Tablet Plus
Blakes
33 Roland Gardens, London, England, UK
Neighborhood: Kensington
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
Possibly the most theatrical and over-the-top hotel in London or anywhere else, Blakes nevertheless predates by two decades the current mania for individualist boutique hotels, and frankly outpaces them all, at least in terms of sheer eccentricity. It’s hard to imagine how shocking this place must have been when its doors opened in the late seventies, densely decorated as it is in an intense East-meets-East style, stuffed to the rafters with Chinese, Japanese and Indian antiques as well as the occasional Egyptian or Venetian curio.
Somehow the design fever that has overtaken the hotel scene has failed to produce anything that can top Anouska Hempel’s eye for a maximally decorated interior, and in a world where blank walls and Scandinavian modernist furnishings represent the height of fashion, Blakes delivers the antidote to minimalism. Rooms are individually themed, whether British Raj or black-lacquered Oriental, and nothing is half-baked—in fact if you’re susceptible to sensory overload we can recommend something in white, like the Egyptian-themed Corfu Suite.
Antique, of course, doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable—beds here are among the most sumptuous we’ve seen, many with canopies, and the marble baths are spacious and functional. Blakes restaurant is very much in demand, serving (no surprise) a fusion of Thai and Mediterranean cuisines; you can fight it out downstairs for a table for dinner, or just order in room service, and dine in your own private fantasyland. Either way, it’s guaranteed to be a unique experience—just make sure you’re ready for the unconventional. London has no shortage of more traditional hotels, and even Blakes itself has a quieter, more modest sister: the modern-Zen Hempel, just north of Hyde Park, may be the best way to ease yourself into the Anouska experience.
How to get there:
Blakes hotel is a 10-minute walk from the South Kensington tube station. If you’re arriving from Heathrow Airport the most convenient transfer option to central London is the Heathrow Express train, which leaves Heathrow Airport every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes to arrive at Paddington Station. One-way fares are available from £18 and round-trip fares from £32. By black cab, Blakes is approximately a 45-minute ride from Heathrow Airport (depending on traffic) and can cost upwards of £50.
- Complimentary upgrade upon hotel check-in, based upon availability
- Complimentary internet access (only for hotels that do not already offer this free to all guests)
- Complimentary gym access for two for the length of your stay
- Complimentary Blakes Truffles & Macaroons
- 48 Rooms
- Style: Contemporary Classic
- Atmosphere: Secluded
- 73 Guest Reviews
- Blakes
- 33 Roland Gardens
- London, England, UK
- Neighborhood: Kensington
Hotel amenities and services
- 24 hour front desk
- 24 hour gym
- 24 hour room service
- Adjoining rooms
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Boardroom
- Business center
- Central air conditioning
- Free wi-fi
- Garden
- Lounge
- Luggage storage
- Multi-lingual staff
- Pet Friendly
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Self service parking (charges apply)
- Shopping area nearby
- Smoking rooms (on request)
- Spa treatments (on request)
- Valet parking (charges apply)
- Wake-up service
Other London hotels
73 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Stephanie
- Stayed November 2012
- Rating: Fair
What I liked:
Eclectic charm
What the hotel could do better:
Lift was miniscule and slow, rooms were small, corridors could be less musty and dark or almost dungeon-like
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- esra
- Stayed October 2012
- Rating: Fair
What I liked:
Nice, quiet environment. Suite size & design.
What the hotel could do better:
Guest were not treated in the most friendly way, long waiting times on front desk, even to ask for a taxi...Housekeeping needs to improve. Cleanness could be better. Some furniture and doors need to be repaired...
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- Gary
- Stayed September 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
We loved the boutique atmoshere and the eclectic decor. The location was a little suburban but was jsut close enough to South Kensington and the Fullham road. The unexpected highlight was the restaurant. This hotel has the best breakfast and the restaurant dinner menu is exceptional. Try the cheese souffle or the figs with burrata! Fabulous.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
