The Milestone Hotel London Review | Victorian Splendour & Timeless Luxury
Photo Courtesy of The Milestone Hotel
Overview
Choosing the Milestone Hotel, London
Whenever we stay in London, my first stop for hotel research is always the Leading Hotels of the World. Over the years, we’ve stayed at several of their standout properties, including Hotel Café Royal near Piccadilly, The Landmark in Marylebone, One Aldwych, and The Langham back when it was part of the collection. While we certainly have our favourites, I also love discovering new gems – which led us to the Milestone Hotel, a boutique property in elegant Kensington.
We booked our stay through The Private Traveller via my Fora Travel affiliation, which secured exclusive Virtuoso perks such as a room upgrade, daily breakfast, $100 hotel credit, early check-in and late check-out – all at no additional cost. These added benefits always make a noticeable difference to the stay and are available to my clients when booking through me.
Initially, we were slightly disappointed with the room we were given (Room 403), mainly due to its limited outlook and a low ceiling in the bathroom where the shower was positioned over the bath. I had requested a walk-in shower, and unfortunately, the setup wasn’t ideal – standing under the shower meant my head was nearly touching the ceiling, likely lowered for air conditioning ducting.
Thankfully, we were able to change rooms after the first night – and the difference was remarkable. We also viewed one of the "entry-level" queen rooms on the 5th floor. While it featured a charming raised seating area with a beautiful view over Kensington Gardens, the overall layout felt quite compact for two people, and the shower room – although freshly refurbished and beautifully finished – was narrow, with only a cubicle shower.
That said, the level of service and warmth from the staff was consistent with the Red Carnation Hotel Collection’s reputation, and once we were settled into a room better suited to our preferences, we really began to enjoy the charm and individuality that the Milestone is known for.
Hotel website: https://milestonehotel.com
Would I stay here again? If we could get room #305 (or equivalent again), absolutely! Some of the rooms have the potential to disappoint perhaps however many of them have the absolute wow factor.
Why Book The Milestone Hotel with The Private Traveller
Located directly opposite Kensington Palace, The Milestone Hotel & Residences offers quintessential British charm, five-star service, and a boutique atmosphere that sets it apart from larger London properties. When you book your stay through The Private Traveller, I’ll ensure your experience is elevated with exclusive VIP perks – all at no extra cost to you – through my Fora Travel affiliation.
Enjoy premium benefits such as:
Room upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full English breakfast for two
$100 USD hotel credit to use during your stay
Early check-in & late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Tailored advice on room categories and the best offers available
Whether you're in London for leisure, a special celebration, or a romantic city break, booking through The Private Traveller ensures a seamless and personalised stay with added luxury from the moment you arrive.
📩 To enquire or secure your booking, email dave.gillan@fora.travel or visit theprivatetraveller.com to submit your request.
Hotel Review: The Milestone Hotel & Residences, London
Photo Courtesy of The Milestone Hotel
Location
The hotel is located at the corner of Kensington Road and Kensington Court, right opposite Kensington Gardens and Palace. It’s right next to Kensington High Street (the tube station is less than 5 minutes walk) and only a short walk in the other direction to the Royal Albert Hall. Everything is on your doorstep - shops if want them, restaurants, cafes and bars; not to mention Kensington Palace for sightseeing, shows or concerts at the Albert Hall as well as Hyde Park for recreation. Location could not be faulted, easy access by taxis and Uber as well as nearby underground stations.
Accommodation
The hotel has only 43 deluxe guest rooms and 13 luxury suites, there are also 6 long-stay two and three bedroom residences. We had a fantastic (newly renovated) deluxe room on the third floor overlooking Kensington Court. On entering the room there was an internal staircase to take you down to the bedroom area - here there was an exceptionally large and comfortable king-size bed, seating area, desk area and a huge mount-mounted LCD TV. While the design was traditional (with great artwork) there was also every necessary piece of tech (like the ultra modern wall TV, USB points at both the desk and each side of the bed), high tech super-efficient air conditioning etc.). Despite being near the busy Kensington High Street and Kensington Road, the soundproofing was fantastic with the traditional windows being supplemented by inner double glazing for extra noise protection.
