knightsbridge are all close by.

Reserving at the Vicarage Hotel

As we point out above, the hotel does not offer online reservations. You will need to call the hotel directly to reserve a room (click the “more information” link below for the phone number).

If you prefer to book your hotel online, do a CheapoSearch (using the box above) to determine properties available for your dates.