This Historic London Hotel Near Kensington Palace Has a New Family Suite—I Checked In With My Kids

You might think kids are easy to impress, but mine can be surprisingly tough critics. Yet, the moment they met Steve, the doorman at The Milestone Hotel and Residences, they were sold. All it took was a friendly face, a silly handshake and a few jokes outside this historic London hotel overlooking Kensington Gardens.

The Milestone is part of Red Carnation Hotels, a family-owned collection of luxury boutique hotels with properties across Europe and Africa. The group was founded by Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, whose family continues to run the business today.

Andrew Pike, managing director, told me that "many staff members have been with the hotel for decades," like Steven Thornett, the head doorman who has greeted guests for about 15 years wearing a green frock coat and top hat with a golden ribbon.

As for me, I love walking into a hotel and immediately knowing which city I'm in, rather than feeling like I could be anywhere in the world. I've always had a soft spot for historic buildings with a distinct character and a sense of place.

At The Milestone, every detail reminded me I was in London: the dark wood paneling, antique furniture, plush upholstery, ornate chandeliers, oil paintings, and heavy drapes. It all felt distinctly British. I half expected Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, to walk through the door any time for a neighborly visit. She never came, but if she had, I suspect she would have felt just as at home as we did from the very first moment.

The Family Suite

We stayed in the newly unveiled Family Suite on the top floor, overlooking Kensington Gardens. At 484 square feet, it wasn't enormous, but the layout was clever.

The parents' bedroom had a king-size bed, with a marble dining banquette by the window overlooking the Gardens. The room featured Pierre Frey carpets, Murano glass chandeliers by Sogni Di Cristallo, and lighting by Vaughan Designs.

Behind a pair of hand-carved arched doors, the kids had their own little hideaway with bunk beds beneath a hand-painted starry-night ceiling by artist Elsie Agnew.

My kids rushed in to explore it and found something hidden in every nook and cranny. A giant stuffed elephant also waited in the reading nook, with a toy box full of board games and cards. They had to play Rock-Paper-Scissors to decide who would sleep with the elephant first.

But the real surprise came at bedtime, when the staff turned down the room for the night. They left teddy bears, bedtime stories, and milk and cookies for the kids.

The Family Suite also had two bathrooms, one for the parents and one for the kids. That's not something you often find in a family hotel room, unless you book two interconnecting double rooms.

This Family Suite felt like home, with everyone having their own space while still being together. We're the kind of family who likes being close and spending time together rather than retreating to separate rooms or doing different activities. So, we never felt we needed more space.

I particularly liked that the bottom bunk was wider, so I could snuggle up with my daughter at bedtime. The spacious wardrobes swallowed up all our luggage, keeping the room clutter-free. It was cozy, just like home.

Food and Drink

Afternoon tea is practically a London institution, and The Milestone gives it a playful twist with different themes. During our stay, the hotel was serving a celestial-themed afternoon tea at the Park Lounge.

My husband chose Lovers Leap, a Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka, while I went for Planters' Mistress, a light, citrusy blend. The kids, unsurprisingly, preferred hot chocolate.

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My favorites were the smoked salmon sandwich with dill and lemon crème fraîche, the blackberry Galaxy Tart.

What impressed me was how easily the hotel accommodated our different dietary needs. I had the gluten-free afternoon tea, my husband had the dairy-free version, and the kids had their own children's menu. However, vegan, vegetarian, and halal options were also available.

Only later did I discover that The Milestone had received an Award of Excellence at the 2026 Afternoon Tea Awards. I wasn't surprised.

For dinner, we headed to Cheneston's Restaurant, the hotel's intimate, wood-paneled dining room named after an early spelling of Kensington. It holds two AA Rosettes and serves modern British cuisine under the guidance of Executive Chef Sam Saunders.

I started with Bea Tollman's Chicken Noodle Soup, a signature dish associated with Red Carnation Hotels' founder, Beatrice Tollman. It tasted like a rich, flavor-packed consommé. The squash risotto, with onion confit, goat's curd, and dill, was comforting without feeling heavy.

For dessert, my younger daughter had her eyes on the tropical fruit vacherin, but asked if she could have it with berries instead. The kitchen happily accommodated her request, and I ended up ordering the same.

Breakfast was back at Park Lounge, with a buffet and hot dishes prepared to order. I enjoyed poached eggs with avocado on gluten-free toast, while the kids loved their Belgian waffles with blueberry compote, Chantilly cream, and maple syrup.

One practical tip: Ask for the rectangular table to the right of the entrance if it's available. We kept bumping our legs against the bases of the oval tables and spilling our drinks. It was a rather small, but surprisingly annoying detail.

Location

The Milestone sits at the corner of Kensington Palace and Gardens, in one of London's most elegant neighborhoods. The hotel occupies two red-brick Victorian townhouses dating back to the 1880s, on a site whose history stretches back to the 17th century. Today, it is a Grade II-listed property with 43 individually designed rooms, 13 suites, and six private residences.

The location is hard to beat. Beyond Kensington Palace and Gardens, The Milestone is within walking distance of the Royal Albert Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum, which we visited with the kids.

The hotel's partnership with Historic Royal Palaces gives guests access to unique experiences at Kensington Palace. As the Royal Albert Hall's longest-standing hotel partner, the hotel concierge can also arrange private behind-the-scenes tours of the iconic concert venue.

How To Book

Rates start at £525 (approximately $700) per night for a Superior Queen Room with breakfast, while the new Family Suite starts at £1,750 (approximately $2,300) per night.

The Family Suite accommodates two adults, two children ages 3 to 12, and an infant in a crib. Families needing more space can request an additional connecting room.

For longer stays, the hotel also offers six private residences with kitchens and living areas, combining the privacy of an apartment with the services of a five-star hotel.

For guests booking directly, the hotel currently offers 10% off room rates for stays through March 31, 2027, with code DIRECT10. Longer stays of three nights or more may qualify for discounts of up to 20%, subject to availability and booking conditions.

Emese Maczko traveled as a guest of The Milestone Hotel and Residences, which did not review or approve this article.