Think of a hotel in London. A truly luxurious five-star place with exquisite bedrooms, beautiful bathrooms, and views out over the largest green lung that the city has to boast. Add to that a sky-high first class restaurant with stunning views of one of the world’s most famous skylines, plus plenty of other in-house eating/drinking options that would keep even the fussiest guest happy. Put it in a stunning part of London surrounded by decent shopping and quick links into the neighbouring heart of the city, and make it all extremely family friendly. It all sounds a little too good to be true doesn’t it (especially those last two words “family friendly”)? I promise you that it really does exist…
The Royal Garden Kensington have made it their mission to make every single guest welcome in their hotel whatever their age, and have thought up some pretty nifty initiatives to keep the smaller members of the family happy. All pretty savvy if you ask me, by making this a stylish haven for the entire family, parents are only going to choose it time and again aren’t they? I know we will go back of our own accord (I just wanted to add that our two are seasoned travellers, and know how to behave well in such an environment, but what I often find challenging is the attitude of some establishments towards them simply because they are children when we stay somewhere as a family, and to be able to relax and not have to worry that they weren’t welcome was really refreshing).
We were welcomed to our beautiful Garden Room (they have Hyde Park as their back garden, and they have royalty as neighbours – Kensington Palace is right next door!) with the promise of scooters to borrow (for grown ups too if you fancy it!) to go exploring Hyde Park with, and balls and skipping ropes to take along if we felt like it (and if you feel like pushing the boat out, there are plenty of bespoke packages available including cookery classes, treasure hunts and even Mary Poppins tours – again, aimed at smaller guests, but I think adults would be very welcome – I doubt The Royal Garden Hotel would want anyone feeling left out!)…
Even though we had a hectic day planned (despite having been born in SW London, both Small People have spent a paltry amount of time in their own capital city compared to those that belong to others!), we couldn’t have rushed out even if we had wanted to – the Small People had a fantastic view to admire, plus the contents of their complimentary back packs to inspect (which included teddy bears, games and puzzles, vouchers for cookies at neighbouring Whole Foods, water bottles to fill up for day tripping, and an all important London map with tips of what to see and do). Both were thrilled at the little touches that made them feel like grown up guests which included being presented with their own room keys, and being greeted individually wherever we were in hotel…
After eventually getting them to leave, we spent the afternoon exploring old haunts, and in the company of War Horse (fantastic by the way, perhaps not the show I would choose to see loaded with hormones as I am currently, but well worth watching!), we ventured back to our sanctuary and after a quick soak in the bath to soothe aching feet, and dreams of foods that lay ahead (a lot of which you just can’t get in Munich!) we had dinner at the glorious Min Jiang way up high on the tenth floor. 
Even though this restaurant has quite a grown up vibe, the children were positively welcomed here, and hoovered up plates of squid, and the exquisite duck for which it’s renowned, all the while happily watching people enjoying Hyde Park below, and spotting various buildings in London’s iconic city skyline. 
And if you don’t fancy eating out, or have a particular small person dining time in mind, then The Royal Garden have this covered too with early meal times, tailored menus, and the most extensive children’s room service menu I think I have ever seen if you don’t want to leave your room, and I can understand why you wouldn’t… 
Exhausted and full, we retired to bed in what has to be one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in. Little Lord and Lady Fauntleroy in their adjoining room next door were more than happy with their sleeping arrangements, and it all just felt how the family break you dream about really should, and I promise you this isn’t just “a travel blogger gushing about a comped room”… If only I hadn’t suggested taking them out on the scooters the following morning, we might have had more of a lie in, but it meant that we had far longer to linger over a very respectable breakfast anyhow…
Sadly the baby has requested a healthy option for me this morning. #breakfast #foodstagram #royalgardenhotellondon A photo posted by Emma (@bavariansojourn) on
All in all, I would highly recommend a stay if you’re planning a London visit. As a great believer in rounded reviews, I honestly wracked my brain trying to think of something I didn’t like about the place, but apart from perhaps suggesting a more extensive evening dim sum menu in Min Jiang (you should see it during the day, it’s incredible) for us poor deprived “foreigners”, I couldn’t come up with anything else (when I asked the Small Girl, she couldn’t think of anything either, apart from sharing a room with her brother!). It’s a great base for a family getaway in one of the world’s greatest cities (if not the greatest – of course I am biased!), and I can’t think of a better time to visit as the Hotel rapidly approaches its 50th anniversary and all the celebrations that will go with that. If all of the above doesn’t entice you enough, if you book directly with the hotel you will get 50% off connecting rooms to make your stay as a family that extra bit comfortable (and more peaceful!), and booking direct ensures you get free WiFi too…
Want to know what the Small People had to say about our stay? R: “I loved the scooters, the back packs, and that everybody was so friendly and nobody was like “urgh children, they probably won’t be very well-behaved”, and the children’s library in the reception (although there could be a few more books). I loved it”.
S:I liked absolutely everything. When can we go next?
I think that’s all you need to know really, 10/10!
Disclosure: We were gifted a nights stay plus breakfast. All thoughts and opinions very much my own.
Looks like a fabulous hotel – can’t wait to check it out x
I know you will love it Susanna! :) x
Lovely spot there! I love going to the gardens to see the Peter Pan statue. There’s a perfect little coffee shop just on the corner of the east side as well that’s fab. I’ll have to stay at this hotel next time I’m in London. Great post.
