You know what struck me first about The Harrington? It’s one of those white Victorian townhouse hotels that looks exactly like what you’d picture a proper London hotel should be – and honestly, it delivers on that promise. Tucked into this quiet residential crescent in South Kensington, you’re literally a three-minute walk from Gloucester Road tube station, which I mean, that’s gold for getting anywhere in London without the tourist circus you get closer to Hyde Park Corner. The building itself has that solid, understated elegance thing going on – no flashy signage or doormen in ridiculous uniforms, just quality you can actually feel when you walk through those original Victorian doors.
What really won me over was how they’ve managed to keep the character without making you feel like you’re staying in a museum. The rooms have these lovely high ceilings and big windows (well, big for London standards), and while some of the bathrooms are on the cozy side – this is a heritage building after all – everything feels thoughtfully updated. The staff actually knows the neighborhood, too, which is rarer than you’d think. They pointed me toward this fantastic little Italian place on Harrington Road that I never would’ve found otherwise, and when I mentioned wanting to avoid the crowds at the V&A, they suggested the perfect time to slip in through the Exhibition Road entrance. The breakfast room gets proper morning light, and honestly, their full English is better than most pubs manage – though if you’re more of a continental person, don’t expect anything too fancy on that front.
Here’s the thing about the location that makes it special – you’re right in the heart of museum land, but Harrington Gardens itself is this peaceful little pocket where actual Londoners live. I’d wake up to the sound of school kids walking to the French Lycée rather than tour buses, which was actually lovely. The Natural History Museum is literally around the corner, and you can cut through the side streets to Harrods if that’s your thing, but you’re also perfectly positioned for those gorgeous garden squares that most visitors never discover. Sure, the area gets busy during school holidays, and rooms facing the main road can pick up some traffic noise, but honestly? For a 4-star place with this much character in one of London’s priciest neighborhoods, The Harrington feels like finding a local secret that happens to take hotel bookings. It’s the kind of place where you start planning your next London trip before you’ve even checked out.