Our family of four with kids ages 9 and 10 booked this specifically for the kids while we were in London, and it ended up being one of the more unique and memorable experiences of the trip. We were looking for something fun and different from a traditional afternoon tea, and this definitely leaned more interactive than expected. Arrival and First Impressions Reservations are important, and when we arrived the space was already filled with families. The setting feels polished but still very welcoming for kids, which is not always the case with afternoon tea in London. Service was excellent from the start, organized without feeling too formal, and the overall atmosphere had a fun, lively energy. The Highlights The experience is built around science themed trays filled with a mix of sweet and savory items. The kids immediately locked into the interactive elements, especially the build your own strawberry lemonade with different colored syrups, which turned into more of a mini experiment than just a drink. They also had cake pops, scones, and small PB and J sandwiches, all very approachable and fun. One of the better touches was a small take home item, a dinosaur themed tin, which the kids treated like a prize from the experience. It added to the overall feeling that this was designed with kids in mind. The adult trays had a similar variety with finger sandwiches, pastries, custards, and scones. Everything was solid and there was plenty to try. Being able to request more of anything you liked helped balance things out a bit and made it feel less restrictive for the price. The Challenges The biggest drawback is the cost. For a family of four it came out to around 350 USD, which is a significant spend for what is essentially afternoon tea. It leans more toward a themed experience than a traditional tea service, so if you are expecting something quiet and refined, this may not be the right fit. Final Thoughts This is one of those experiences that works really well if you go in with the right expectations. It is interactive, a little chaotic in a good way, and clearly designed for families more than traditional tea purists. We would not rush back and I removed a star due to the price, but we are glad we did it once because the kids genuinely loved it and still talk about it. If you are looking for something unique and are comfortable with the cost, it is worth it for the experience, though the value depends on how much you lean into the interactive side. read more

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The Jurassic Afternoon Tea was delightful! We had the children's tea, adult's tea, and a cream tea. The service was friendly and the ambiance relaxed. The savory sandwiches were our favorite. The scones were very good with fun toppings to try on your jam and cream. The sweets were just okay. The macarons were the best part of the sweets and they were half-dissolved because of a server mishap with the fun smoke effect. It was a fun one-time experience for our family. read more

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Came here for the science high tea. Service was quick to seat me. This is an interactive high tea so the first part was the fizzy lemonade which included water and lemon with the blue liquid in the pipette as liquid sugar and a packet of baking soda with citric acid, yellow was mango and red is strawberry puree. The high tea tiered desserts were pretty but too sweet for me. Did like the pipette injected into the macaron. Scones were good. It came with clotted cream, jam AND a toothpaste tube of lemon curd mixed with sweetened condensed milk. Loved the oreo bit dirt with the shortbread with a bone fossil imprint on the bottom of the tin. Finished off with chocolate ice cream. read more

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Science tea party was a big hit in terms of experience, experiments and fun. The food itself was kinda eh. For kids it's great value. For adults not so much. The sandwiches were underwhelming. Bread was kinda stale. Everything else was fun. read more

