The Harrington – Gloucester Road – 1 Harrington Gardens

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about The Harrington? It’s one of those perfectly preserved Victorian townhouses that somehow manages to feel grand without being stuffy. Walking up to the entrance on Harrington Gardens – which is actually this lovely tree-lined street that most tourists never stumble across – you immediately get why Kensington has that reputation. The building itself has this gorgeous white facade that practically glows in the afternoon light, and honestly, it photographs better than half the famous landmarks you’ll queue up for.

The location is absolutely brilliant, though I mean that in the most practical sense. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Gloucester Road tube station, which connects you to the Piccadilly, Circle, and District lines – so basically anywhere you want to go in London is pretty straightforward. But here’s the thing that really sold me on the area: you’re close enough to the touristy bits (the V&A is maybe a seven-minute walk, Hyde Park even closer) but far enough from the chaos that you can actually hear yourself think. The neighborhood has this residential feel where you’ll see locals walking their dogs and popping into the little Tesco Express around the corner. Speaking of which, there’s a proper good Lebanese restaurant called Maroush just down the road that’s open late – discovered that gem on my second night when I was too tired to venture far.

The hotel itself feels like staying in someone’s very well-appointed London home, if that someone happened to have excellent taste and deep pockets. The rooms aren’t massive – I mean, this is London, so you’re not getting Vegas-sized suites – but they’re thoughtfully designed with these lovely period details like high ceilings and original moldings. The staff actually seem to know what they’re doing, which you’d be surprised how rare that is. Check-in was smooth, they had proper recommendations when I asked about dinner spots, and housekeeping was pretty unobtrusive. The breakfast room gets decent natural light, though it can get a bit busy around 8:30 AM when the business travelers are rushing off. One small thing – the walls aren’t paper-thin, but you might hear the occasional footstep from upstairs if you’re a light sleeper. Nothing deal-breaking, just worth mentioning. With an 8.6 rating, it’s clearly hitting the mark for most people, and honestly, after staying there, I get why. It’s the sort of place that makes you feel like you’ve got a proper base in London rather than just somewhere to crash between sightseeing marathons.

Rooms

• Large Studio with 1 double bed for 2 adults
• Large Open Plan One Bedroom with 1 double bed and 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• One Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Large One Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 double bed for 4 adults, 2 children
• Executive One Bedroom Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Penthouse Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Executive Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 2 children

Facilities