Beautiful area isn’t it? Apparently people forego this spot for something a little more central but the links are so good, it’s hardly far from the centre anyway! Thanks Christa! :)
What a gorgeous looking hotel! I absolutely love places like this that genuinely welcome every guest no matter what the age. I will definitely have to check it out. Thank you for linking up to #GlobalKids :)
It is a really lovely place. Thank you! :)
I’ve had my eye a stay here for ages….this had pushed it to the top of my list. #GlobalKids
Go for it, you will love it, promise! :)
What a great hotel! I particularly love the backpacks, it’s little touches like these that really make a family hotel stand out. That and the fact that they look after parents well too :) globalkids
Definitely! Thanks Katja! :)
I’m jotting this hotel down for a future family trip! Thanks for sharing.
I would really really really recommend it! Thanks Elizabeth! :)
I have heard so many lovely things about this hotel, I hope to be able to experience it all first-hand some day!
It’s well worth a visit! Thank you! :)
OOh that sounds like a really great family hotel – it can be tricky to find one with connecting rooms, but with our older two in tow everyone really needs a bit more space than the usual family room allows!
I think this place might be the perfect solution! Thanks Sonya! :) x
Wow. That looks like a lovely place to stay – what fab back packs for the kids too. Hope your pregnancy is going well. Sorry I haven’t commented for a while – I’ve been in ‘writing land’. It’s funny, even though I lived in London for over ten years, I always felt like a tourist in the place – it’s just one of those cities! X
Hello S! Lovely to hear from you! Don’t worry, I know you have been busy! :) All is good thank you, not long to go now! I wonder if we worked in London at the same time, so many of us seem to have! :) x
Wow this place looks amazing! I love that it’s family friendly! xx
Thanks so much Michelle, I would really recommend it! :)
Such a beautiful place to stay – beautiful surroundings, beautiful room and all in the heart of the Big Smoke too, who would have thought it?
I know right? Thanks Rebecca! :)
Oh, my word, I am bookmarking this, it sounds amazing and we may be able to treat Emma to it in November for her birthday!xx
I think Emma would love it. Thanks Oana! :) x
Wow, what an amazing place to have as your base for London.
A perfect base. Thanks Jen! :)
What a gorgeous hotel in a beautiful part of the city!
It really is. Thank you! :)
what a lovely place to stay have been for the MADS but never with kids
Thank you Becky! It’s equally great with kids! x
Your review makes The Royal Garden Kensington sound an amazing place to stay with children (or without). They have obviously given a lot of thought and planning into making children so welcome. I am sure that many parents visiting London would be very relieved to find that such a hotel is available. Your pictures also make it look very inviting and your two seasoned travellers are, I’m sure, the best judges of ‘child friendly hotels’! x
It’s such a lovely part of London to stay in too, you have everything on your doorstep and the greenery of Hyde Park to balance it out! Thank you xxx
I have to admit we normally choose budget hotels when we stay in London but it looks wonderful. I shall start saving my pennies
Thank you Kara! I would really recommend it!
There is something special about staying somewhere that is beautiful, it is just so relaxing. What a gorgeous hotel in a stunning setting!
It really is in a beautiful setting, what a back garden! Thanks Erika! :)
It sounds like such an amazing place for families and I love that they loan out scooters for the whole family!
Such a simple idea, but a really popular one! Thank you Bex! :)
Will definitely bear this in mind when we next go down to London, we always on the look out for child friendly holes and this sounds perfect :)
This place is perfect. Thank you Sonia! :)
Sounds & looks amazing!! I need to start hinting to Andy that we need a city break soon. Love the sound of the Dim Sum to! Yum! Very sweet to lend the kids scooters. x
You need to book in before for a pre-baby break, and afterwards for a post baby treat! :) xx
A family-friendly fancy hotel? That sounds absolutely incredible. I’m saving this for later!
I think you would approve Elizabeth! Thank you (:
Great to be able to find a family friendly hotel in the heart of the city. Love the scooter loan idea.
It really makes all the difference! Thanks Erica! :)
Lucky you!
I know! Make a note of it for your next London trip Brooke, I think you would love it, and I know E would approve! :) x
This sounds brilliant. I love that hotels are so much more keyed into what children want nowadays, as happy children make happy parents, especially on holiday! I know mine would love the scooters and the other special touches.
Thank you Sarah, it honestly makes all the difference doesn’t it? I know we will be heading back when we are next in town…
What a divine place to stay! Amazing views considering you are in the City :)
Thank you Kate. Amazing views of the skyline, and you really forget how green London is when you move away! :D
I have stayed at the Royal Garden once and the breakfast is the best I can remember! I totally agree with you – it’s a lovely place to stay, and easy to forget that there is actually a lot of beautiful green space in central London!
Thanks Helen. Yes, the breakfast is incredible! I didn’t go for the full English option this time, but everyone else did, and I was very jealous! :D x
Great to have a recommendation for a hotel which treats the little people so well. Sounds like you had a fabulous time – and what a view!
Trish, you would mightily approve of this place, one to add to your weekend getaway list! :) x
The room looks amazing and ever since having Amy, I really appreciate all the child-friendly options that hotels offer. The Royal Garden seems to go above and beyond that though. I’m really impressed with the kids backpacks and meal options/times. Definitely one to remember when I’m traveling with Amy x
Thanks Carolin. I think Amy would love this place! :) x
Oh Emma that looks like such a wonderful place to visit and stay in. I can only imagine how reluctant you must have been to get out of the lovely bed. I know I would have been! Looks uber comfy :D
It’s definitely at the top of my list for most comfortable night’s sleep! Thanks Stacey! :)
I truly beautiful place to stay, I love that they have really given much thought about families staying with children (So sweet that you can borrow scooters).
Thank you. They LOVED the scooters. Just shows it’s the little things doesn’t it? :)
oh what a lovely place i would stay there
Thanks so much Lisa, I would really recommend it! :)