Thistle Kensington Gardens Hotel

Introduction: The Thistle Kensington Gardens Hotel is named after the park opposite the hotel which itself is adjacent to Hyde Park. Together these two large parks cover an area over 600 acres in size. Kensington Gardens is home to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and Kensington Palace while Hyde Park has riding paths, boating and the Serpentine Gallery. The hotel is next to a petrol station on Bayswater Road. This is a main road and part of the busy A40 dual carriageway and connects to Marble Arch one mile to the East and Notting Hill and half a mile to the West. Less than 200 yards from the hotel is Queensway, a long road with shops, restaurants, bars, ice rink, cinema and covered shopping mall called Whitley's. This part of Bayswater has a large middle eastern population reflected in some of the shops and restaurants in the area. The local vicinity also has a large mix of both residential properties and B&B type accommodation. The main tourist areas are a couple of miles from the hotel, just a few miles by taxi. Kensington High Street and its famous upmarket shopping is 0.5 miles to the South on the other side of Kensington Gardens. There are four tube stations within half a mile. Portobello Road Antiques Market is 0.6 miles to the West.

Hotel:
A modern hotel with its main entrance actually on Porchester terrace. Unusually the hotel lobby is on the 1st floor and is accessed by lift from the ground level.
All the hotel bedrooms are en-suite and air-conditioned, while other amenities include trouser press, safe, central heating, direct dial telephone, hairdryer, desk space, tea and coffee making facilities, TV with satellite channels and high speed internet access.
Bedrooms are non-standard in that they have different sizes from room. Some are decorated in a modern contemporary style while others are decorated and furnished in a more traditional style.
Two rooms are adapted for accessibility.
There is a room service provided.
Dining:
La Galleria Restaurant: Located on the lobby level. Views of the Kensington Park and serves modern European cuisine. Open all three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the day. Open: 07.00 till 10.30 (from 07.30 weekends), 12.30 till 15.00, 17.30 till 22.30.
Lounge Bar: Serves light meals along with a range of drinks. Open 09.00 till 01.00.
Cocktail Bar: Relax with your favourite cocktail mixed by the bar staff. Open: 11.00 till 01.00 (Sunday till midnight)
Business facilities include four air-conditioned meeting rooms the largest of which can accommodate up 60 delegates in a theatre style.
The hotel is staffed 24/7 and offers luggage storage facilities and a concierge desk. WiFi available at the hotel.