After having lunch at the nearby Hoop & Toy (please reference my review if interested), my wife and I proceeded to the hotel to check into our room. We were greeted and assisted by an employee who observed us bringing multiple baggages up the entryway stairs. He wished us a Happy Anniversary, informed us that we were being upgraded to a suite on the fifth floor (room 503 yay yay!), shared the many amenities of the hotel, and handed us our keycards. Prior to our arrival in Kensington, we had been staying in smaller boutique hotels during our visits in Amsterdam and Paris. Therefore, the abundance of space in our suite almost made us feel like we were at home. Entering the room, we were greeted by a couch (with a TV mounted nearby) positioned in front of a sliding glass door that lead to a patio with two chairs and a table (not to mention a decent of the city). The kitchen area was complete with a microwave, utensils, plates, bowls, tea cups, coffee mugs, drinking glasses, and champagne flutes. On the counter was an expresso machine, expresso pods, a nifty device for boiling water, and a tasty assortment of chocolates with a message saying "Happy Anniversary!" Below the counter was not one, but two refrigerators (perfect for folks like us who like to purchase small grocery items - including champagne). The bedroom was a decent size with a mounted television (with the ability to access streaming services via Chromecast), snazzy Bluetooth speaker (I made good use of it!), a desk, and bed. I believe in saving the best for last...in my opinion...that would be the bathroom. The bathroom was complete with heated floors (unfortunately we did not get a chance to use them), a HUGE two person (depending on the size of said persons) sitting tub, and an open shower area with a shower head slightly extended from the ceiling (not ideal for folks that do not want to get their hair wet). Also, I forgot to mention that both the shower and hot tub have extensions. Since we were only at the hotel for three days and two nights, we did not have the time to utilize their many amenities. However, we were able to visit Apero, the bar located in the basement. We both ordered drinks from the cocktails menu, which we would later regret. Although flavorful, both drinks were loaded with so much ice that there was obviously little room for the drink itself. For both breakfast and dinner we enjoyed the convenience of room service. For breakfast we ordered the eggs, bacon, and wheat bread...which met our satisfaction's. For dinner we ordered the Chicken Ceasar salad with a side of fries with truffle mayonnaise...delicious! Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Ampersand Hotel. If you're looking for a hotel in which you can truly relax and enjoy the comfort and serenity of your room, I highly recommend staying here! read more

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I came here because I (1) wanted to have afternoon tea during my visit to London and (2) my love of dinosaurs + my friend telling me about this tea experience. I just had the tea with no extra drinks etc for approximately £60. First off, yes this is a pricier afternoon tea than others but it is a themed experience and located in Central London so this does make sense. I did also love how this was just a short walk away from the Natural History Museum (which I naturally went to afterward to continue viewing more fossils). I did take a taxi here but walking or public transit to this hotel would be easy. Parking does seem like it would be challenging if you're planning on driving over. I did make a reservation as I was coming to London on vacation and was concerned I couldn't just walk in but they definitely had spaces available to walk in on a weekday afternoon when I went. The sandwiches were all well made and filling I did not have a favorite amongst them, I equally finished them all. The SCONES were incredible omg I dreamed about them for the rest of my trip. They had this sealed lemon spread that was amazing but I love love loved the jelly with clotted cream as well. Okay, now as for the more disappointing part. The top of the tea tower was my least favorite part of the meal. Aesthetically, it's incredible and makes for a lovely video. It was challenging to even figure out how to eat and even figure out what was edible?? I was honestly full from the sandwiches and scones and tea so just having a few nibbles of the dessert was fine to me but please be advised. The waiters were very helpful in answering all my questions and being right there when I had a request. Overall, the experience was lovely. read more

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Update: For clarity, my review was never about the hotel's seating policy, it was about the tone and manner in which it was delivered to me. I was not "unreasonable", nor have I ever been disrespectful in over 10 years of visiting, being a loyal costumer at the bar or the tea-room, even sending the hotel costumers and a trainee, as the hotel's own staff could confirm. My student, who was with me that day, was also shocked at the way I was addressed. The lounge was quiet, there was clearly space available, no one at the restaurant, and yet I was spoken to abruptly, told "this is becoming too much of a habit", and not allowed to respond. To make matters worse, my last detailed email to management was completely ignored. That silence says everything about how loyal customers are valued here. The person replying to me was not even there when I was treated like I'm not a guest. Hospitality should be for everyone, not only those perceived as wealthy. read more

We had the most amazing afternoon tea at the Apero restaurant in the Ampersand Hotel on May 16th 2025. It was Jurassic themed and they went to great lengths to honor that theme even when my daughter and I were gluten free. Chocolate molten lava mountains, chocolate dinosaurs, delicious sandwiches and scones, wonderful unique tea accompaniments, we could go on and on about how awesome it was! We are big afternoon tea fans and have had them in countries all over the world. This was one of the best! Mohammed was fantastic and made sure that we were well served and happy patrons. Kudos for a job very well done to Mohammed and their creative chef! Blessings from Vance, Alannah and Angela read more

