Holiday Inn London-Kensington Forum

Excellent Location, Definitely not 4 star!

Excellent location in S. Kensington area; easy walk to Natural History and V&A Museums, Royal Albert Hall & Hyde Park; one block from Gloucester Road tube station; Earl’s Court tube station is also within a 5 - 10 min walking distance; together with the bus stops on Cromwell Rd (front of hotel) all parts of London are easily accessible; that and the city view from the top floors are about the only pluses for this Holiday Inn. Service, more often than not, is sub-par with check-in always an ordeal. I’ve stayed here at least 3 times ’cause of its location on the Piccadilly Line (to/from LHR) so I should know. Rooms are also nothing to write home about; bathrooms are adequate but as with everything in the room, towels, trash can, and accessories tend towards the small side of things; towels seem about the size of most hand towels; TV (if you want to watch) is tiny as well at 13"; and on one stay, our bathroom needed maintenance as the drain smelled putrid; food definitely is not worth it with Waitrose and Sainsbury right outside the hotel doors; not to mention the myriad of other great London eateries in the surrounding area! Take it for a 3 star and use it for location but don’t expect much more than that.

Better Than I Expected

I read a number of reviews for a variety of hotels, it helped set my expectation (rooms are small). I was expecting a small room, and it was. However, it was still a little bigger than I imagined. I asked for 2 twin beds (went to the Patriots game with my son) and that’s exactly what I got. Location was great (around the corner form the Gloucester Rd tube stop which is a direct shot from Heathrow). Room was clean and very functional. Hotel staff friendly and very helpful. Was happy they had a (one) US standard outlet for my small electronic devices. Next time I’d bring a small power bar so I can connect camera, cell phone, blackberry all at once - but we were able to manage anyway. Overall I was very happy with the hotel, location & staff. I would stay there again. My wife, had she came, might have a slightly different review (size of the room and bathroom - small but functional), for us two guys it was fine. MY compliments to Expedia for helping me select this hotel. One word of caution (which I discovered by surprise), the London subway system (tube) shuts down around midnight depending on day of week, so rider beware)

The London Eye is a must do, also the tower of London and he Tower Bridge. We took the train to Paris (round trip same day - it was cost effective - never having been there before it gave me the oppotunity to visits sites I had only heard about - Notre Dame, Louvre, Eiffel Tower etc.). Wish I had more time but with juts 4 full days in LOndon this was a great way to spend one of them.

Fine budget hotel, good location

This hotel was fine - good budget hotel, good location. Room was small, but adequate and with a *terrific* view of the London skyline! Go to Paul’s for breakfast (near the tube).