The Exhibitionist Hotel

Hotel Description

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a place called The Exhibitionist Hotel – the name had me picturing something a bit… well, you know. But walking into this gorgeous Victorian townhouse on Queensberry Place, I actually found myself in one of South Kensington’s most thoughtfully designed boutique spots. The location is pretty much perfect if you’re planning to museum-hop – you’re literally a three-minute walk from the V&A’s main entrance, and the Natural History Museum is just around the corner on Exhibition Road (which explains the cheeky name, by the way). What I love about this street is how quiet it stays despite being so central. You get all that Kensington elegance with the white stucco facades and garden squares, but none of the tourist chaos you’ll find on Cromwell Road.

The rooms themselves feel more like staying in a well-curated private residence than a typical hotel. There’s this interesting mix of contemporary art and classic British design that actually works – think rich jewel tones, velvet headboards, and some genuinely intriguing artwork that gives you something to look at during those inevitable London rain showers. The bathrooms are particularly well done, with proper rainfall showers and Penhaligon’s toiletries (a nice local touch). I mean, for a 5-star property, you’d expect quality, but it’s the little details that impressed me – like the fact that they actually have decent lighting for reading in bed, and the windows are properly soundproofed so you won’t hear the early morning delivery trucks that seem to plague every London street. The staff genuinely seem to know the neighborhood too, which is rarer than you’d think. When I asked about good pubs nearby, the concierge didn’t just hand me a generic list but actually walked me through which ones have the best Sunday roasts versus which are better for a quiet pint after museum fatigue sets in.

What really sets this place apart is how it feels authentically London without trying too hard. You’re staying in proper Kensington – the kind where locals walk their dogs in the garden squares and pop into Harrods for groceries – but you’re not paying Harrods prices for everything. The breakfast is served in this lovely conservatory-style space that catches the morning light beautifully, and they do a proper full English alongside more continental options. South Ken tube station is about a seven-minute walk, which puts you twenty minutes from anywhere you actually want to be in London. If you’re the type who likes to explore on foot, Hyde Park is right there for morning runs, and the whole museum quarter becomes your backyard. The 8.4 rating feels about right – it’s genuinely excellent without being flashy about it, which honestly feels very fitting for this corner of London.

Rooms

• Superior Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Superior Double Room with Balcony with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Drop Dead Gorgeous Splash Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Squint Penthouse Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Trash City Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Jimmie Martin Penthouse Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Squint Splash Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Standard Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Deluxe Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults

Facilities