Thistle London Hyde Park Kensington Gardens

I am actually commenting on the Amba Hotel as the Thistle Kensington Gardens has been closed until next year!! As it was booked through Booking .com I would have thought you might realise this?? Especially as a travel award ceremony was taking place within the hotel and I spoke to a Booking.com agent!

It was manically busy and some of the staff were a little off hand. The coffee bar was unmanned and when I enquired as to where the staff were I was told in no uncertain terms to STAND THERE UNTIL THERE IS SOMEONE! All he was doing was standing at the top of the elevator…..a very large gentleman!

Out of Central area a bit but Bus, Underground, and Paddington Station for Heathrow Express, all in very close striking distances. Old building like most hotels but very well-maintained and the Hotel was very quiet to our surprise. The quality of beds were top class compare to the price. The three elevators are very tiny but amazingly they don't slow you down. I would book this hotel again rather than paying big bucks for in-town hotels.

The breakfast is affordable compare to others and nothing to complain about it. However, the man who seems to be in charge of the Breakfast crew should be more mindful choosing words when communicating with his guests. We think that the paid guest coming back from washroom to the breakfast table can be asked different manners than "Hey, where are you going?" We certainly felt uncomfortable with the patronizing and condescending remarks. Perhaps, he should stick with cashier machine 24/7 all by himself to make sure no one is getting 15 pounds breakfast for free.

Fantastic hotel, central location, opposite a bus stop and two very nearby tube stations. Breakfast is excellent, staff is very professional, rooms are very clean and beds are very comfortable, and I am someone who is very picky with the type of bed I sleep on, I easily get back aches from bad mattresses, so I don’t give that feedback lightly. I always stay in that hotel whenever in London. I stayed those nights solo and had a full week booked for when my sister arrives, I booked that as non refundable because I booked it last minute, while there I got badly injured and I had to cancel the rest of my trip and go back home, and although the booking I had was non refundable and any cancellation would cost the full 6 nights amount, the staff were very understanding when they saw my situation and refunded me the entire amount! I would highly recommend this hotel for any London visitors who are looking for a comfortable stay and get value for money!

Literally, nothing not to like!

I have stayed in Thistle Hotels in the past and found them exceptional. This was a little bit of a let down compared to others, but it served its purpose. It is tucked away, though very close to the bus route and close to the underground. There was parking available, but I parked my car elsewhere rather than risk damage from a very tight location. Check in was OK. The room was OK - warm and comfortable. The shower was good. The bed was good. Breakfast was good. I guess it was all that you could want of a hotel. It just did not call me back for a second stay.

It is difficult to put an exact finger on what I didn't like. It ticked all the boxes. I have just had them ticked better by other hotels.

I chose the hotel because I had stayed before and it's location very much suited my needs being on the Central Line and thus easy access to Victoria and Paddington rail stations. The room was wonderful and met my expectations. I understood that check-in was at 15:00 but I did arrive 20 minutes early and one receptionist said I had to wait until 15:00, yet two minutes later her colleague checked-in another guest ahead of me. Naturally I went to this receptionist who kindly checked me in a bit early and very professionally.

The air conditioning in my room did not work properly and when I turned it on, it just showed a red light. I didn't mind as the room temp was just fine for me in any case. And apologies, I should have mentioned this at reception.

Very comfy bed. Lovely location opposite Hyde Park. Good range of breakfast food.

We booked the hotel because it advertised its own car park, however when we rang to arrange this we were told to book on the Just Park website, which indicated no availability in the car park at the rear of the hotel (which is in fact owned by another company and does not, apparently, belong to the hotel.) We were not made aware of this at the time of booking and did not anticipate having any problems. We did find parking for our vehicle (with Just Park) but it was half a mile away and accessed via a dark side street in a location which we did not feel very comfortable with. It is somewhat ingenuous of the hotel to say it has a car park when it hasn't.

The location, room, bed and so forth were all commensurate with the relatively-modest (for London) price. The breakfast, which was most bountiful at a favourable cost, proved to be a happy surprise.

There would have been nothing to dislike other than the fact that I returned to my room late one night to discover that the door had been left open by means of engaging the interior lock whilst the door was not fully closed. The door had presumably been in such a state for some hours; I assume owing to an oversight by the cleaning staff. Whatever the case, given that my work laptop was in the room, I was deeply unimpressed. My strong suggestion is that the property remind all staff who access guest rooms of the importance to guests of security basics.

location - perfect for accessing all parts of London, really close to Tube stations and a lovely view over Hyde Park Room - Perfect twin bed set up for me and my sister - much better than the double bed and one fold down offered by some hotels Bed - very comfortable and exceptional black out curtains

I liked it all, only one little surprise was a member of staff on front desk who was checking in a couple of people and whilst searching through a load of room keys was remarking (admittedly under her breath) 'Oh Jesus Christ' and 'Oh for Gods sake' ... I was stood right infront of her and wasn't sure if she hadn't noticed me, thought I didn't speak English or was unaware she was chuntering !!

Good hotel. Friendly receptionists, especially Muhammad was very helpful: after having problem with our room he upgraded it for a bigger and warm room with very nice city view and shortly after he called us to make sure that everything is all right. Free mineral water and Birchall tea, Walkers shortbread in room. Breakfast was really good, quality food. Bus and tube stations are very close, sights in walking distance, shops and lots of great restaurants in the nearby.

Our room reserved on Booking.com was with city view, we even asked for it in email before our trip: we got one with view to the back of a petrol station...and the room was cold bcs of a wrong air-conditioning... Bath was moldy, bath screen was leaking - a lot of water on floor after taking shower. No fridge and no safe in the room. Juices at breakfast were watery.

The location of this hotel is great, with close access to Queensway, Bayswater and Lancaster Gate tube stations. It is also over the road from Hyde Park, which was nice to have easy access to. The room wasn't huge but it was fine for central London. The bed was comfortable. Having the small Waitrose underneath the hotel was a bonus too.

The room temperature was a little hard to regulate at times with the air conditioning system not that responsive to small temperature adjustments. The breakfast was fine but not extensive - a standard breakfast offering.