Hotels in Kensington

Kensington is best known for its cultural hotspots and royal connections. It’s home to Kensington Palace, where members of the Royal Family have lived for centuries, as well as some of London’s most famous museums – including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum). You’ll also find streets lined with grand Victorian townhouses, high-end shopping in Kensington High Street and the beautiful Kensington Gardens. Whether you’re into history, architecture, shopping or green spaces, Kensington’s got a little bit of everything. 

Absolutely – Kensington is one of London’s most cultured areas, and well worth a visit. Whether you’re in the mood for a bit of sightseeing, peaceful park walks or fascinating museums, Kensington delivers. Spend your day exploring historic Kensington Palace, wander the stunning galleries at the V&A or relax with a coffee in one of the area’s cosy cafes.  

Kensington is a dream to explore on foot, with plenty of scenic routes to enjoy. Start with a stroll through Kensington Gardens – don’t miss the Italian Gardens, the Albert Memorial or a visit to Kensington Palace. From there, you can wander down Exhibition Road, which is home to three major museums: the V&A, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. For a more leisurely pace, explore the quiet, flower-filled streets of South Kensington, or head towards Holland Park, that even has its own Kyoto Garden.  

If you’re heading to High Street Kensington, the Circle and District Lines are your best bet. For South Kensington – where the museums are located – hop on the Piccadilly, Circle or District Line. And Kensington (Olympia) is served by the District Line on weekends and some weekdays, plus the London Overground.  

The Royal Albert Hall is one of London’s most iconic venues, famous for its architecture and world-class performances. Whether you’re into classical music, ballet, rock, pop or even comedy, chances are there’s something on that’ll catch your interest. Big-name acts and orchestras perform here almost nightly, and the venue itself is a sight to behold – its domed roof and opulent interiors are worth seeing even if you’re not attending a show. Plus, you can take a guided tour to learn more about its royal heritage and behind-the-scenes stories. 

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are packed with things to see and do, making them a must-visit when you’re in London. You can enjoy a peaceful walk or cycle through their tree-lined paths, take a break by the Serpentine Lake or visit the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Art fans can explore cutting-edge exhibitions at the Serpentine Galleries, while history lovers might enjoy a visit to Kensington Palace – once home to Queen Victoria and now a royal residence. 

First up, you’ve got the Natural History Museum, where you can get up close to a giant blue whale, meet animatronic dinosaurs and discover everything from volcanoes to precious gems. Just next door is the Science Museum, perfect for curious minds of all ages – there are hands-on exhibits, space exploration displays and loads to learn in a fun, interactive way. And then there’s the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), where you can wander through endless galleries filled with fashion, jewellery, furniture and design pieces from all around the world. Best of all? Entry to these museums is free (though some exhibitions might require tickets), making it a great budget-friendly day out. 

If you’re in the mood for a luxury shopping spree, Knightsbridge is the place to be. This part of London is home to world-famous department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, where you’ll find everything from gourmet food to high-end fashion. Even if you’re not planning on buying, it’s worth a wander just to window shop and soak up the glitz. And after you’ve browsed to your heart’s content, you’ll find stylish cafes and restaurants nearby for a well-earned break. 

Kensington is full of picturesque streets, but Kynance Mews is often considered one of the prettiest – especially in spring or autumn. It’s a cobbled lane with ivy-covered archways and pastel-coloured mews houses, perfect for a quiet wander or a photo op. Holland Street and Cottesmore Gardens are also lovely spots, with elegant houses and tree-lined pavements. 

It depends on what you want to see, but a relaxed walk through the main sights of Kensington might take around 1.5 to 2 hours. That would give you time to stroll through Kensington Gardens, visit the palace and pop into one of the nearby museums. You could easily spend a whole day exploring at a more leisurely pace – with some shopping on Kensington High Street or lunch in one of the local cafes.  

Flex – Pay now or on arrival, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Our most flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 1pm on the day of arrival. You can also amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Semi-Flex – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to three full days before arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to three full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Advance – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 28 full days before arrival, free to amend thereafter until the day of arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 28 full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Standard – Pay now, non-refundable. Free to amend booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Slightly flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel and get a full refund, but you can amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Non-Flex – Pay now. No amends or refunds. Our least flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel or amend your stay after booking.

Our standard check-in time is 3pm. For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

Checkout is by 12 noon on your departure date. If luggage storage is available, our teams will be happy to store any bags for you if you’d like to check out before 12pm.

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

In 2020 we launched Premier Inn CleanProtect™, our rigorous, daily cleaning method that’s used throughout our UK & Ireland hotels. Developed in partnership with Diversey, a global leader in cleaning and hygiene products for the healthcare and hospitality industries, our promise seeks to give you extra peace of mind so you can always book and stay with confidence.

Check-in - minimising contact at reception and providing hand sanitiser in most public areas for peace of mind. 

Bed linen and towels - laundering all our linen and towels at over 60°C to thermally disinfect them, so you can enjoy a great night’s sleep. We’ve also placed spare pillows in a zip-up bag, for extra peace of mind.

Equipping our teams - providing our team members with all the equipment and sanitisers they need, as well as always operating in the safest way possible for our teams and guests.

A generous serving of safety - you can relax knowing that enhanced cleaning measures are in place throughout our restaurants. Tables are cleaned between visits and contactless payment is in place too, so you can dine safely and comfortably with us every time.

Clean on request - if you'd like your room cleaned during your stay with us, just let us know at reception and use the handy door hanger on the back of your door by 12pm each day.

Most Premier Inns have specially-adapted rooms allowing easier access for customers with disabilities. If there is no specially-adapted room available at the hotel of your choice, we will be happy to offer you alternative accommodation at a nearby Premier Inn. If you have difficulty walking, but do not need a specially-adapted room, please feel free to request a room near reception on the ground floor for easy access. 

If you'd like get in touch, you can reach out to our specialist team via email at pi.accessible@whitbread.com or call us on 0333 0919 817 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday (calls charged at local rate).

Unfortunately, with the exception of trained assistance dogs, we don't allow pets to stay at our hotels.