In the last year, we have stayed at Parkes about 6 times and are due to go back in September. Sadly, from an email we and other guests will have received, 30 Sept will be the last night that guests will stay as the lease on the building has run out and the landlord is turning the property into more 'luxury apartments'.
In the last year or two, we have stayed at the Oriental at Hyde Park and the Capital in Basil Street and Parkes knocks spots off both of these for value for money, charm and staff attention. The Capital has a fabulous restaurant, and only a couple of minutes walk from Parkes, but it is much more expensive and the rooms smaller. The Oriental is far more expensive and absolutely not worth the money even at half the price in our view.
Parkes offered (and still offers for the next 2 months) very large rooms in a small and friendly hotel (which has an air of Agatha Christie's Bertram's Hotel about it, without the dead bodies of course - although we always checked the little communal lounge as we left to make sure that was true!).
Every room has extremely comfortable, large sleigh-style beds with crisp white linen, a minibar large enough for a cocktail party for all your friends (as everyone says), delicious toiletries, lots of fluffy towels and gowns, large plasma screens with plenty of choice of channels and movies. Some rooms have little kitchens, fridges, microwaves and crockery if you want to make a simple meal for yourself (after a few days of restaurant eating, this is often welcome - and cheaper!).
The downside is the carpets in some rooms are rather well-worn, the air con not v efficient, the plumbing a little creaky in some rooms and the lift makes a strange huffing noise as it travels which you can vaguely hear in some rooms and there's only a breakfast service (which is not especially good). However, these things are more than counter-balanced by all of the positive things about this charming place and with great staff (esp Christine, Juliana and a charming German man - sadly, name escapes me - who work on reception). There are many restaurants around Parkes and cafes like Brompton Quartier and Cafe Rouge for lovely breakfasts.
So, if you get chance to stay in London before 30 Sept, we would thoroughly recommend Parkes. And we do hope that there wlll be Parkes II rising from the ashes in the Knightsbridge area very soon!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Museums / Cultural / Historical sites, Business meeting / Event, Shopping, Concerts / Music festival