DIPLOMATIC CONCIERGE

Situated in the heart of South Kensington, where Queen’s Gate meets the Old Brompton Road, the property comprises four traditional white Victorian townhouses, 126 rooms and 24 suites, each of which have been individually designed to complement the hotel’s elegant period architecture. As part of The Doyle Collection, a family-owned Irish luxury hotel group with a 60-year heritage, The Kensington reopened in 2021 with a new suite offering.

I stayed in room 112, one of their signature suites found at the end of the corridor, which revealed a large sitting room with bespoke bar, grand chandelier and vast flat screen tv. Down a short hallway, the bedroom housed a huge velvet sofa, and a marble fireplace with gas fire, lit at the touch of a remote control.  Offering a contemporary take on classic design, vibrant colours and fabrics were used throughout the room, along with oil paintings, prints and plenty of elaborate lamps and light fittings. For me, the masterpiece was the elaborate bathroom, decked out in striking Calcutta marble, with large mirrors, brass fittings, jacuzzi bath and separate shower. The underfloor heating was certainly welcome during my January stay with outside temperatures of -3. With no less than four televisions in the suite, technology was a highlight. One was hidden in an ornate mirror above a marble fireplace, and another fitted into the wall at the foot of the bath. The vast and beautifully comfortable bed ensured an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Even the guests at the next-door table at breakfast were praising their cosy and restful overnight stay.  Staying in room 112 felt like a real treat.