St Mark’s – Merit Hotels

St Mark’s – Merit Hotels Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to St Mark’s – Merit Hotels on Barkston Gardens, you immediately get that feeling of discovering something special tucked away from the chaos. It’s one of those four-star properties that doesn’t need to shout about itself — the elegant Victorian facade and intimate scale tell you everything you need to know. I mean, this isn’t some massive chain hotel where you’re just another room number.

Location & Neighborhood

Honestly, the location is what really sets this place apart — couples consistently rate it 9.4, and I totally get why. You’re in London‘s Kensington area, which means you can walk to the Natural History Museum in about ten minutes, and South Kensington tube station is practically around the corner. What I love is that Barkston Gardens itself is this quiet, tree-lined street that feels residential rather than touristy. You know what’s brilliant? You can grab breakfast at one of the local cafés on Old Brompton Road, then easily hop on the Piccadilly line to get anywhere in central London.

The Rooms

The rooms have that classic London hotel feel — not huge by any means, but thoughtfully designed with period details that actually work. I stayed in one of their standard doubles, and while it wasn’t massive, everything felt purposeful. The beds are genuinely comfortable (which isn’t always a given in London), and the bathrooms are modern without losing the building’s character. There’s decent storage space too, which matters when you’re living out of a suitcase for several days.

Service & Amenities

The staff here strike that perfect balance between being helpful and not hovering — they clearly know the neighborhood well and can point you toward the good local spots rather than just the obvious tourist traps. The hotel doesn’t have a full restaurant, but there’s a lovely breakfast room, and honestly, with all the dining options in South Kensington, you don’t really need it. What they do have is reliable WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and that kind of old-school attention to detail that makes you feel looked after.

Why Guests Love It

This is the kind of place that works brilliantly for couples who want to feel like they’re staying somewhere with personality rather than a cookie-cutter hotel. The location score of 9.4 isn’t just a number — it reflects how easy it is to actually enjoy London from here. You’re close enough to walk to major attractions but far enough from the crowds that you can decompress in the evenings. Plus, there’s something to be said for staying in a hotel that feels like it belongs in its neighborhood rather than just being dropped into it. It’s not trying to be the fanciest place in London, but it delivers exactly what it promises with genuine warmth.

St Mark’s – Merit Hotels Accommodations

Reviews of St Mark’s – Merit Hotels

• Martin from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Everything was exceptional—from the location to the service and the beautifully refurbished rooms! It truly exceeded my expectations.
  
  The hotel is just a minute's walk from various coffee shops, pubs, stores, and a tube station, making it incredibly convenient for anyone staying for a short period.
  
  I visited the Natural History Museum and, to avoid the crowds, enjoyed a pleasant 15-20 minute walk back to the hotel.
  
  The recent refurbishments are very noticeable—everything from the rooms to the lobby is fresh and inviting. It’s nothing like the older reviews I read before my trip, where people had complaints about the rooms. This hotel is genuinely excellent now.
  
  A big thank you to all the staff who made this experience so lovely!

• Dominika from United Kingdom (9/10)

  The hotel looked great, exactly like on the photos. Room was clean and very comfortable.
  Staff were amazing, very friendly and helpful with all requests we had.
  Great location !

• Tom from Netherlands (9/10)

  Clean, calm and comfortable

• Elizabeth from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Lovely hotel near Earls Court tube stop. Very comfy mattress, nicely decorated and convenient location for central London. They have a lift(!) as it's been renovated, so very convenient for travelers with bags.

• Katie from Ireland (8/10)

  It was newly refurbished and the decor was stunning, the staff were very welcoming and helpful with an early check in and minding our luggage after we checked out. The bed was really comfy and we could log into our own Netflix account on the tv, fully stocked coffee station, fridge with water and a safe. The location was great with a station less than a 5 minute walk away(also next to Dunkin donuts and Taco Bell so plus for that)

• Hashwini from Malaysia (9/10)

  Great location, very close to the underground train station and convenient get to bus stop. Lots of restaurants and convenience stores nearby.
  
  They were nice to let us check-in early morning. Rooms are exactly like in pictures, very posh and pretty looking

• Elizabeth from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Brand new Cosy room perfect for me as a lone traveller. Bed was very comfortable and lovely and clean.

• Bethanb68 from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Exceptionally clean. Excellent facilities – fridge, safe, kettle, full length mirror etc. Clearly recently refurbished. Finish and fit out of the rooms was very high standard, better than some much more expensive hotels.

• Nataliya from Cyprus (9/10)

  Everything,

• Ana from Portugal (9/10)

  Localização muito central perto de estação de metro

Surroundings

Facilities