Shaftesbury Hotel: Hogarth Executive Rooms, London

Finding suitable accommodation in London can be hit or miss. Just because a hotel is listed as luxury, there is no guarantee of an enjoyable stay. In the past, we’ve made our way through various lodgings from budget accommodation to luxury and rental apartments. We’ve even had an experience straight out of a Fawlty Towers episode.

So when a last minute internet search led us to making a booking at an executive room in the Shaftesbury Hotel, we had no idea what to expect.

The Hogarth Executive Rooms in London’s Kensington are part of the Shaftesbury hotel complex. A series of hotels line up Hogarth Road with the Executive Rooms occupying a white building at the far end away from Earl’s Court tube station.

The hotel reception is located in another building and it’s not uncommon to see luggage wheeled along Hogarth Road at any time of the day. Access to the building is via a magnetised key and a lift large enough for two people and two suitcases takes you up to the rooms.

Our room is tastefully furnished in dark tones and has a queen size bed that occupies most of the space with very little room to move around.

There is a chair and small desk which houses the hair dryer, a fridge, a small wardrobe with an ironing board and just enough room to store a large suitcase, upright.

A flat screen plasma television set hangs on the wall and best of all, free broadband internet access is available at no extra cost.

The bathroom is spacious and modern with an above counter sink, travertine tiles, heated towel rack and a bath/shower combination.

English Breakfast is included in the room rate so expect bacon, eggs, cereal and toast with the usual hot beverages served in a Moroccan-inspired dining room.

Breakfast time can be a little chaotic for the staff trying to coordinate it so if you are in a hurry, it would be worthwhile to arrive a little early.

The location is ideal, with only a 2 minute walk to Earl’s Court Station. There are many shops, cafes and eateries nearby but they tend to be of the fast food kind. We prefer to venture a little further afield via the tube as we did when we dined at Bocca di Lupo in Soho and Jamie’s Italian at Canary Wharf.

All the major sights are a short tube ride away and Earl’s Court Station is along the Piccadilly (blue) line which goes direct from Heathrow airport.

We have stayed on two occasions at the Hogarth Executive Rooms. If you’re after a hotel with the traditional comforts of a concierge and front desk facilities, this one may not be very suitable. Service tends to be slow and frustrating at times. The staff, although polite, are not very knowledgeable nor do they make an effort beyond what they know. But if you’re after a convenient location, a quiet and comfortable room for a short stay, this one won’t break the budget.

Shaftesbury Hotel
Hogarth Executive Rooms
33/37 Hogarth Road,
Kensington, London SW5 0QQ
United Kingdom