With a stay at Gainsborough Hotel in London (London City Centre), you'll be steps from Natural History Museum and 11 minutes by foot from Kensington High Street. .This hotel is 0.8 mi (1.2 km) from Hyde Park and 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Victoria and Albert Museum.
What's nearby
Natural History Museum - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
Victoria and Albert Museum - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
Kensington High Street - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
Royal Albert Hall - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
Hyde Park - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
Getting around
West Brompton Station - 4 min drive
South Kensington Underground Station - 4 min walk
London City Airport (LCY) - 59 min drive
Restaurants
Natural History Museum Member's Room - 2 min walk
Urban Baristas - 1 min walk
Zetland Arms - 3 min walk
Shoty - 3 min walk
Khan's of Kensington - 3 min walk
About this property
Gainsborough Hotel
Hotel with a 24-hour front desk, steps from Natural History Museum
Gainsborough Hotel offers 54 accommodations with hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.
Bathrooms include showers. This London hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided on request.
Stay in one of 54 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
Full breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
Languages
English, French
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
No on-site parking available
Food and drink
Daily full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee: GBP 15.95 for adults and GBP 15.95 for children
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Luggage storage
Guest services
Concierge services
Housekeeping (on request)
Tour and ticket assistance
Accessibility
No lift
More
Smoke-free property
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Hair dryer
Shower
Towels provided
Entertainment
42-inch flat-screen TV
More
Desk
Heating
Laptop workspace
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 15.95 for adults and GBP 15.95 for children
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Gainsborough Hotel Hotel
Gainsborough Hotel London
Gainsborough Hotel Hotel London
Gainsborough Hotel Reviews
Reviews
8.6
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 505 out of 1042 reviews
10 - Excellent
505
Rating 8 - Good. 343 out of 1042 reviews
8 - Good
343
Rating 6 - Okay. 129 out of 1042 reviews
6 - Okay
129
Rating 4 - Poor. 41 out of 1042 reviews
4 - Poor
41
Rating 2 - Terrible. 24 out of 1042 reviews
2 - Terrible
24
9.0/10
Cleanliness
9.0/10
Staff & service
8.4/10
Amenities
8.2/10
Property conditions & facilities
8.2/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
8/10 Good
Bruce
Travelled with partner
3 May 2025
Liked: Amenities
Great location near major museums in quaint/historic South Kensington with lots of good food options.
This was once the home of the Florida State University London program, so a nostalgic place for me to stay as I spent two semesters there. But at a reasonable rate, and so centrally located, a great spot for anyone wanting to stay in London.
We stayed here for 5 days while visiting London for the first time. The front desk was attended 24/7 and all staff were very pleasant and helpful. The room was of adequate size, not too small (we're used to larger room in the US) and was perfect for the two of us. It was clean, the bathroom was updated and well-lit. I loved the high ceilings. The bed was comfortable and had handy nightstand lights. We spent most of our time out walking and exploring so it was nice to relax and watch some local TV at night. The hotel was very close to the South Kensington tube station and an easy walk to Kensington Gardens and the Kensington High Street shops/markets. Only minor complaint was the gap under the door of the room allowed bright light from the hallway, and the light would go on and off all night. Blocked it with pillows and bathmat each night. Very reasonably priced and would stay here again.
Very impressed with this hotel for its location, cleanliness, quality & value. Reception & rooms look like they have recently received modernisation. Great for families visiting the Natural History & Science Museums which are just a short walk away. Also very close to Sth Kensington tube station.
My room was comfortable and peaceful and extremely convenient for where my conference was, within 5 minutes walk.
I was not expecting it to be as nice as the room was and will most certianly return.
David.
Stayed for a night as was in town for a show at Royal Albert Hall. This was perfect for the night. It is a small hotel, and the room (especially shower) was small, but I didn't need anything more. The lobby is spacious and clean, the staff friendly and helpful.
Excellent location. Close to museums and gardens.
Had trouble getting luggage up front stairs.
Nancy
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
8/10 Good
Betsy
14 Apr 2025
Liked: Staff & service
The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The room I booked was in the basement and I was unaware it had no windows and was about the the size of a king bed. I do not recommend if you are claustrophobic in any way. The elevator is also very small. I paid extra to move into a room with beautiful high ceilings and a balcony. Traffic noise is loud but it’s a great location close to the museums and restaurants. The floors are creaky and the carpet is stained dirty in areas and one area was very sticky. The bathroom is small but the shower has great water pressure. The bed was comfortable.
This is ok if you are not into space. My bathroom was too small. The door could not be left open and to close it, one has to step into the shower. It was odd. Otherwise, Ev thing was ok. May be the carpet is a bit old/dirty. And there is no lift to where my room was. But staff was super helpful and accommodating. I think I am just used to better accommodation. Oh and my towel had a hole in it!!
We enjoyed our four night stay at the Gainsborough. We stayed in a budget room down the stairs and it was very comfortable. Lovely large shower and decent sized bedroom.
The area is lovely. A quick walk to the Natural history museum and plenty of restaurants to choose from. We would definitely stay here again.
The Gainsborough is located in a very nice, clean, upscale area, and is a very short walk to the South Kensington Underground station. The staff is courteous and accommodating property is very clean and cozy.
We loved the Gainsborough Hotel! The staff was friendly and welcoming. The breakfast buffet was delicious. Our room was very clean and comfortable. The location was perfect, just a short walk or underground ride from every where we wanted to visit. With the numerous restaurants, pubs, shops and museums close by the location could not be better!