Delicious afternoon tea! I don't generally like scones, but The Ampersand Hotel's scones came out warm, light, fresh, and with a lovely flavor. I definitely will come back when I revisit London. read more

If you're going to have a full high tea - sandwiches, desserts, tea - and you're gluten free? DEFINITELY do it here. The offerings were themed when I went in the summer of 2023, based on the museums near by, and we had "Science experiment" themed treats. The science themed things were a little silly, but I think a younger kid would definitely love. They can make EVERYTHING gluten free, and you really, really can't tell. Gorgeous hotel, conveniently located if you're staying around the central London museums, and wonderful service. OH and did I mention - everything has free refills? This is an ALL YOU CAN EAT afternoon tea? WORTH the money, come HUNGRY. The scones are divine! Definitely recommend! read more

This was a superb hotel. Our room was beautiful! All of the staff was amazing. Housekeeping was very pleasant & always helpful. The front desk staff was outstanding!! While everyone was so kind & helpful, I'd like to especially recognize Jerry. Jerry was constantly going above & beyond to assist us in any way we needed. He gave us great recommendations, supported us with navigating public transport, & regularly helped us with any baggage we had. He made it a point to remember our plans & discuss them with us after we returned. We will definitely be coming back to The Ampersand! read more

A few friends has mentioned the science tea here was super fun for kids and so we booked it a few months in advance. We actually arrived an hour early for our 1pm reservation and they sat us without a problem. My hungry kids were thrilled. We ordered 2 kids science teas and 3 adult science teas since our 12 year old thinks she's an adult. There was a little bit of science, some lovely tea (and I'm not really a tea drinker) and lots of tasty sweets. Tea may be one of my favorite meals ever and this wasn't the best tea food I've experienced, but it was a fun and entertaining way to introduce the kids to tea. I almost booked another traditional tea for later in the week, but didn't think they would appreciate it for the price. This tea itself is a little pricey, but not bad in comparison to the tea at the ritz or other upscale destinations. Recommended for families visiting London! Our 7, 10 and 12 year olds were impressed! read more

Great place for a kids & family oriented London tea time (The Drawing Rooms at the Ampersand Hotel) that's more on the fun side and less on the stuffy side. Also helps that this place is walkable 10minutes from British Museum, and we came here afterwards for an early evening reservation. Friendly service, and some fun looking desserts to eat. Didn't realize this at first (lack of cultural knowledge), but you can ask for additional helpings of items since they're small to being with. The tea itself was just ok (Darjeeling was really exceptional; genmaicha decent; while the green tea was underwhelming though it could be tailored more for British tastes and not for Asian tastes), but I didn't mind as this was a really nice place for a memorable family experience. read more

The Ampersand Hotel was hands down my favorite stay of the year and I travel quite a bit. Let's start with the location. It is quite literally the perfect location. The bus stops right in front of it, the tube (the train/metro) is one block away (with two lines), the hop on hop off bus is three blocks away, Nando's (IYKYK) is three blocks away, a grocery store is across the street, restaurants all around, I could go on and on. The staff certainly goes above and beyond!! Every single staff member we interacted with was exceptional. I am allergic to feathers/down and housekeeping made sure to accommodate my needs. The room itself is gorgeous and spacious and they provide adapters for your convenience (in case you happened to forget yours which does happen!) I loved the heated floors in the bathroom along with the complimentary fully stocked fridge. The slippers and bathrobe were a nice touch as well. I mean truly, I have absolutely no complaints and I will be returning when I'm in London again next year! read more

Absolutely loved this hotel! The rooms are on the smaller side but super comfortable! The location is also great with lots of places to eat and just relax outside! Can't thank the staff enough with how lovely they are! Jerry is the sweetest doorman/concierge! The best!! read more

