A Boutique London Gem: Our Stay at Ellen Kensington

If you love boutique hotels with personality, history, and seriously good food, Ellen Kensington in London is one to put straight on your radar.

We stayed here with Inception Travelers and honestly didn’t expect to love it this much: elegant design, warm service, a pan-Asian restaurant that completely surprised us, and a location that makes zipping around London ridiculously easy.

📍 Where Is Ellen Kensington?

Ellen Kensington sits on Barkston Gardens, a quiet, leafy square in the Kensington / Earl’s Court area of West London. You’re just a short walk from Earl’s Court Underground Station (Piccadilly and District lines), which makes it incredibly convenient both for arriving from the airport and exploring the city.

Heathrow Airport – Around 35–40 minutes on the Piccadilly line, no changes needed.
South Kensington museums – Just a few minutes away by tube: the V&A, Natural History Museum, and Science Museum.
Kensington High Street & Hyde Park – Easy to reach for shopping, walks, and picnics.
Central London – Direct connections to Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and beyond.

The hotel faces classic red-brick townhouses and a private garden square, so you get that quiet, residential Kensington feel while still being very central and well-connected.

✨ Book Your Stay at Ellen Kensington

🎭 The Story Behind “Ellen”

This isn’t just a pretty name. The hotel is dedicated to Dame Ellen Terry, one of the most celebrated British stage actresses of the Victorian era. At the height of her career, she lived on Barkston Gardens, and today there’s still a blue plaque in the area commemorating her.

Ellen Kensington was created as a tribute to her elegance and glamour: a Victorian townhouse reborn as a contemporary boutique hotel, with subtle theatrical touches in the interiors – warm lighting, rich textures, and a sense of drama that feels very “stage ready”.

🏛️ A Victorian Villa with a Boutique Soul

The building is a beautiful red-brick Victorian townhouse that has been completely refurbished. Inside, original features like tall windows and high ceilings have been paired with modern design: sleek lines, layered textiles, statement lighting and a gentle nod to Asian influences in the décor.

The hotel is managed by Montigo Resorts, a Singapore-based hospitality group, and you can feel this blend of classic London townhouse and Asian hospitality everywhere. The atmosphere is polished but welcoming, refined but never stuffy.

🛌 Rooms & Suites: Cosy, Chic and a Little Bit Glam

Ellen Kensington offers a range of rooms and suites, many of them overlooking the trees and gardens outside. From the moment you step inside, it feels more like a stylish London home than a standard hotel.

Plush, comfortable beds with soft headboards and layered textiles that make you want to collapse after a long London day.
Elegant design details – patterned carpets, warm metallic touches, curated artworks and accent colours that give every room a unique personality.
Modern, refined bathrooms with walk-in showers and quality amenities that actually feel luxurious.

Overall, the rooms feel boutique and design-driven, but still cosy and welcoming – the perfect base for a London stay where you want something more special than a chain hotel.

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🍜 Lacquer Room: The Hotel’s Pan-Asian Highlight

Our favourite part of Ellen Kensington? Definitely Lacquer Room, the hotel’s pan-Asian restaurant.

The concept combines contemporary Asian flavours with a polished, London boutique setting. Think elegant tables, soft lighting, and a menu that moves from comforting favourites to more creative plates – the perfect spot for a chic dinner without even leaving the hotel.

Some of the dishes that stood out during our stay:

Tamarind Seabass Fillet – a true signature dish. Perfectly cooked fish with a tangy-sweet tamarind glaze and beautiful balance of flavours.
Steamed Dimsums – delicate, soft and full of flavour. One of those dishes that makes sharing difficult because you immediately want the whole basket to yourself.

The whole experience at Lacquer Room feels refined but relaxed: attentive service, beautiful plating, and a menu that makes you want to come back just to try more dishes. It’s the kind of restaurant you’d happily visit even if you weren’t staying at the hotel.

🍸 Ellen Bar & Breakfast

Just off the lobby, you’ll find Ellen Bar, a glossy little spot where you can start the evening with a drink or unwind after a long day out. Expect:

Cocktails with a modern twist, some of them inspired by Asian flavours.
Wines and classics perfect for an aperitivo moment before dinner at Lacquer Room.

In the morning, breakfast is served in the same elegant spaces, usually with a mix of:

Continental options – pastries, fruit, juices, cereals.
Cooked dishes – eggs, more substantial plates to fuel a full day of London exploring.

It’s exactly what you want from a boutique hotel breakfast: not overwhelming, but curated and satisfying.

🧘‍♀️ Calm Corners & Wellness Vibes

Even without a huge spa, there’s a strong sense of calm at Ellen Kensington. Being on Barkston Gardens means you’re just far enough from busy main roads to feel peaceful, yet still a short walk from Earl’s Court station.

There’s also a small fitness area for those who like to keep moving, and plenty of quiet corners where you can sit with a book, plan your day, or simply enjoy a slower pace between one London adventure and the next.

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🚶‍♀️ What to Do Around Ellen Kensington

One of the biggest advantages of staying at Ellen Kensington is how easy it is to build a perfect London itinerary straight from the hotel door.

Within Walking Distance or One Tube Stop

South Kensington Museums – Visit the Natural History Museum, V&A and Science Museum for a full cultural day.
Kensington High Street – Shop, stop for coffee, and enjoy the local West London atmosphere.
Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park – Ideal for a morning run, a relaxing walk or a sunset stroll.

Easy Tube Rides from Earl’s Court

Knightsbridge & Harrods – For the classic London luxury shopping experience.
Piccadilly Circus & Soho – West End theatres, nightlife, restaurants and bars.
Covent Garden – Street performers, small shops and market vibes.

And if you’re flying in or out of Heathrow, the direct Piccadilly line connection from Earl’s Court station makes your journey smooth and stress-free.

💼 Who Ellen Kensington Is Perfect For

From our experience, Ellen Kensington is ideal if you:

Love boutique design and prefer character over generic chain hotels.
Want a central but residential area with a more local, less touristy feel.
Are a foodie who appreciates having a great Asian-fusion restaurant directly inside the hotel.
Are travelling as a couple and looking for a stylish, romantic base.
Need easy access to Heathrow and central London without complicated connections.

It’s also a fantastic base for content creators and photographers: the interiors, the townhouse façades and Barkston Gardens itself are all incredibly photogenic.

✨ Book Your Stay at Ellen Kensington

🌟 Why We Would Go Back

For us at Inception Travelers, Ellen Kensington brought together everything we love about a London stay:

A beautifully restored Victorian townhouse with a story and a soul.
A name that pays tribute to Dame Ellen Terry and the world of theatre.
Warm, international hospitality with a touch of Asian influence.
Lacquer Room, a pan-Asian restaurant that genuinely stands out in a city full of great food.
A quiet, elegant location just minutes from Earl’s Court station, with the rest of London within easy reach.

If you’re planning a trip to London and looking for a hotel that feels cool, intimate and design-forward – more like staying in a stylish London home than a standard property – Ellen Kensington deserves a spot at the top of your list.

Have you ever stayed at Ellen Kensington or visited the area around Earl’s Court? Tag us on Instagram at @inceptiontravelers and let us know your favourite boutique hotel in London!