London

My husband and I stayed here for a week in early May '09 upon recommendation of a friend in the hotel industry who is also a former Londoner. The Rockwell is perfectly situated in its South Kensington location. The tube is only block and a half away (meaning one can easily avoid the outrageous 60 pound cab fare from Heathrow to the hotel); casual restaurants, groceries, pharmacists and pubs abound; and many choice siteseeing opportunities are within walking distance. Despite vague warnings I'd seen online about Cromwell St being dodgy due to supposed 'flop houses' in the area, we found nothing of the sort and always felt safe. This marked one of the best hotel experiences I've had. The decor is understated-modern-contemporary, and although our room showed a bit of wear and was in need of a paint job (particularly in the bathroom) it was still lovely and comfortable and clean. Expansively high ceilings helped alleviate the smallish size of the room and the massive windows offered much light and a peek down at the outside "garden" sitting area. The one annoyance: we're tall people and were a tad cramped in the bathroom's stand-up shower stall and had to avoid throwing elbows for fear of smashing glass. Nice amenities though: a towel warmer for the fluffy white towels; toiletries; and, happily, a window that opened. Not sure if it was due to our room's location on the back of the building but it was always dead quiet at any time of day. For those inclined to pay, there was also a fully stocked mini bar with crisps, biscuits, wine, champagne, water, etc. Tiny little flat screen TV to watch if you want to waste time in your room. Every member of staff whom we dealt with was friendly and helpful. We arrived at the hotel prior to the 2pm check in and they whisked off our luggage for storage and immediately seated us comfortably in the garden with a complimentary capuccino. We grew very fond of Magda who worked in the bar and dining area, and she gave us a few good tips for dining and places to visit. The outdoor garden area provided a perfect place to start off an evening with an aperitif, or finish one with a nightcap under the stars. We were additionally delighted to discover that the ample continental breakfast we'd enjoyed every morning was included in the price of the room, which we'd somehow managed to miss. I'll return. In fact, I wish I was there now.