Brilliant and unusual "high tea", great service and a wonderful photo opportunity! My guests and I had the Science Museum tea, an interactive, fun, and experience that excited the senses. Gluten free available read more

Looooved the recent stay at the Ampersand. Location was perfect for walking or tubing over to the surrounding neighborhoods. But what wok me over was how comfortable the stay was. Traveling can be stressful, and acclamatting to a new environment is another challenge. But I slept so peacefully at this hotel. The bed and bedding was comfortable, the thermostat worked great, the L'Octane bath products were good, the restroom had heated floors, hot water, wifi always worked... And the blow dryer was 5-stars on its own. I wanted to take of home. I have a full head of lettuce, and that dryer blew it out in no time AND left a beautiful shine to my hair. No issues with elevator, staff, noise -- 5-star stay. I do wish we could have experienced the tea room. Yelp photos and reviews made me jelly... read more

The Ampersand Science Afternoon Tea I REALLY wanted to like this place. But overall we were so disappointed - especially given the price - that I encouraged my friend who was visiting with kids and already had a reservation to go to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea at One Aldwych instead. The Ampersand really adhered well to the theme with their science tea, and and had some really cute creative touches, but ultimately the food really fell short. The price is higher than it should be - 37.50 pounds per person (and that's for adults or kids). For kids it was the highest priced of the three high teas we went to in London that week, and that included hoity toity Claridge's! I think The Ampersand should offer a cheaper tea for kids which could be combined by parents for a nice day out to the science museum across the street. First the savories. The salmon blini was really good. My 7-year-old daughter loved it and declared she likes caviar. Grrrrrreat. In the bagel with horseradish and roast beef, the bagel was clearly a store bought mini and too bready. I was not impressed. My son liked it. He likes everything. My quiche arrived and it was mushroom and peas instead of the pumpkin and sage one I thought I was getting. Harrumph. It was served less than lukewarm. I really liked the crayfish part of the crayfish in rose sauce on focaccia. However, the focaccia toast was cold. The white chocolate scone was possibly the best part of the meal, which is saying a lot since I don't particularly like white chocolate. The plain scone was fine. I was unclear if the tube of maple cream at the table to go with the scones was supposed to look science-y. Regardless, it didn't add any flavor. There were also test tubes of sprinkles on the tea tray, but - as any time you use sprinkles - they were just there for show. Cute though. I just really didn't know what to use them on because our foods (scones, macarons, etc.) didn't really have the right surface for sprinkles so it was just like pouring them directly onto our plates. And then there were the desserts... and despite their slavish attention to following the science theme in each dessert, taste-wise they were all misses. We did enjoy the dry ice cloud that billowed down from the top tier. The mint flavor was a little odd on the chocolate mint planet mousse on top of a brownie. Three of the four of us left our lemon dessert behind. It was not good and too sweet with an odd white layer. The sesame macaron? Good. The raspberry jam injection sticking out of it? Not so good. The chocolate spaceman was okay. The beeker of raspberry lychee juice was too sweet but the kids liked it. I loved the creativity behind the the box with a chocolate dinosaur and a shortbread cookie covered in chocolate dust to brush away like you're an archaeologist, though I was hoping it would be a bit more involved to find. (They're immediately visible.) I liked my phoenix honey tea but it was too sweet. The kids were given good fresh squeezed orange juice in lieu of tea. Overall I was really disappointed that more care wasn't taken into the serving temperature of the savories. Hot food wasn't served hot except for the scones. Kathleen's High Tea Rankings 1) Claridge's, London 2) Le Parloir, Montreal 3) The Fairmont Empress, Victoria B.C. 4) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea at One Aldwych, London 5) Aubrey Rose, La Mesa 6) Crown and Crumpet, San Francisco 7) Lovejoy's, San Francisco and Redwood City 8) Tea Upon Chatsworth, San Diego (closed) 9) Lovey's, Pacifica 10) Lisa's Tea Treasures, Campbell 11) Tyme for Tea, Fremont 12) Lisa's Tea Treasures, Los Altos 13) Dushanbe Tea Room, Boulder 14) Satori, San Jose 15) Charles Chocolates Tea, San Francisco 16) THE AMPERSAND SCIENCE AFTERNOON TEA, LONDON 17) Tea Time, Palo Alto 18) Lisa's Tea Treasures, San Jose 19) Samovar, San Francisco (Page St.) 20) Shakespeare's Corner Shoppe and Afternoon Tea, San Diego 21) Cafe du The, Burlingame 22) The Huntington Langham Hotel, Pasadena 23) Satori, Saratoga 24) Dartealing Lounge, San Francisco read more

