Number Sixteen, Firmdale Hotels

it's been a while, since I work less in London now, but remains my favourite place in London to stay. Close to where we used to live in Chelsea, a feeling that I have come home. Annual weekend trip with my daughter. Heaven as ever. Glorious rooms, faboulous bed and bedding and amazingly quiet given its proximity to South Ken tube, sleep guaranteed. Breakfast superb. All British breakfast tables have the same menu - what marks out the excellent is the quality of the ingredients and the skill and care of the chef. But . . . . saving the best till last . . . the staff. They are amazing. It is hard to be offered a true 'welcome back' unless the staff were here last time you visited. Here they are, they are clearly Firmdale No. 16 people, they are outstandingly professional and helpful. I love it.

Welcoming: nonetheless a credit guarantee we had to wait two hours until the booker arrived with the physical credit card because the receptionist looks like more a customs agent than an hospitality one and according to hotel policies they can not let in guests even if they have the whole amount pre authorized. The question is: what kind of customer do you usually welcome to implement a such a 2 stars hotel policy ? We felt that missed only the all inclusive bracelet at the check in. All the team laughed while I was looking for another hotel outside of the property on the phone. Room: check the layout picture uploaded. Room number 19 is a deluxe (not standard room) located exactly behind the reception. You can hear all the noise from the reception, the staff talking and of course other guest in corridor shouting or walking. On the layout room 19 should be maximum a deposit or a bathroom certainly not a bedroom. Cleaning lady entering the bedrooms without knocking at 9 a.m while still sleeping. I mean, after what happened at the check in, at least the decent to be a bit more careful. The staff is totally untrained and not adequate for the price rooms are offered. It is not a matter of high price - if you get the service you pay it happily but this is not the case. Avoid this property - maybe try in a few years after some changes will be made.

If you are looking for a romantic getaway in the middle of London, this place can't be beat. It is wonderful in every possible way, from the large rooms to the wonderful breakfasts to the garden to the friendly and very helpful staff. The owner, Kit Kemp, who is a famous interior designer, has spared no expense in making the hotel inviting. She calls it a "boutique hotel," but you could also see it as a somewhat large B & B. It consists of three row houses combined and refurbished, but it has lost none of its charm. The location is also great. It is 5 minutes' walk from the South Kensington tube stop. If you are coming in from Heathrow, take the Piccadilly line directly there. If you are coming in by train from St. Pancras, also take the Piccadilly line directly there. The V & A Museum and the Natural History Museum are about 10 minutes' walk away. There are numerous restaurants around the corner. Breakfast is great. There is an extensive buffet with granola, muesli, fruit, yogurt, and pastries. There is also a full English breakfast available, including eggs, sausages, baked beans, and the rest. If you want an English high tea, they do it, but you have to reserve it in advance. The garden in the back is beautiful and well landscaped. There are koi swimming back and forth in a rectangular "pond." There are tables and chairs for guests to use. I've traveled to over 50 countries and this is certainly in my top three or four hotels worldwide. The only minus is that it is not cheap, but given what you get in return, it is well worth the price. It is an intimate luxury hotel and a real gem.

My sister, niece and I travelled for a quick stay in London. After days in France sharing rooms and apartments, we were looking for a quiet place with private rooms. Number Sixteen offers 4 single rooms and we were lucky enough to reserve 3 of them for the dates we needed. The hotel is in a perfect location on a street around the corner from the South Kensington tube station and near to pubs and other restaurants. Our rooms were adorable, twin+ beds, small closet, desk and bathroom (think cruise ship size!). Comfortable and charming. The hotel offers breakfast and afternoon tea both indoors and in their gorgeous back garden and there are also two lovely parlors inside with an "honesty bar" for drink and snacks. I also fell in love with the Kit Kemp toiletries offered in our room and wished I'd had room in my luggage to bring home with me. Savoring the hand lotion and linen spray left for us to enjoy that I brought home with fond memories of a lovely stay.

Adorable hotel, great location, wonderful staff. I stayed in a single room and it was small and absolutely perfect. Enjoyed breakfast and tea in the restaurant and both were delicious. Great location near the South Kensington Underground stop. Front desk staff were all very helpful. Would definitely go back!