I stayed at the new London hotel with discounted rooms that’s near three of the best free museums
TRYING to find an affordable, but clean and safe hotel can be tricky when exploring London.
So here’s everything you need to know about The Drey, one of the newest on the block.
Where is The Drey Hotel?
Tucked down a quiet side road of London, The Drey Hotel is a short walk from Earls Court.
What is the hotel like?
The recently opened The Drey takes over one of the beautiful South Kensington townhouses, with 125 rooms throughout the townhouse.
It’s no frills but classy – think tablet check ins and complimentary umbrellas.
There are no key cards either, with buttons via your phone to unlock the main entrance and your room.
What are the rooms like?
My room – The Roost – overlooked the garden square with huge floor to ceiling windows making it a beautiful wake up from my super king bed.
The rooms have all the essentials, that I mean a coffee machine and water bottles, as well as towels and Gabar toiletries.
The dressing gowns and irons have been missed out, but you can pay £20 for a workout ‘bundle’ which has yoga mats, skipping ropes and weights inside.
But the fun part is owning the door, bizarrely. It’s keyless, so you check in and then click a button on your phone to open the room when you’re near, without having to scan anything. Very techy.
(You can request physical keys from reception if you prefer).
There are loads of other rooms to choose from, including a number of windowless rooms for “people who take sleep seriously” or rooms sleeping up to six people.
Rooms start from £100, but there is an extra 35 per cent off until the end of March.
What is there to eat and drink there?
There is a Starbucks coffee machine and healthy snack vending machine in the lobby but for dinner you have options.
But there’s no restaurant here so you’ll have to go out.
The hotel has teamed up with a number of food and drink spots to offer discounts.
Get 20 per cent off breakfast or brunch at The King’s Head, Earls Court, as well as discounts at places such as cafe Elixis and restaurant Afandena.
What else?
The pared back hotel has little else going on inside but you can pay extra for some of the nearby amenities.
This includes 20 per cent off wellness studio Common Bond and The Gym Way Kensington.
Other local partners include florist Petal Vibes (15 per cent off) and winery London Cru (£8 off tickets).
Otherwise it is two stops on the underground to the ‘museum hub’ South Kensington which is nicknamed the museum hub with the V&A, Science Museum and Natural History Museum all nearby and free to visit.
Luggage storage costs £10.
Is it family friendly?
Yes, there are Family Rooms that sleep up to six people thanks to some strategically placed bunk beds.
Is it accessible?
Yes, there are accessible rooms with step-free layouts and wider doorways, as well as lift access.