The Ampersand Hotel - My daughter loved the smoke from the dry ice. - Hotels Near Me - London, XGL

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We went to the science afternoon tea and my 7 year old LOVED it. It comes with one experiment (won't ruin the surprise) and lord of cute little snacks that are planet shaped and the little food holder is shaped like a space ship. It was super close to both the science and history museums so you can do the one you like (or both) then head over. There's also a Jurassic shaped one in another area but my son is a space guy. read more

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If you are visiting London and want an afternoon tea experience do not go anywhere but here. The science tea in The Drawing Room is such a delicious, fun, interactive experience. Decor: bright, cheery, sophisticated and quirky. Seats were very plush and comfortable, though you may need help pulling them closer to your table (they are quite bulky). Afternoon Tea: Exceptional! The whole thing is interactive, with freeze dried fruits, caramel "sprinkles", jams in squeeze tubes, tasty sandwiches, mix-your-own sparkling drinks and various desserts. (See pics) If you like an item they will bring you a second one, not that you'll need it since the portions are generous. My favorite included the key lime white chocolate astronaut. Yes, as wacky as that sounds, it was delicious. Service: really friendly and attentive without hovering at all. Cost: Very reasonable, especially given how much food and tea you get and also how fun and interactive the afternoon tea is. Kids and adults alike will really enjoy their time here. The next time I am in London I am 600% returning. read more

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Love this hotel. Great location with good restaurants walking distance, tube station nearby, bus stations. The hotel restaurant is pretty good (with 24/7 room service), complimentary water (all the still water you can drink), sodas, tea and coffee. The staff is amazing, the rooms comfortable. I haven't find anything bad to say about this hotel. Cute science afternoon tea. read more

I am a frequent traveller to London, and I cannot express how much I love and look forward to staying at The Ampersand Hotel every time that I am in the city. The location cannot be beat. The hotel is half a block from the South Kensington Tube Station, and is located in an absolutely beautiful grey historic building that has been transformed into this great hotel. The staff are very welcoming, accommodating, and extremely helpful. From making sure that I have the right room to arranging transportation to the airport, I have not received better service from any other hotel. They staff are friendly, cheerful and always remember me every time that I am London, which is a very nice touch. I've even received little treats every time I have come back. The rooms are really nice and comfortable. I recommend a Deluxe Double or bigger if staying for longer than three days. Room service is great and quick. The flat bread and Snowy Peak drink from the Apero has to be one of my absolute favourites. I have been going to The Ampersand Hotel for years, and will continue to go to this wonderful hotel every time that I am London. read more

This is only for the science tea service as we did not stay here (though it looks really nice ) we enjoyed this tea so much ! Got the kids to engage and enjoy a true tea service with a little science involved too! They need to close the windows and keep on the AC - it was very hot and humid. But otherwise great service and good tea /foods with a nice gluten free option. read more

