Regal refinement in the heart of royal London

Word to the wise: This is not somewhere to scrimp and save; to get the real Kensington experience you should opt for one of the suites.

Located in London’s most affluent borough, the Kensington offers the life of gilded grandeur. With patrician delights of the V&A, the Royal Albert Hall and Harvey Nichols around the corner, you could be forgiven for never venturing far from the hotel lobby.

The 149-room hotel underwent a GPB 20-million renovation in 2009, honing the atmosphere of civilised yet comfortable luxury. Chandeliers adorn the public areas, the bath tubs have clawed feet, and the self-consciously mismatching furnishings adhere to the palette of luxurious burgundy, purple and blue.

They boast superior service through small gestures, such as a flask of warm milk and cookies by your bed at night. However, the breakfasts are verging on average and the standard rooms can feel a little overlooked for the price. But you don’t come here for the standard - you come to feel like you are part of an old gentleman’s club, even if it’s just for a few days.