Princes Gardens

This place was perfect for our family's needs. The room was clean, the bathroom was clean, and the breakfast food was not any different from a regular hotel breakfast. We had access to fast, reliable Wi-Fi and the staff was incredibly friendly. Keep in mind: this place is a converted dorm on the Imperial College campus. The rooms are smaller than hotel rooms, they do not have a TV, but that did not affect our family's itinerary; we only needed the room to sleep at night and we spent the day walking around London. At the same time, we did not mind the lack of an AC, since London summers are much cooler than the summers we're used to in the States. At night, the temperatures drop significantly and you can sleep with the window open (I much rather prefer the fresh air anyway!). And of course, the location is excellent! We were able to walk to museums and stores without relying on public transport. We chose this location specifically because it was within walking distance of the Victoria and Albert museum.

Staying at Prince Gardens: A Hidden Gem Near Hyde Park We came to London for the BST Hyde Park music festival, and staying at Prince Gardens turned out to be a perfect choice. Usually a student dorm at Imperial College London, it transforms into summer rentals — ideal for short stays. The rooms are simple but clean, with a private bathroom, no TV, and no AC (just a fan), but it’s comfortable if you’re out most of the day. Talha, the front desk concierge, provided excellent service and made us feel very welcome.

We arrived at hotel to find the room door didn’t lock. After informing reception, they reset the system but the lock only worked intermittently. We were moved to another room and the staff kindly helped us to test the lock on the door to reassure us, which we appreciated. However, we discovered the flush didn’t work on the toilet but this was fixed within a few hours and staff were very helpful. The bathroom tap made a horrible screeching noise when used. No shower curtain was provided. The light in the ceiling persistently flashed when the lights were on. There was also no hot water to the shower when we tried to use it in the morning. Although staff were very good, the hotel did not appear as advertised and we would not consider it good value for money at £195 for the night.