We were visiting London and I told my husband I wanted to do a proper afternoon tea. He was not really into the idea, but agreed to do it to amuse me. I found the drawing rooms and figured he would find it a bit more fun and whimsical than just your average tea. We also picked the Drawing rooms because they had a vegetarian menu and seemed to be able to accommodate allergies. We had a reservation, so we were seated immediately. I didn't realize that you are given a choice of menus (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free...) when you were seated, and had requested that in my reservation. Turns out I didn't need to do that, as we were presented with menus that included a vegetarian menu. They were in fact very allergy friendly. My husband was given an additional roast beef sandwich instead of the fish. We also overheard them discussing with a family next to us with a tree nut allergy. I'm more of a coffee person than a tea person. Okay, I actually really don't like tea, but the tea was actually delicious here. I actually drank my full cup and refilled. The food was very good. I'm not the biggest dessert person, so my husband did eat most of the desserts. I also enjoyed when they brought out the food and did the smoke for the planet mousse. The hotel itself, as well as the drawing rooms (and the bathrooms) are gorgeous. I would recommend anyone wanting to have afternoon tea to come here. The only thing I think they might want to consider is, maybe getting some curtains to separate the tea area from the entrance to the hotel. It was quite loud and the noise did carry in a lot. Maybe something to muffle the sounds. read more

This review is for the Science Tea only: Before I get into details, let it be known that I highly recommend the Science Tea...despite the service. The theme is very fun, and the tea is great. It's because of them that I discovered my love for Earl Grey. Far as the tea goes, the savories are pretty good. Smoked salmon, chicken salad, roast beef, and my favorite, the Truffle & Mushroom Tart. Then the science part starts. They bring out a basin and a set of pipettes and beakers for you to prepare your own lemonade. The lemonade is one of my favorite items. It's fresh n' fruity, and end product is delicious and refreshing. It's a lot of work to make an ounce at a time, and unfortunately, it is very difficult to get the attention of the servers so we were only able to get two refills. High tea has given me a new appreciation for scone. The white chocolate and cranberry is sweet without being sugary, and the plain scone is just perfect. Clotted cream and lovely homemade strawberry preserves, yes please! The lemon curd comes in a fun squeeze tube and we squeezed that thing dry. The pastries are the best part. They get very creative! There's a petri dish of fruity gelatin, and they pour some dry ice around the Planet Mousse, to shroud it in mystery. The Half-Moon Cake and chocolate spaceman is just too cute to eat! We had to ask for the Mini Dinosaur Biscuit after they handed us the check - this is what I mean by being understaffed - they simply forgot to give us our last course. Then they only brought one for the two of us, and there was no bone hidden in this crate so we didn't even get to find an edible fossil with that adorable brush. I really enjoyed the Science Tea, but I would have enjoyed it more if the service were better. It's rare that I comment on service, but there were times where we felt entirely ignored. Still, the theme is adorable, and the pastries are brilliant. I would easily come back for the food and the ambiance despite the less-than-desirable service. read more

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We spent two glorious nights at the Ampersand. Everything was perfect - location, food, the high tea (we skipped the kiddie science project, haha), and the staff were all excellent. Our room was on the smaller side but had everything we needed. The beds were heavenly! The gym was perfect for a one hour workout. Breakfast was truly nice! This is indeed the place to stay for a brief London visit! read more

Had a few hours to kill in Lower Kensington on a recent trip to London and figured a coffee was in order! The Drawing Room came up as a suggested coffee shop with the same address as the Ampersand Hotel. Upon arrival to the hotel, we were greeted by hotel staff who immediately offered to store our luggage we were walking around with and kindly escorted us to the small cafe lounge at the front of the hotel called - The Drawing Room. Elegant Decor, comfy furniture and rich aromas full the room. Many people were casually gathered with friends/family for Afternoon Tea. My wife and I were led to a small table in the back and had a wonderful cappuccino. Would highly recommend this for a quiet detour with wonderful service and atmosphere. read more

