Thistle London Hyde Park Kensington Gardens

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about the Thistle London Hyde Park? It’s actually right there on Bayswater Road where all the tour buses rumble past, but somehow once you’re inside, the city noise just melts away. I mean, you’re literally across from Hyde Park – not “near” the park like half the hotels in London claim, but actually facing those massive old trees and the Speaker’s Corner area.

The building itself has that classic London hotel feel – you know, the kind where the lobby has proper character but the lifts are a bit creaky (in a charming way, mostly). What I really appreciated was how the staff seemed to actually know the neighborhood. When I asked about getting to Notting Hill, the guy at the desk didn’t just point vaguely west – he told me exactly which exit from Queensway tube station would get me there fastest, and mentioned that Saturday mornings at Portobello Market are absolutely mental so maybe go Friday instead. That’s the kind of insider knowledge you don’t get from chain hotels where everyone’s from somewhere else entirely.

The rooms are honestly what you’d expect from a solid 4-star place – comfortable beds, decent-sized bathrooms, though the décor is sort of stuck in that safe hotel beige zone. Nothing wrong with it, just don’t expect anything Instagram-worthy. But here’s what actually matters: the windows are properly double-glazed (trust me, this is crucial on Bayswater Road), and if you get a park-facing room, watching the early morning joggers and dog walkers in Hyde Park while you’re having your coffee is pretty wonderful. The Wi-Fi actually works throughout the building – I know, revolutionary concept – and there’s enough plug points that you’re not doing weird furniture rearrangement to charge your devices.

Location-wise, this place is honestly brilliant for exploring London without feeling like you’re in the thick of tourist chaos every second. Marble Arch is a 10-minute walk, Lancaster Gate tube is practically next door, and you can cut through the park to get to South Kensington’s museums – which, by the way, takes about 25 minutes on foot through some of the nicest bits of Hyde Park. The little stretch of Queensway just behind the hotel has proper good ethnic restaurants (there’s a Lebanese place that does incredible mezze) and a few late-night shops when you realize you’ve forgotten toothpaste or whatever.

Is it perfect? Well, the breakfast is fine but nothing special, and sometimes the lifts take forever during busy periods. The fitness center is basically a small room with a few machines – don’t expect anything fancy. But honestly, for the price point and that location, it’s a really solid choice. Especially if you’re the type who wants to feel like you’re staying in an actual London neighborhood rather than some generic international hotel bubble. You’ll end up walking through the park constantly, which is exactly how London should be experienced anyway.

Rooms

• Standard Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Family Room with Garden View with 1 single bed and 1 double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Standard Twin Room with 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• Junior Suite with Garden View with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Deluxe Double with Garden View with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe Twin with Garden view with 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe King With Garden view with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child

Facilities