The Hilton Hotel, Kensington, London, England
A disappointing stay at this london hotel.
In January 2006 I stayed for a few nights at the Hilton in Kensington, which is slightly to the west of the centre of london, on Holland Park Avenue, close to Shepherds Bush.
The location is great for exploring this less touristy but more vibrant part of london, with the markets of Goldhawk Road and the three great victorian museums of South Kensington within easy reach.
However the Hilton itself is to a degree letting the side down. Peeling paintwork and cracked tiles in my bathroom were a disappointment. The low ceiling and poor ventilation were a problem and the inside of the refrigerator was almost as warm as my bath. The room service was polite my somewhat thoughtless (they placed an open bowl of ice cream on top of a hot meal plate so it arrived at my door a runny mess).
My friend (a teacher and a native londoner who speaks English beautifully) was unhappy that when she tried to inform the staff about a problem she was having, the staff actually could not understand her because they did not speak english well enough.
Of course, the breakfasts were wonderful as they always are in the Hilton, although why haggis was on a breakfast menu in an american hotel in London is a question I will probably never discover the answer to.
Another plus point for the Hilton was the friendliness of the front desk and concierge staff, but overall I think I will try a different hotel next time I am visiting London.
CB - January 2006