The Ampersand Hotel - Hotels Near Me - London, XGL

This hotel is very clean, cute, room is surprisingly spacious, and conveniently located in South Kensington by the Piccadilly metro and many other bus stops. There are quite a few restaurants and grocery stores close by to eat and buy snacks. It's fairly quiet here - seems less touristy which I like. The staff is also very helpful - I was able to borrow 3 outlet converters since I am visiting from the states. Otherwise my phone would be dead, my hair would be a mess! They have free WiFi, umbrellas to borrow, and I also have a tv in my bathtub- interesting :) read more

The Ampersand Hotel - Hotels Near Me - London, XGL

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Took a toddler there for science tea. I wasn't expecting much from the food since I figured it was mostly for looks, but I was pleasantly surprised by most of it. The savories were mostly good, but I prefer regular finger sandwiches to the big buns which are kind of dry. The fillings were good tho especially the truffle egg mayo. The sweets were very nice, not overly sweet. I even liked the pipette addition to the macaron. Scones were average, but the passion fruit curd was very tasty. Service could have been more attentive, we pretty much never saw them after the food arrived. Overall very nice and good to go with a kid, he enjoyed digging for dinos and mixing the lemonade at the beginning. read more

I was recently in Europe for 2 weeks, and after several stays in Airbnbs and hotels throughout 3 countries, I spent my final 2 days and accommodations at The Ampersand Hotel, and had a great, relaxing stay! First off, I was greeted right away, and my check-in went super smoothly and quickly. I was impressed by the high ceilings in my room, and I like how the motif of the hotel is both a mix of traditional and modern styling. My room was very clean and comfortable, the bed was super comfy, and the bathroom was nice as well. The staff was very helpful and friendly throughout my stay. The hotel itself is just about 1 block from the nearest Underground station, and is near plenty of shops and restaurants. It was quiet and I had a great night's rest, which totally had me prepared for my 12 hour flight home the next day. I definitely recommend staying at The Ampersand Hotel if you're in London! read more

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The Ampersand Hotel is located right near the South Kensington station. There are lots of restaurants around the hotel, all within walking distance. I was really impressed with the entire hotel experience. We arrived a couple of hours before check-in and they already had a room available for us. The room itself was a bit small, but since we were just there for the one night it was not a problem. I think if we were staying there for multiple nights it would have seemed a bit small. It was really cool to have heated floors in the bathroom, definitely a luxury. The complementary cell phone was a cool idea, however I didn't get it use it. The entire room was clean, the shower spacious, bed was comfy, and wifi worked fine in the room. If you need a hotel in the area, I can't recommend the Ampersand Hotel enough. read more

The Ampersand Hotel - Outside view of the Ampersand Hotel - Hotels Near Me - London, XGL

We seriously enjoyed our High Tea experience here. We were 15 minutes late and they still saved our table, which was awesome. They also had a seating for High tea at 5:30pm. We had one normal and one vegetarian option. The smoked salmon cracker, quiche, and scones were amazing. The mango desert, macaroons and space man chocolate were too cute. The coolest part was the dry ice!! So fun and thematic!! We both liked our teas, the Ampresand and a Rooibos. The reason I'm only giving 3 stars is because the service was horrible. The waiters were nice but it was quite hard to get their attention even though there weren't that many people there. It started off great but went down hill quickly. The tea room itself is quite pretty, lite and quaint. read more

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I have stayed at this hotel on two different business trips to London and would stay there next week if their price would have been cheaper, but unfortunately it isn't so I am staying elsewhere to save the company some money. The rooms here (depending on the rate you pay) are fairly decent. For old buildings like this, the rooms are never all that large so North Americans, don't expect room sizes to be what we're accustomed to. The staff has always been very courteous and helpful. The second time I stayed here, I had an issue where the power would go out after 2 minutes of inserting my card into the reader. I alerted the hotel staff and they had that fixed within the hour. There's a tea room I didn't go to either time, but looks pretty nice. I did eat breakfast here and the breakfast nook is quaint (like a French Kitchen) and the food is not bad. Coffee wasn't good at all though. They can do vegan oatmeal and I got coconut milk for the coffee which helped it significantly as did the lumps of sugar. This hotel is not even a 2 minute walk to the South Kensington tube station and the area around the station has a number of stores and cafes. Very nice area that isn't too loud. Nothing is open late though. I'll miss being there next week, but do hope to return on future trips to London. I found a hotel nearby that was much cheaper (though rated lower) because I like this area so much. read more

