Seraphine London Kensington Gardens

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$190
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.

About

3.5
#797 of 1,170 hotels in London
Location
4.6
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
3.7
Value
3.6
This modern, intimate, chic hotel is the perfect choice for either a pleasurable few days holiday or short business trip. The Seraphine, KENSINGTON GARDENS is conveniently located near the stylish High Street Kensington shops, Holland Park, major tourist attractions, tour buses and tube station.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Safe
Telephone
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Laptop safe
Wake-up service / alarm clock
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English

Location

9 Kensington High Street, London W8 5NP England
550Reviews13Q+A100Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Julia S wrote a review May 2013
120 contributions59 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
first a couple of positive words: The location is wonderfull, the room is very clean and stylish furnished!
now back to reality:
The staff is absolutly helpless, the hotel is no way 4 stars hotel, it is good 3star level. There is no mini-bar (no small fridge) in the room, there is no sewing cit, no shower cup, no shampoo, I even do not mention the bathrobe...the room is very very small, we stayed here for 6 nights, it is very uncomfortable. If you bring one big suitcase you should know that there is no place in the room to place it) the bed is actually to short for people over 1,8m).the hotel suggest the full english breakfast for 10 gbp, which is brought by hotels staff from the Giraffe cafe whish is simply next door (I saw it myself) ...the WiFi has very pure signal (I stayed in the room 206 second floor), I had to use the Giraffe Cloud WiFi, I think it is simply unacceptable and it is a shame for the 4star hotel.i would never recommend this hotel for my friends and for long stays
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Date of stay: April 2013
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
2.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OccasionalTravellerz wrote a review Mar 2013
Edmonton, Canada198 contributions174 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Unless you're quite wealthy, staying in London becomes a matter of compromise to fit your budget.
We chose to cut on space to keep a central location with great bus and good tube access and a clean facility.
Seraphine Kensington Gardens (SKG) overall met our expectations quite nicely in a very compact room. (about 1m around three sides of the bed is what you get).

In pouring over other SKG reviews, we knew we wanted a high floor room and not 102 because of the noise issues.
We made a request with follow-up a few days before arrival.
After flying all night from Canada, we arrived at the hotel quite early, but were quite tired from not getting my usual sleep on the plane. Planning on dropping luggage and doing an easy touring day 'til we drop, we check in.
"Sir, your room is ready". Great, we can drop the luggage & freshen up, but... it's room 102. Only one available for that night.
They will move us up following day. Rather than blow a fuse, I thought our sleepless flight & jetlag can probably beat any noisy neighbours and we accept that room for the night.
We crash exhausted at 9, but at 330 am I wake up to the noise of a pub at hotel across the street emptying out. Back asleep at a little after 5 AM. My wife did sleep through this racket.
Thus we concur with all others before that the pub noise across the road, and the pub next door is greater than Jetlag. Try to avoid this room even if you think you're a heavy sleeper with no ear plugs.

Next night we're up in room 405 facing the back of the building. The Silence is wonderful. Room is a few mm larger than previous room, very clean as well and well maintained.Also this bathroom is "slightly" bigger also. The staff was friendly, courteous and helpful.If you're on the fourth floor, make sure to utilize the elevator provided.It is for all even though it appears as if it's a handicap elevator. Quite likely as the elevator (installed 2009) is retrofitted into the building built many years earlier.

Breakfasts here had a good selection of cereals, juices, yogurts, pastries, hard boiled eggs, Nespresso machine and pkg's of Marmite for those who wish to try this British stuff on their toast (keep the layer very very thin).

Water pressure from the showers in nothing short of incredible. (I've never said that about a hotel before!)

If/When we return to London we will definitely stay here again. Cleanliness and speed you can get to places with about 6 bus routes running just across the street and the tube about 3 blocks west makes it a great home base.

If it wasn't for the initial issue of reservations, I'd have given 5 roundels instead of 4.