The room was beautifully designed and superbly appointed - homemade cookies on arrival with a welcome note, everything sparkling clean and with the most amazing bathroom. We had ideally asked for a walk-in shower and this really was a huge walk-in power shower. The bathroom was full of Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet toiletries, Milestone branded Egyptian cotton towels, two sets of robes (toweling and waffle) and slippers and everything else you could possibly want. There was room service both morning and evening, always left immaculately.
Food & Drink
The hotel has Cheneston’s Restaurant where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served and also has The Oratory (the original chapel) for private venues which also forms part of the breakfast room. There was a continental buffet set up in the reception area between the restaurant, private dining space and the Park Lounge at the front of the hotel where daily afternoon tea is served.
Breakfast was excellent, as well at the continental buffet (cereals, yoghurts, fruits, cheese, meats, bread and pastries) there was a full choice of English breakfast, vegetarian cooked breakfasts or lots of other choices too of eggs. First morning we both had smashed avocado on brown toast with poached eggs.
The hotel also has a uniquely style bar (Stables) and the Popeye-themed black and white Conservatory. This opens late for residents and a great place to relax with a drink after dinner. We went out for dinner with friends at a local restaurant on the Saturday night then came back with them for cocktails in the conservatory bar.
Facilities & Service
Service throughout the hotel was exceptional (there are two members of staff to each guest) - friendly, efficient but not overly formal. We had a great welcome on arrival at reception, the desk agent being friendly and engaging, this flowed through in every aspect and especially good interaction with the Front Desk Manager who oversaw the change of room. In the basement there is a small but perfectly serviceable resistance swimming pool, full gym (and personal training available too, with pre-booking) with lots of equipment and a sauna. As with everything in the hotel, this area is beautifully appointed and very well maintained. There is also an in-house beauty therapist for treatments where you are given her direct contact details to make bookings for efficiency. I contacted Fiona to make an appointment for a massage but unfortunately she wasn’t able to work the weekend we were there. You can borrow bikes from the hotel, or the option to borrow a helmet and use the London Council ‘Santander’ Cycle scheme from points nearby - this gives you the option to drop off bikes at various points across the city rather than being tied to the same bike all day.
ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):
Hard to adjust ceiling height, or outlook of some of the rooms, I think learning is just to be selective on room choice.
ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:
The whole experience basically, after the change of room. Breakfast was an experience as was after dinner drinks at the end of the evening too with friends.
Fabulous location so near Kensington Palace and the High Street for shopping, and great to be right across from the Park, or within a short walk to the Royal Albert Hall.
Useful website links:
Hotels:
Leading Hotels of the World
The Milestone Hotel https://milestonehotel.com
L’Oscar Hotel London https://www.loscarlondon.com/
Langham London https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/london/
Hotel Café Royal https://www.hotelcaferoyal.com/
The Landmark https://www.landmarklondon.co.uk/
Visit London | Official Visitor Guide https://www.visitlondon.com/
Tube (London Underground) | Transport for London https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/tube/
Final Thoughts on The Milestone Hotel
The Milestone Hotel & Residences offers an experience that feels truly personal – with a sense of charm, warmth, and heritage that’s hard to replicate. From its enviable location opposite Kensington Palace to its attentive service and beautifully curated interiors, it’s a boutique property that captures the essence of traditional London elegance.
While our stay began with a minor room hiccup, the staff handled it with professionalism and genuine care, reinforcing the hotel’s reputation for five-star service. Once settled into a more suitable room, we could fully appreciate the individuality and character that make The Milestone such a beloved part of the Red Carnation Collection.
If you’re considering a stay here, I’d be delighted to help plan and book your visit. Through The Private Traveller and my affiliation with Fora Travel, I can offer exclusive VIP benefits like room upgrades, daily breakfast, hotel credits, and more – all at no extra cost to you.
📩 Get in touch at dave.gillan@fora.travel or visit theprivatetraveller.com to begin planning your next London escape.
A laid-back luxury stay at Mount Cinnamon, Grenada — plus highlights from our trip, local recommendations, and how to book with exclusive perks.