The Ampersand Hotel was our home away from home during our London trip and it could not have been better. Our room was sizeable, with a very large and plush bed, vanity, large closet with small refrigerator (complimentary still and sparkling water) and plenty of space to store bags and other items. The bathroom was also nicely sized and, best of all, had heated floors. Staff members were very kind, welcoming and helpful in every way. We arrived absolutely exhausted from the trip, and it was still hours before check-in time. Fortunately, we were checked into our room early which greatly helped us to relax and enjoy our day. The location of the hotel is just steps from the tube in South Kensington, and there are tons of restaurants, bars and other shops to peruse nearby (grab some of the best coffee ever at Roots & Bulbs). I'd be hard pressed to stay elsewhere on a future London visit. read more

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Amazing hotel, staff and most of all..... The room. While I'm sure my room is better then some in the hotel I assure you if you make it your goal you can get it for little more then the standard. It's worth the extra 50 pounds a night. Not only will I return, but I'll recommend it to everyone I know. read more

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A stylish, chic retreat in South Ken. I stay here every time I visit London and it just gets better every time. Situated just across from South Kensington tube station, it's a perfect location for The Natural History Museum, The V&A, The Royal Albert Hall and The Science Museum - all within walking distance. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and luxurious, the decor inspired by Botany, Music, Geometry, Ornithology and Astronomy with a nod to the local attractions listed above - a great touch. The breakfasts at Apero are fabulous and so is the Afternoon Tea in the Drawing Rooms, a real work of art by pastry chef Ji Sun, you must book this during your stay. All the staff are brilliant with such a warm welcome you feel like you're visiting old friends - I can't rate this hotel highly enough. read more

The Ampersand Hotel - 'Musical' afternoon tea - Hotels Near Me - London, XGL

A 5 star 4 star hotel I really enjoyed my stay at the Ampersand. The staff go out of their way to be friendly and helpful but not cloying. I don't think of this as a pretentious 5 star place that nickels and dimes you for every small amenity. There is free wi fi and some free nonalcoholic drinks provided in the guest fridge. There's a paper at the door in the morning. The light fixture in the stairwell is arty and classy. My superior room was small but comfy. There were nice touches like a robe and slippers. There are public rooms available such as a library, bar and game room. I love the South Kensington location. Step out the door and there are buses, cross the street and you are at the Piccadilly and Circle line stops. Close to the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum, Harrods and more nice shopping and restaurants than you will have time for. I hope to return. read more

The Ampersand Hotel - Full moon! - Hotels Near Me - London, XGL

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Lovely stay! The staff is very welcoming. The hotel is beautifully appointed with great interiors. The location is perfect. Right near a tube station and lots of restaurants and cafes. Keep in mind the single rooms are extremely tiny. No real place to put a roller suitcase. I had to use my desk to hold my bag. Hard to walk around the room. Not a real closet and no drawers to store anything. The bed was very comfy though. The bathroom had great fixtures was ok size. Just keep in mind this is definitely a room for one person. All you need if you're just sleeping there. Wifi worked great. And free water, juice and soda is nice touch in mini bar. Overall great stay and can't wait to come back! read more

Fantastic. Definitely must do the science tea if you get a chance. It even comes in vegetarian and gluten-free and they accommodate a variety of allergies, too. read more

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The entire flat went for the special Scientist Afternoon Tea - really nice and unusual, with plenty of options that fit the theme. The savoury options are amazing, with salmon and crabs and salt beef ... best thing is that you can ask for more sandwiches and refills of tea and everyone is really relaxed and nice about it, which you don't find that often in London! Good value for money read more

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