It was very hot in London, so it was nice to venture out to DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Kingston Upon Thames. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Kingston Upon Thames is located within a 5-minute walk from Kingston Train Station, which is a 28-minute train ride to London Waterloo or in my case London Victoria was very easy to get too as well. Only a short 10-minute walk from Cromwell Road Bus Station.
This hotel is located on the edge of the town centre, in a residential setting next to Bentall Shopping Centre. Other Kingston shopping areas and the Kingston food market are literally less than a five-minute walk away. Kingston is a gorgeous town and certainly worth visiting for a weekend. I loved how there are restaurants right on the Thames which on a hot day creates a great summer atmosphere indeed.
With a short distance, there is the famous Rose Theatre Kingston, or the stunning Hampton Court Palace and Kingston University London. Sightseeing in this area is effortless. Kingston is a great place to just walk around. I could also, travel to other popular local areas including Richmond, Twickenham and Wimbledon. I had to head to London Heathrow the next day which was very easy to get too from the hotel, in fact, the bus stop to Heathrow is literally a 4-minute walk from the hotel. There is an express bus that goes straight to the airport and it takes around 35 minutes.
Reception
The reception area on entrance has a nice interior design. I liked the modern art on display throughout the hotel. I was greeted by a lovely gentleman called Cordell, he looked after me so well and made my stay very personal and fun.
Room – 1 Queen Bed
I stayed in a very nice simple room about 25 m2 in size with one Queen Bed. A nice place to rest and the mattress and pillows were very cosy. The bathroom was huge and looked very clean. I am a big fan of Crab Tree & Evelyn products, which was a nice touch within the bathroom. The bedroom was furnished to a very high standard.
Hawkers Bar & Brasserie
At the Hawkers Bar & Brasserie, the decor here was fresh, new and felt like a very comfortable environment for eating. I am a big fan of being able to look into the kitchen whilst the chef cooks. I chose the following and I have to say the presentation and standard were excellent.
Entree
The entree was – Pan Fried Scallops, mackerel ceviche, which consisted of cornish mackerel, teriyaki, almond, pomegranate, white radish and mini lamb koftas, with homemade mint raita.
Mains
I opted then for Hawker’s puff pie, which takes 18 hours to make. It is a nice slow-roasted lamb shoulder wrapped in puff pastry, smoked bacon with cabbage parcel and rosemary gravy. I also had slow-cooked rib of beef with smoked garlic mash, pakchoi with tempranillo red wine sauce.
Dessert
For dessert, I chose the baileys ice-cream and a custard cream dish. They both tasted yummy.
Conclusion
This was a great stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton and Kingston is a lovely place to visit. Every day there is an open market in which you can experience British culture at it’s best. It’s a perfect place to meet business people and if you need to get to Heathrow it’s easy too. The staff were very friendly, courteous and helpful. The rooms were very clean and well provided with all I needed. I loved the location of this hotel for great shopping in Kingston. If you are looking to see a movie, there is a cinema complex close by providing entertainment. As for Cordell, he is a great asset to the hotel.
Details
- Website: http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-london-kingston-upon-thames-LONKTDI/index.html
- Address: 1 Skerne Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5FJ, UK
- Phone: +44 20 3096 0099