Other tips:

Getting to SKG skip the expensive fast trains from Heathrow, as you will still need to drag your bags to the regular tube/bus to get to your destination.
On your way to the tube at Heathrow, buy your Oyster card at the entrance to the tube station (don't pre-order by mail) within the air terminal. To get there without dragging your bags up and down multiple stairs to get different tube lines follow these directions and you only have one set of steps to contend with. Get on Picadilly (blue line) Line at Heathrow, when you arrive at Hammersmith Station, exit train and walk across the island platform and get on first district line (green line) train. Exit train at Earls Court station. Wait at the same spot until you see a District(green) or Circle(yellow) line pulling in that says either High St Kensington, or Edgware Rd. Ride up one stop and you're at Kensington High Street Station. Exit and walk up the 31 steps and you're at street level.Travel time is 45-50 minutes.
Upon exiting the pass gates/turnstyles if you're hungry from your flight, to your immediate left is popular Soup/Sandwich shop and a Coffee shop.
As you walk through the station/retail area toward street, on the Right side just before you reach the street is a cellular store where you can pick up a SIM for your phone if it's unlocked. At time of writing it was best deal in UK with unlimited data for 30 days for 15 pounds.(making data based voice/video easy to keep in touch with family/friends).
Turn Right and walk for about 3-4 minutes until you see the Spaghetti House sign and you're at your almost hidden entrance way. IF you need luggage assistance, press the button as you walk in door so staff can carry bags up first flight to elevator level for you.Enjoy your stay.

If you need a quick bite to eat right by hotel, on one side is Giraffe for breakfast or lunch (skip supper at this place). Other side is Spaghetti House for lunch or supper (our fav was Salmon Pasta dish). Walking towards tube station Fouberts has good deserts, pass on all other food items there. Best two restaurants we tried in the area was walking a block towards tube station, there's a little cobblestone alley way you walk down to the left. On One side is Cote, and other side is Prezzo. Both are very good with Cote winning by a nose.

An unlocked smart phone is Golden allowing London Transport and other map apps to get your around and TopTable to help you save time and $ & book dinner reservations at good prices. If your phone isn't unlocked, you can still utilize wifi in London however I'd suggest a VPN connection to protect your privacy from hackers.

Take advantage of London 2-for-1 offers, make sure you have a correct paper Travelcard you need to benefit.
We used the Oyster card to go in/out of Heathrow and TravelCard for all travel in zones 1&2 on tube/bus. We purchased our TravelCard at Victoria station where there is a big Rail Ticket office with lots of real people to help. A little internet searching will make it easier for you to build your own London Toolkit. When you arrive at Heathrow for your departure, you can return your Oyster card for full credit of what you've not used.
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Date of stay: February 2013
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: High floor, Most quiet at back, but better views towards street.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hayley M wrote a review Apr 2014
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom38 contributions28 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
I wanted to write a good review about this hotel- I really did. I was trying to decide whether it deserved 2 or 3 stars, but gave it the benefit of the doubt. The guy who sits at reception is super nice and breakfast isn't bad with fruit and yogurt, croissants, meat and cheese, hard boiled eggs and cereal. Our bedroom area was nice- we got the triple room because I was there with my mom and her friend. We liked the location- basically right across from the Kensington gate and a couple blocks from the High Street Kensington tube. The Big Bus hop on hop off bus also comes right in front of the hotel which is nice.

The thing that really bothered me was the bathroom. We were in a handicapped room (first of all, it doesn't make sense because you had to use stairs from the elevator to get there). The shower was weird and was basically all these folding doors that went up to your waist and a shower curtain that went all around. Okay that's fine and I'll even look over the fact that it's extremely hard to get in and reseal the doors so water doesn't leak all over.

What was disgusting was the shower curtain was all covered in mildew and there was a handicapped seat in there that was all rusted and also covered with mildew. It gave the bathroom a foul smell. They even had an air freshener in there to mask the scent but it was really bad. I wouldn't have minded the shower if they replaced the curtain and scrubbed the chair with bleach like once a month. But seriously that chair needs to go- just replace it or make this a normal room. It just doesn't make any sense- shower curtains are super cheap- just get a crappy one from ASDA it'd be better than the gross stinky one in there.

I would say they really try to make this a nice hotel. And they do- mostly. But they must have just overlooked the bathrooms. It was 175 pounds a night for us, and we know it's a triple room in London in April (a double bed and a single bed), but come on.

As for the noise, it was kind of noisy as we faced the street, which is expected. Not too terrible though. The beds were comfy and there was a kettle in the room with a lot of coffee and tea. I would not stay there again, though.
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Date of stay: April 2014
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: Do not get a handicapped accessible room (which we didn't know ours was til we got there).-...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from seraphinegm, General Manager at Seraphine London Kensington Gardens
Responded Jun 9, 2014
Dear Guest, Thank you for completing the survey regarding your recent stay at our property. On behalf of our entire team, I would like to apologize for not exceeding your expectations. Your satisfaction is important to us and we will be using the feedback you gave us to implement improvements to ensure we offer a better experience for guests in the future. I hope that you will consider staying with us again so that we can have another chance to provide you with a superior experience. If I can provide any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at +44 (0) 208 6000 555. Sincerely, Arun Sharma Area General Manager BEST WESTERN Seraphine Hotel
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bert Bakker wrote a review Sep 2021
Isle of Man, United Kingdom42 contributions6 helpful votes
2.0 of 5 bubbles
This is not a 4 star hotel, pictures that are advertised are misleading as the furniture is dark and depressing. No colour in room whatsoever. The rooms need updating. Holes in carpets, stains on ceiling and on bathroom floor. Not something I expect from a 4 star hotel.

