Best Western Mornington Hotel Hyde Park

Hotel Description

You know what? I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to the Best Western Mornington Hotel on Lancaster Gate, I wasn’t expecting much. It’s one of those classic white Victorian terraces that line this stretch near Hyde Park, and from the outside it looks pretty standard for the area. But actually stepping inside was a pleasant surprise.

The thing about this place is the location – and I mean really understanding what that location gives you. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Hyde Park (I timed it), which means morning jogs around the Serpentine or just escaping the London chaos whenever you need to breathe. But here’s what the hotel websites don’t tell you: Lancaster Gate tube station is right there, and it’s on the Central line, so you can get to Oxford Circus in about 10 minutes without changing trains. That’s gold in London terms. The staff actually know this stuff too – they’ll tell you to walk through the park to get to Kensington Palace instead of taking the long way around on the streets.

What I really appreciated was how the hotel feels once you’re settled in. The rooms aren’t huge (this is London, after all), but they’re thoughtfully laid out with decent storage and – thank god – proper blackout curtains. Lancaster Gate can get a bit noisy with traffic, especially if you’re facing the main road, but honestly it’s just London being London. The beds are actually comfortable, which isn’t always a given with chain hotels. I mean, the décor is pretty standard Best Western fare, nothing that’ll blow your mind, but it’s clean and functional. The bathrooms are surprisingly well-appointed for a 4-star – good water pressure and they’ve clearly been updated recently.

Here’s something I didn’t expect: the breakfast room has this lovely view over some of the garden squares that make this part of Bayswater so charming. It’s not a fancy buffet or anything, but sitting there in the morning with proper coffee (not the awful instant stuff some places try to pass off) while looking out at actual greenery – well, it starts your day right. The 7.3 rating makes sense to me because this isn’t a luxury experience, but it’s solid and reliable with genuine moments that feel special.

One thing worth mentioning – if you’re coming in winter, this area of London can feel a bit quiet in the evenings, but that’s actually nice if you want to decompress. In summer though, you’ve got people spilling out of the pubs along Praed Street and families heading to the park until late. The hotel itself tends to attract a mix of business travelers and tourists who’ve done their homework about location versus price. Check-in was smooth when I was there, no drama, and they held my bags when I arrived early which saved me dragging a suitcase around Portobello Market. Sometimes it’s these little practical things that make a place work.

Rooms

• Twin Room with 2 single beds and 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Executive Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Single Room with 1 single bed for 1 adult
• Executive Suite – Split Level with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Family Room (2 Adults + 2 Children) with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 2 adults, 2 children
• Economy Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults

Facilities