Honestly, when I first walked up to the Mornington Victor Hotel on Belgrave Road, I wasn’t expecting much – I mean, it’s tucked between Victoria Station and the posher bits of Belgravia, so you sort of brace yourself for either total chaos or stuffiness. But you know what? This place actually gets it right. The lobby has this warm, lived-in feeling without being shabby, and the staff seemed genuinely pleased to see me rather than going through the motions. Check-in was refreshingly quick too, which matters when you’ve been dragging luggage through the Tube.
The location is honestly brilliant if you know London at all. You’re literally a three-minute walk from Victoria Station – and I mean the kind of three minutes where you’re not huffing and puffing with your suitcase. That means direct trains to Gatwick (massive win), plus you’ve got the District and Circle lines right there. But here’s the thing locals know: Belgrave Road itself is actually pretty quiet despite being so close to all the transport links. The Georgian terraces block most of the station noise, though you’ll definitely hear the occasional ambulance heading to St. George’s Hospital. What really sold me was discovering Pimlico Road is just around the corner – proper neighborhood feel with great little cafes and that amazing cheese shop, La Fromagerie Pimlico, where you can grab supplies for impromptu picnics in nearby St. James’s Park.
The rooms themselves feel properly London without being cramped (well, not too cramped anyway). Mine had these tall windows that actually opened – you’d be surprised how many hotels have given up on that basic pleasure. The bathroom was compact but well thought out, with decent water pressure and toiletries that didn’t smell like industrial cleaner. I appreciated the little touches too: proper tea setup with actual milk in the mini-fridge, USB ports where you need them, and blackout curtains that work. The whole place has this sort of boutique hotel vibe without the boutique hotel prices, if that makes sense. Sure, the hallway carpets are a bit tired and you can occasionally hear your neighbors, but honestly? For a four-star in this part of London, it punches well above its weight. The breakfast room gets lovely morning light, and they do a proper full English alongside continental options. Just avoid the lift during busy checkout times – it’s one of those charming vintage numbers that takes its sweet time.