I understand that during covid cetain rules and regulations have changed but after 4 days of being in the room. I had to request our room to be serviced. No beds are being made or towels are being changed during those first 4 days. If this was explained to us on arrival than fair enough but nothing was said it was just not done.

The breakfast consist of a small breadroll, a banana, a yoghurt and a muesli bar all served to you in a brown bag as no self service is allowed during covid (understandable, however a change would have been nice).

One plus point is that the beds are very comfortable.

As a travel agent myself I do NOT recommend this hotel if you are looking for 4 star, this is a very basic 2 star accommodation with no facilities. (a few bottles on a shelf behind reception does not class as a bar)
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam O wrote a review Apr 2014
Nottingham, United Kingdom116 contributions92 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
I stay in London on a weekly basis with work, usually in far lesser hotels than the 'Best Western' chain. Last night was simply the worst experience in a hotel I ever had.

In fairness, my room had been booked as a single, as I was expecting to stay alone, however my fiance had come down to London at the last minute and she decided to stay over. When I entered the room however, it was obvious that the 2 of us couldnt stay in there.

I am not a huge guy (6ft 1), but the room was so small that from the bed my feet touched the kettle and 'far' wall. Furthermore, the bed was tiny and there was barely floor space to leave our bags.

I tried to explain the situation on arrival to the guy on reception and his only response was "there is nothing i can do unless you want to pay £40 for an upgrade". It was 22:30 on a Wed night and I politely explained that if he had a spare room, surely he could give it to a dissatisfied customer. (This was when I finally managed to track him down, he had been outside the hotel at the front, smoking and chatting to his mates for 20 mins. Hardly the best impression to set)

Anyway, it then became clear that the 2 of us would never be able to sleep in the bed, so I decided to sleep on the floor. I again went to reception and asked for 2 duvets. 1 to lie on and 1 to cover. He returned 20 mins later with 1 and explained it was the last in the building and that he had to take it off one of the beds (ironically the same 'double' he refused to move us to. I then enquired as to what would happen should someone come and want to book said room out. His reply was: "It's ok, we have a hotel down the road that would bring some more bed clothes across." Needless to say I then questioned why I didnt warrant this service, but at this stage it was like talking with a toddler.

Anyway, I ended up sleeping on the floor, with a cushion for a pillow and the 'large' bath towel as my duvet. This wasnt the end of it however, the air conditioning was broken and the room was so noisey. (made worse by matey boy standing smoking with his pals outside the front door all evening)

It's a real shame because the location is good, right on Kensington High st and the decor is ok. However I would only recommend staying here if you are a borrower with a penchant for terrible service.

