If you are looking for a great flat-like hotel stay in a great location, Fraser Suites should definitely be on your list. The rooms are a standard size and clean. Feels very apartment like(hard floors rather than carpet) rather than standard hotel like. The staff is very friendly and helpful and are very quick with room issues. You cant beat the location… walkable to tons of restaurants, the tube, some museums, Kensington Gardens and even Harrods! The beds were firm and comfy, the pillows had both soft and firm pillows, and there were plenty of electrical outlets throughout the room to use(remember your converters.) As far as storage, keep in mind there are no dressers. Just the standing closet. We mostly lived out of our luggage because there were no drawers anywhere. The kitchenette was well equip with cups, plates, utensils to pots and pans and even a water boiler and an espresso pot. The fridge is a decent size to store some water bottles and a mini freezer if you want a spot for some ice cream bars. The bathroom was a nice size and I liked that the glass shower had a hand held shower head option. Bathroom was very clean and the towels were nice. But as with all flats, you have the standard flat issues… noise from neighbors(we heard every door open and close in the area as well as hallway conversation) and hot water issues(we actually ONLY had hot water… even on the coldest setting it was steamy warm instead of scalding hot)… and electrical issues(whenever we turned on the towel warmer in the bathroom, our fuse popped and all the lights went out in the entire room. Not the worst issues but not the greatest either(especially considering the price tag you are paying to stay there).
Stacey C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Francisco, CA
I stayed here on my last trip to London in November. I got a great deal — a flight and hotel package from British Airways that actually gave me two free nights at a hotel from their list of places. I chose this place and I’m glad I did. Pros: Fraser Place has a great location — very close to Gloucester Tube Station on the blue line, without having to transfer trains from Heathrow. You can also take the tube directly to the Tower of London from here. It’s within walking distance to Kensington and in a semi-quiet neighborhood. Room — a pretty good size for UK. Ours had a long narrow hallway, a separate kitchen, very large bathroom(with uneven bathtub bottom), separate bedroom and living area. If London is one stop of many on your vacation, this place has free washersand dryers! A big plus for people who have a lot more traveling to do. Cons: Our room was free so maybe that’s why they decided to give us a room in the basement. We had zero sunlight, which wasn’t actually so bad because it was raining when we were there. I heard a lot of noises from the pipes and heater. If they stick you in the basement level, always ask to change rooms if possible. It wasn’t too horrible though since we were only in the room to sleep. The bedroom is just that — a bed shoved into a room with a closet. The room is so narrow you can’t even get into the closet. In fact, in the US, the bedroom would probably be the size of a closet. Breakfast options are slim. There wasn’t much for a hot breakfast. Just a continental, very basic. I’ve stayed at another hotel where they served great hot breakfasts. No free wi-fi when I stayed here. I think you have to pay for it. On the plus side, there is a Starbucks around the corner with free wi-fi. Overall, I would probably stay here again if we weren’t in the basement. It has all the amenities I needed and plenty of room for two people or even a family.
Audrey R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
My boyfriend and I booked this hotel with the help of a travel agent. With so many choices out there we needed to narrow down our options. Other than a clean hotel in a nice/safe area that offered breakfast, our main criteria included a shower, air conditioning and an elevator.(After hauling luggage through the Tube an elevator is worth it.) After reading other site’s reviews, browsing photos and doing some other research I was convinced Fraser Place offered the best value for my wallet. Kensington is the perfect part of town to escape from the hustle and bustle of the touristy crowd. It is a really nice part of London. As a matter of fact, our cab driver thought he made a mistake because the hotel looks like any other apartment/townhouse on the street. You know you’ve made a good choice when the street is lined with a Porsche here, a Bentley there and a woman parking her Benz right out front. Compared to other UK/European hotels our room was quite large. And we opted for the studio rather than the 1 bedroom deluxe. The bed was suitable. I believe it was queen sized. I passed out every night from being up all day walking around and taking in the city. Our room on the fifth floor was right across from the elevator and it was surprisingly quiet. No noisy disturbances. It was a nice surprise to find a big balcony with a decent view. There was even a little table and two chairs where you could relax and have some morning coffee/tea. There is a small kitchenette equipped with a sink, mini fridge, utensils, tableware and pots and pans. The mini fridge was great … especially since there was a WaitRose(a mini grocery store) around the corner. Yay for chilled beer! The bathroom was big, as far as UK standards are concerned … meaning two people could be in there at the same time. It had a large window, which I also liked. The shower was not ideal. Poor water pressure unfortunately. It was especially bothersome to get the water to stay warm and not super hot. The L’Occitane bath products were a nice touch though. Our package included breakfast, which was pretty standard, self-serve. Choice of cereals, doughnuts, croissants and jam, toast, yogurt and fresh fruit. The fruit was the best part: apples, oranges, pears and bananas. Coffee, hot chocolate, OJ and water were offered. The nearest Tube is Gloucester Road, which is a short walk from the hotel. There is a post office nearby as well, which is handy if you need to mail post cards. Also, check out the restaurant Byron for a really good burger on Kensington High Street just around the corner. Be aware though, don’t plan on shopping for souvenirs in this area. Even though there are a few hotels scattered around this area, it is still very residential, which definitely adds to its appeal. Overall, good experience. Great, friendly service. Clean, comfortable room. I would stay here again on my next UK trip.