The City Continental London Kensington deviates little from the slew of converted Victorian town house hotels that populate this slice of London. Initial impressions are positive -- the hotel has a fresh facade adorned with colorful flowers and potted shrubs. As guests step inside, they'll find an immaculate lobby, with a smart reception desk in natural wood and marble complemented by minimalist styling and splashes of abstract art. Moving beyond the reception area, however, decor becomes decidedly more budget, with gloomy lighting, and a musty smell in some of the hallways. There's also little in the way of common areas apart from the basement dining rooms, which some might find a bit claustrophobic. The hotel is still a good value for travelers looking to save a bit of money, and draws everyone from solo travelers and couples to families and businesspeople.

The hotel is located on a relatively quiet, leafy side street off busy Earls Court Road on the western fringes of central London. The area is a mix of residential properties and similar hotels, plus convenience stores and the occasional coffee shop chain. Earls Court Exhibition Center is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. Earls Court Tube station is two minutes away on foot and connects to the West End in around 10 minutes. It's around 20 minutes on foot to the southwest corner of Hyde Park, and a bit farther to Kensington Palace. The tube reaches the Victoria and Albert Museum in less than 15 minutes, while the Tate Modern is a 30-minute journey from the hotel. Heathrow Airport is only 35 minutes away by tube, and trips to Gatwick Airport will take an hour by using the tube and trains. 

The hotel has 74 rooms, all of which have simple, modern decor that blends warm-toned wood finishes with purple-gold patterned wallpaper and carpeted floors. The dark color palette gives the rooms a bit of flair, especially when compared to many fusty converted townhouse hotels in the area. They are also generally well maintained, though we did spot some signs of wear, especially on the carpets, some of which had bleach stains. While London hotel rooms are generally on the snug side, some units here are tiny, and views from rooms in the basement can be downright depressing. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, and tea- and coffee-making facilities, and all rooms are air-conditioned. Small but clean and modern bathrooms are nicely finished with floor-to-ceiling tiles and walk-in showers. Toiletries and towels are provided. There have been some complaints of hearing noise from hallways, elevators, and neighboring rooms.

This is a small hotel and like many others in this category in central London, features are limited. A small continental buffet breakfast is included in the room rate, and is served in the basement breakfast rooms. There are no cooked items and options generally include toast and pastries, yogurt, cereals, and standard beverages. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and is generally reliable. For those without their own computer or mobile device, the hotel has a computer station for guest use.