Gem Strathmore Hotel

Hotel Description

Honestly, the Gem Strathmore caught me off guard – in a good way. You know how some hotels try too hard with flashy lobbies but fall short everywhere else? This isn’t one of those places. It’s tucked into Queens Gate Gardens, which is actually one of those lovely tree-lined streets that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a proper London neighborhood rather than tourist central. I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from Hyde Park’s corner near the Albert Memorial, but it feels worlds away from the chaos around South Ken station.

The building itself has that classic white stucco facade thing going on – very Kensington, very “I could actually live here if I won the lottery.” What really struck me was how quiet it gets once you’re inside, even though you’re so close to everything. The rooms aren’t huge (this is London, after all), but they’re thoughtfully done with decent storage and – thank god – proper blackout curtains. The beds are actually comfortable, which honestly can be hit or miss with boutique places. I stayed on the third floor and could hear the occasional bus on Gloucester Road, but nothing that kept me up. Pro tip: if you’re a light sleeper, maybe ask for a room facing the garden side.

Staff-wise, they genuinely seem to know the area well. The front desk guy gave me directions to this brilliant little coffee shop on Harrington Road that I never would’ve found otherwise, and he was spot-on about timing the walk to the V&A (eight minutes, not the fifteen minutes Google Maps insists on). The whole check-in process was refreshingly straightforward – no upselling, no lengthy explanations of obvious amenities.

What I really appreciated was the location’s sweet spot factor. You’re close enough to pop over to Harrods or the museums without planning your whole day around transport, but you’re also near actual residential streets where you can grab groceries or find a proper pub that isn’t charging tourist prices. The 74 bus literally stops right outside and takes you straight up to Oxford Street, or you can walk to South Kensington tube in about seven minutes – I timed it because I’m weird like that.

Look, it’s not going to blow your mind with fancy amenities or Instagram-worthy common areas, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. The 7.5 rating feels about right – it’s solid, reliable, and well-located without any major surprises (good or bad). If you’re the type who wants to actually explore London rather than spend time hanging out in your hotel, this works really well. Just don’t expect a gym or room service menu – you’re paying for location and comfort, not bells and whistles.

Rooms

• Superior Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults
• Executive Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Standard Single Room with 1 single bed for 1 adult
• Executive Twin Room with 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior Twin Room with 2 single beds for 2 adults
• Comfort Triple Room with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Quadruple Room with 2 single beds and 1 double bed for 4 adults, 2 children

Facilities