The very best boutique hotels in London promise guests a unique port of call when exploring the capital. Housed inside the former home of an aristocratic lawyer, 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton is the ideal place to stay thanks to its unique interior design and location in the heart of sublime South Kensington.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own

100 Queen’s Gate Hotel London review

As a born-and-bred Londoner, for me, there are few neighbourhoods more beautiful than South Kensington with its cute bakeries, column-fronted townhouses and range of museums. Hilton’s beautiful 100 Queen’s Gate sits inside one of these – the former home of aristocratic lawyer William Alexander. Inside, artefacts and curiosities from his life are preserved in glass cabinets with everything from foreign stamp collections to Victorian medical instruments on display.

The hotel’s interiors fuse modern style with this Victorian heritage, including surprising and unique art and furnishings that are always the highlight of Curio Collection properties. Although you’d never know it from the outside, there’s a restaurant, underground bar, mirrored afternoon tea parlour, and some dazzling 228 unique rooms packed in, like a tardis with much better style, so I was very excited to check in.

The room

duplex lounge at 100 Queen's Gate Hotel
The lounge in the suite was the perfect spot for some rest and relaxation. © Matthew Shaw

After a swift check-in, we were whisked up to the Alfred Hitchcock Suite. Each room in the hotel is individually styled and the two-storey duplex suites are named for famous historical figures such as Alexander Fleming, Agatha Christie, and A.A. Milne.

The decorations inside match this aesthetic perfectly, with the living area featuring an eye-catching orange velvet sofa, marble fireplace and wooden shelves stacked with historical tomes, all of which make it feel like a secret manor house in the heart of London. Hidden amongst the books is the fully-stocked mini bar and a Nespresso machine, plus a Marshall radio, perfect for enjoying coffee and some tunes while taking in our view of the London skyline.

bedroom 100 Queen's Gate Hotel
The suite promised a wonderful night’s sleep thanks to the oversized bed. © Matthew Shaw

Upstairs is a spacious bathroom, bedroom, and walk-in wardrobe, with electronic skylights for delaying the morning alarm, a cute vanity area with soft grey seating, and a large wardrobe where our favourite amenity, fluffy white robes, were waiting. Aside from the detail that has gone into the interiors, you’re always reminded of the hotel’s luxury touches, from the soft slippers by our bedsides, to the turndown service after dinner, and the London-themed sweet treats left on the table upon arrival.

Handy hint: If you’re looking for even more privacy, the hotel offers the exclusive Queen’s Gate Suite which houses four bedrooms, plus a living and dining space with (if possible) even more lavish decor than the hotel. Unsurprisingly for this A-List neighbourhood, secure video entry, and your own private street entrance are included too.

A range of dining

In the evening, we made our way to the hotel’s restaurant, Cento, for an Italian feast where the food, drink, and service were above and beyond. We opted for their signature Chicken Milanese with smoked mozzarella and a Picante Pinsa which is a more stretched version of a pizza. Accompanied by a chilled bottle of Chablis, I wasn’t sure I could manage dessert but the selection, which includes tiramisu, chocolate cake, and gelato proved hard to resist.

Cento restaurant 100 Queen's Gate Hotel
Enjoy fine Italian dining at Cento

Besides Cento, 100 Queen’s Gate is also home to a spectacularly pretty mirrored parlour called Botanica which is covered in flowers and serves one of London’s best afternoon teas. It comes with sweet treats such as mango and passionfruit dacquoise and berry compote tartlets, and don’t skip the Laurent Perrier Champagne pairing.

Best of the rest

Following the grand staircase down from the lobby leads you to ESQ, the hotel’s underground bar which was inspired by former owner William Alexander. The resident mixologists whip up unique cocktail blends that are served in Instagrammable tumblers, flasks, and canisters and are inspired by Asia; a personal favourite was the Sapphire Sling, with Bombay Sapphire and maraschino cherry. Their all-day menu serves comfort snacks like mezze, charcuterie, and sliders for sharing.

Although I only took a peek, the hotel also offers a well-equipped gym in the basement, and for those increasingly frequent rainy London days, the lobby has a cosy corner with squashy velvet armchairs and a selection of books perfect for a dose of escapism.

Final thoughts

Strolling around South Kensington, I’ve always wondered about what hides inside the pretty stuccoed townhouses lining the leafy streets and now that I’ve found out I want to stay forever. Surrounded by London’s most upmarket shops and restaurants, 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel is a dreamy weekend getaway that doesn’t break the bank and feels like your very own regal bolthole away from the busy crowds of central London.

Learn more about 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton or Book through Booking.com

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