I will never stay in a Best Western again.
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Date of stay: April 2014
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
1.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip: Try a hotel down the road!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
T P wrote a review Aug 2015
Chicago, Illinois1,393 contribution321 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
We booked this room through the Best Western Worldwide sight. Two rooms with 2 beds were advertised and this is what we booked. When we checked in the manager stated they had no rooms with 2 beds. I told them this is what is listed on their website through Best Western. The manager stated they were not associated with Best Western. On the website it shows the EXACT picture of the lobby I was in and the entrance area. We didn't get what we had rented. What really upset me was after we just took what we were given, I was talking to one of the housekeepers. She asked why I had not booked on of the rooms with 2 beds. I was less than happy. In the end after all the complaining and contacting the headquarters, I received $450 back. I would not stay at this hotel on a bet.
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Date of stay: July 2015
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: go somewhere else
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobeTravl wrote a review Aug 2015
Canton of Geneva, Switzerland20 contributions32 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nowhere in the room it said it was a non smoking. Was charged 80 GBP - if not I could leave hotel or they would call police. I paid 80 GBP and had to ask for an authorized receipt, otherwise I just got a piece of paper with the amount with a stamp on. The carpets worn down and full of stains. Best about this hotel is location but unfortunately due to lack of good customer service I will never visit this hotel again.
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Date of stay: August 2015
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cliodhna C wrote a review Nov 2014
Cork, Ireland18 contributions20 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
The location of this hotel is excellent. 3 stops from Victoria. 5 minutes walk to High Street kensington tube station. 10 minutes stroll to the Royal albert hall. A late night shop next door and lots of places to eat and drink near by. The hotel is beautiful, although its a bit of a struggle if you have heavy luggage, as you have to go up one flight of stairs to reception and lifts. I couldn't recommend this hotel highly enough. The high speed wifi was actually high speed, and the bottles of water in the room were a lovely touch.
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Review collected in partnership with Best Western GB
Date of stay: November 2014
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of an individual contributor and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from seraphinegm, General Manager at Seraphine London Kensington Gardens
Responded Dec 10, 2014
Dear Guest, Thank you for completing the survey regarding your recent stay at our property. Your business is very important to us and we value your feedback. By telling us what you liked about your stay and how we can improve, you are helping us deliver a superior experience for you and other guests in the future. We hope you will come back and see us again soon. If I can be of assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me at +44 (0) 208 6000 555. Thank you again for taking the time to complete the survey. We appreciate your loyalty to our brand. Sincerely, Arun Sharma Area General Manager BEST WESTERN Seraphine Hotel
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC nor of its partners.
ekh12 wrote a review Feb 2014
Newcastle30 contributions18 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
In terms of their slogan 'hotels with personality' this was true about the decor and our room which was good.
As for the 3 staff we encountered, they were void of any personality and must have missed the customer services training. The receptionist took 20 minutes to be able to process our gift card as payment with much confusion. After a good night's sleep, we were greeted with no hot water in our room and a potentially freezing cold shower. It took 2 phone calls from me to reception and 45 mins later the problem with the shower was resolved however no apology from the staff for the inconvenience. We then went down for breakfast which was inclusive of our room price. Neither of the 2 members of staff greeted us on arrival and we were the only guests in the room. Every table was littered with dirty dishes and we had to start clearing a table for us to sit at. The coffee machine didn't work and we had to ask for help. There was a very poor selection of food available including stale bread for the toaster. After we got our frothy, luke warm teas we were told by a member of staff that breakfast would be finishing in a few minutes even though we had been delayed greatly by the lack of a shower. Incredibly the member of staff then proceeded to put the remaining 6 pieces of stale bread into the toaster for himself and the receptionist! We returned to reception 20 minutes later to hand our room key in and our breakfast plates had not been cleared away. The attitude of staff was deplorable and they didn't care, had no basic manners or an apology for us. Our hotel experience was most definitely not worth the £159 they charged.
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Date of stay: February 2014
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jac-theworld wrote a review Jul 2013
Melbourne, Australia5 contributions6 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Booked a double room and stayed for three nights. The room is one of the smallest I have ever seen. It's almost impossible to walk in the room. The bed is extremely uncomfortable for two people. Clean room and decent breakfast. Good location about 10 mins walk from the underground station. Many restaurants and shops next the hotel.
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Date of stay: June 2013
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
2.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip: Book the biggest room they have. You will need the extra space.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pathfinder817824 wrote a tip Dec 2019
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"very close to the underground"
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Trivendra S wrote a tip Oct 2019
8 contributions2 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Avoid at any cost."
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Lambiguity wrote a tip Sep 2019
Lancing, United Kingdom283 contributions58 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Ask for a room away from the road. Back rooms are very quiet."
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Rosemary C wrote a tip Aug 2019
6 contributions4 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Rooms out back were quieter as you are away from the main street"
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Pamela R wrote a tip Jun 2019
15 contributions9 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Never stay in this hotel."
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PRICE RANGE
$217 - $319 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Best Western Seraphine Kensington Gardens Hotel
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandLondonKensington and Hyde Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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SERAPHINE LONDON KENSINGTON GARDENS - Prices & Hotel Reviews (England)

Frequently Asked Questions about Seraphine London Kensington Gardens
Which popular attractions are close to Seraphine London Kensington Gardens?
Nearby attractions include Kensington (0.2 miles), Rutland Outdoor Pursuits (0.3 miles), and Kensington High Street (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Seraphine London Kensington Gardens?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and breakfast buffet.
What food & drink options are available at Seraphine London Kensington Gardens?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, complimentary tea, and free instant coffee during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Seraphine London Kensington Gardens?
Conveniently located restaurants include La Fortuna Italian Restaurant, Launceston Place, and Publiq..
Are there any historical sites close to Seraphine London Kensington Gardens?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Houses of Parliament (2.7 miles), Tower of London (4.8 miles), and Churchill War Rooms (2.5 miles).