Located in London’s culturally rich South Kensington district—just a 10-minute walk from the Victoria and Albert Museum—The Kensington hotel is housed within a row of grand, white-stucco town houses.
Its public areas have classical proportions and feature high ceilings, columns and open fireplaces. The interior design is contemporary, however, the result of a collaboration between the property’s owner, Doyle Collection, and the internationally renowned, Kensington-based firm, Timothy Mather Design. Sumptuous fabrics and an opulent palette, with abundant use of gold and cream, create an exceptionally calm and relaxing environment. Artwork in a variety of styles—Constructivist, Impressionist, Contemporary—curated by the Chairman of The Doyle Collection, Bernadette Doyle Gallagher, is strategically placed throughout the hotel, adding vibrant splashes of color and creating a distinctive sense of place. All of the property’s 146 guest rooms and suites have been individually decorated and come with statement headboards and wallpapers.
The stylish oak-paneled K Bar—the social center of the property—is adorned with artworks inspired by history and travel and is widely known for its imaginative craft cocktails. The current Hidden Gems menu features gemstone-themed colored drinks inspired by the blockbuster Cartier Exhibition at the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum (exhibit through November 16).
The Kensington cultivates a close relationship with the V&A, and hotel guests have privileged access to tickets, even to sold-out shows. Up next is “Marie Antoinette Style,” which opens on September 20. The exhibit will include artifacts on loan from the Palace of Versailles that have never been seen before outside of France. I’m told that during the exhibition, the hotel’s afternoon tea service will include indulgent pastries inspired by Marie Antoinette’s notorious remark, “Let them eat cake!”
The Kensington provides a stylish base in an ideal location, surrounded by many of London’s leading cultural institutions. It is a hotel that manages to be both grand and extremely hospitable, a trick made possible by the unusually charming staff and the wonderfully friendly and attentive service that they provide.
