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“SOUTH KENSINGTON,” SHE SAID, LOOSENING HIS CUMMERBUND
To stay on a quiet street so classy it doesn't allow hotel signs, surrounded by trendy shops
and colorful restaurants, call “South Ken” your London home. Shoppers like being a short
walk from Harrods and the designer shops of King's Road and Chelsea. When I splurge,
I splurge here. Sumner Place is just off Old Brompton Road, 200 yards from the handy
South Kensington Tube station (on Circle Line, two stops from Victoria Station; and on
Piccadilly Line, direct from Heathrow).
$$$ Aster House, well-run by friendly and accommodating Simon and Leonie Tan,
has a cheerful lobby, lounge, and breakfast room. Its 13 rooms are comfy and quiet, with
TV, phone, and air-conditioning. Enjoy breakfast or just lounging in the whisper-elegant
Orangery, a glassy greenhouse. Simon and Leonie offer free loaner mobile phones to their
guests (Sb- £ 135, Db- £ 200, bigger Db- £ 250 or £ 295, does not include 20 percent VAT; sig-
nificant discount offered to readers of this topic in 2015—up to 20 percent discount if you
book three or more nights, up to 25 percent discount for five or more nights; additional 5
percent off when you pay cash, check website for specials, pay guest computer, free Wi-
Fi, 3 Sumner Place, tel. 020/7581-5888, www.asterhouse.com , asterhouse@gmail.com ) .
$$$ Number Sixteen, for well-heeled travelers, packs over-the-top class into its
41 artfully imagined rooms, plush designer-chic lounges, and tranquil garden. It's in a
labyrinthine building, with boldly modern decor—perfect for an urban honeymoon (Sb-
from £ 180, “superior” Db-from £ 294—but soft, ask for discounted “seasonal rates,”
especially on weekends and in Aug—subject to availability, larger “luxury” Db- £ 330,
breakfast buffet in the conservatory- £ 19 continental or £ 20 full English, elevator, free
guest computer and Wi-Fi, 16 Sumner Place, tel. 020/7589-5232, US tel. 800-553-6674,
www.numbersixteenhotel.co.uk , sixteen@firmdale.com ) .
$$$ The Pelham Hotel, a 51-room business-class hotel with crisp service and a
pricey mix of pretense and style, is genteel, with low lighting and a pleasant drawing
room among the many perks (Db- £ 190-290, rate depends on room size and season, break-
fast- £ 15 continental or £ 19.50 full English, slightly lower prices on weekends and in
Aug, Web specials can include free breakfast; air-con, elevator, free guest computer, pay
Wi-Fi, fitness room, 15 Cromwell Place, tel. 020/7589-8288, US tel. 1-888-757-5587,
www.pelhamhotel.co.uk , reservations@pelhamhotel.co.uk , Jamie will take good care of
you).
$$$ Brompton Hotel has 26 plain rooms above a jumble of cafés and clubs. There's
a noisy bar and some street noise, so ask for a room in the back if you want quiet. Since it
has no public spaces, they serve breakfast in your room. Although the hotel is humble, its
rates are reasonable for this upscale neighborhood (Sb- £ 100, Db- £ 110-140 but can fall to
£ 75 when demand is down, Tb- £ 140-150, “deluxe” rooms are just like the others but with
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