Thistle London Hyde Park Kensington Gardens

What a welcoming and delightful stay we had at the Thistle. I'd already mentioned that it was our anniversary and upon arrival our room was upgraded to a view overlooking the park which was truly delightful. We were just settling in when a bottle of prosecco and chocolates arrived which was a delightful surprise. The air conditioning was great in the room and easy to adjust, being able to cast your phone to the TV was also good enabling watching of Netflix etc. Bathroom was clean and shower was excellent. The water was perfectly drinkable from the tap so saw no need for bottles of water that use single use plastics. Breakfast had a large choice, was mostly hot and staff were very welcoming. Overall a fantastic stay and the location superb for what we wanted. Close to the central line, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the beautiful Kensington gardens and Hyde Park (but beware they shut at dusk so we caught a bus back to the hotel after a Prom).

Such great value for money! We stayed for four nights during the London heatwave and had a fantastic experience. The location is the biggest selling point—Hyde Park is right across the road, with multiple Tube lines and bus stops literally on the doorstep, making it incredibly easy to get anywhere in London. We also loved that it was in a quieter, more local-feeling part of the city while still being just a short trip from Notting Hill, Central London and all the major tourist attractions. We booked a basic room, so it was quite small, but that was exactly what we expected. For the price, the location and the wonderful staff, it’s hard to fault. The air conditioning worked brilliantly (which was a lifesaver during the heatwave), the bed was comfortable, and we slept well each night. The room could have benefited from a deeper clean in a few areas, but considering the price, it certainly wasn’t enough to detract from our stay. Overall, I’d happily stay here again and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable hotel in an excellent location.

Overall, we had a pleasant 3-night stay at the hotel. The room was clean and comfortable and the overall facilities were good. I wanted to share a couple of honest points that future guests may find helpful. The hotel does not provide complimentary drinking water - not even a bottle in the room upon arrival - so you'll need to purchase your own. Also there is no microwave available for guests, so if you plan to heat up food during your stay, this may not be the best hotel for you. The location is decent and one thing we really appreciated is that there is a gas station attached to the hotel where you can conveniently buy water, drinks and snacks at any time. Overall, it was a good stay, but I hope the hotel considers adding complimentary drinking water and a guest microwave, as these small additions would make a big difference.

I honestly cannot recommend this hotel to anyone. I had a confirmed reservation from June 30 to July 2. Before my arrival, I contacted the hotel to let them know that my flight would arrive late and that I would be checking in at around 11:00 p.m. They confirmed that everything was fine. However, after I had already landed in London, at around 10:00 p.m., I received a phone call informing me that my reservation was no longer valid because the hotel had been overbooked. The only solution they offered was another hotel for one night, in an unknown location and at an unknown price. That was the extent of their assistance. I was genuinely shocked by the way I was treated. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had been travelling with small children or if this had happened during the colder months instead of summer. This level of customer service is completely unacceptable. A confirmed reservation should mean something, especially when guests are arriving late after an international flight. Fortunately, we managed to find another excellent hotel that welcomed us, and we ended up having a wonderful stay in London. There are so many great hotels in the city that there is simply no reason to take the risk of booking this one. If you value reliability and expect a hotel to honour a confirmed reservation, I strongly recommend staying somewhere else.