You know what? I’ve walked past The Franklin probably a dozen times without realizing it was there – which honestly tells you everything about this place. It sits on this impossibly quiet garden square in Knightsbridge, tucked away like some well-kept secret that locals guard pretty carefully. The building itself is one of those classic Victorian townhouses that London does so well, all white stucco and black railings, but somehow they’ve managed to make it feel intimate rather than stuffy.
The moment you step inside, you get why this is part of the Starhotels Collezione thing – it’s got that boutique hotel vibe down perfectly. I mean, we’re talking about 35 rooms here, so you’re never going to feel lost in some massive lobby full of tour groups. The interiors lean heavily into English country house territory, but not in that overdone way where everything’s chintz and hunting prints. More like… well, if your incredibly stylish aunt inherited a Georgian mansion and actually knew what to do with it. The staff genuinely seems to remember your name after one night, which is rare in London hotels, even the expensive ones.
Location-wise, you’re basically in the sweet spot of everything. Harrods is literally a three-minute walk – I timed it because I was skeptical – and you’ve got all of Sloane Street right there if shopping’s your thing. But here’s what I really love: you can cut through the back streets to reach Hyde Park Corner tube station in about eight minutes, which means you’re not stuck paying for cabs everywhere. The V&A and Natural History Museum are close enough to walk to on a decent day, and if you head down toward King’s Road, you’ll hit some of the better gastropubs in Chelsea. There’s this little Italian place called Scalini just around the corner that does incredible truffle pasta – ask the concierge, they’ll know exactly what you mean.
What really sets The Franklin apart is how quiet it is, especially considering you’re in Zone 1. Egerton Gardens faces inward toward the private garden square, so you don’t get the constant bus rumble that plagues most central London hotels. I stayed there during Fashion Week once (probably the worst possible timing) and barely heard any street noise. The rooms themselves feel more like elegant apartments than hotel rooms – good lighting, proper wardrobes, and bathrooms where you can actually move around. Fair warning though: if you’re used to massive American hotel rooms, these will feel cozy. But that’s sort of the point, isn’t it? You’re in London to be out exploring, not camping in your room.
The 8.2 rating makes sense to me – it’s genuinely excellent but not quite perfect. The Wi-Fi can be patchy on the upper floors, and breakfast is good but nothing revolutionary. Still, for that particular corner of London, with that level of service and the whole boutique experience, it hits exactly the right note. You feel like you’re staying somewhere special without all the pretense that usually comes with five-star territory.