Regency South Kensington Hotel London

While the refurbished areas are modern and pleasant, the hotel itself lacks a unifying stylistic theme. The lobby is spacious and overtly contemporary: neutral marble floors, velvet sofas, and mocha tones predominate. Unique decorative pieces such as a mosaic of tiled coconut shells lend character, and the original commissioned wall art adds welcome splashes of color. In contrast, unrefurbished areas such as the meeting spaces and restaurant have outdated furnishings that clash with the rest of the hotel.

The hotel has the potential to be better than it is - reported maintenance snafus, poor water pressure in the showers, noisy rooms facing air conditioning units, and one small, slow elevator can make for an inconsistent experience.

On a quiet residential street close to South Kensington Station, museums, and shops

Location is among The Regency Hotel’s major attractive points. South Kensington Station is a five-minute walk away, and the hotel is well situated for museum-going - Victoria and Albert Musem, Royal Hall, and the Natural History Museum are all within walking distance. It's also just possible to walk to Harrods (17 minutes by foot), and the glamorous complexes of Knightsbridge and the high-end boutiques of Chelsea are both about 10 minutes away by metro or car. The Regency itself sits on a relatively quiet residential street, just off a main road, which hosts a good handful of shops and places to dine as well as the famed upscale fine art auction house Christie’s.

Contemporary rooms with original artwork

Rooms have somewhat generic contemporary style, with subtly patterned red carpets, neutral furniture, and dark wood paneled touches. Wall art is original and features abstract shapes and splashes of color. Rooms are high-tech, with HDMI multimedia panel and European sockets. It's very worthwhile to upgrade from the teensy tiny Club Rooms. All other rooms include free Wi-Fi as well as access to the gym and Elysium Lounge, where guests can enjoy free breakfast, tea, and coffee, plus evening drinks and snacks.

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• Regency Hotel South Kensington London UK
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