the cranely hotel and the neighborhood of kensington






my beautiful room at the cranley hotel 
in kensington.









my favorite kind of hotel to stay in is a small boutique hotel.  the cranley is a perfect example...small but luxurious.  some of the perks this little gem held besides the coolest neighborhood, south kensington, were heated floors in the bathroom, heated towel bars (so good for overnight laundry), free champagne every evening in the lovely lobby and a beautiful room-service breakfast every morning.  i enjoyed every minute of my stay here.





just outside the door of the hotel were blocks upon blocks of gorgeous homes, beautiful shops and delicious restaurants.  following are lots of pretty pictures of street scenes and everyday life in this lovely neighborhood.










































































it wasn't that long ago that i was there and yet i find myself missing my new friends and afternoon tea and scones...




30 comments

  1. Gorgeous; reminds me of my beautiful Oakville!

    S
    xo

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  2. I woke up this morning and was thinking about Kensington and how lovely it would be to live in that neighbourhood then while eating breakfast I was checking out my blog list and there was Kensington. I love synchronicity. Your are so right it is a beautiful corner of the world and don't they do flowers well over there.

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  3. So lovely. Glad you had such a good time.

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  4. JANETTTTT!!!!! How good was that hotel room and the hotel itself and all the champagne in the sitting room in the afternoon????

    The area was all gorgeous too and I loved wandering about the traps with you and R. I will always remember walking up Kings Road and our lunch and the hail and how happy you were in Designer's Guild and Anthropologie!!!

    Your photos are beautiful. Keep them coming, I love being transported back.

    I wish we could do it all over again.

    The next garden I blog about will be Kiftsgate. So beautiful and such a good soul.

    Take care, xxxxx

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  5. Those hydrangeas took my breath away!!!! Thanks for sharing your photos.

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  6. It was spring there wasn't it? all that wisteria blooming and pansies.

    My favorite picture? all the students in uniform walking down that beautiful street.

    What a room. I'm sure it just erased that jet lag!

    xo J,


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  7. Just lovely! I am writing the name of that hotel down - that's a keeper!

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  8. Your hotel looks comfy and cozy...
    what more can one ask of a home away from home?
    Perhaps bubbly in the afternoon?

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  9. Hi Janet, I enjoy your lovely blog and just had to comment on your recent travel. The photos of London and France are amazing and your posts certainly convey you had a great time. If you are interested, the www.frenchwomendontgetfat.com blog has posted interesting photos of Provence from her summer there. I hope to visit the Lakes region of northern Italy in the spring of 2014 and will definitely include London and Paris then. The hotel and Kensington area is perfection!

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  10. Flowers are the jewels of everyday life...
    Lovely photos, thank you.

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  11. Oh, The Room! The curtains puddled so beautifully...I see why you loved it--simple and fine. The surrounding buildings look so lovely and elegant with their well-tended patches of flowers. What a lovely time of year to visit.

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  12. great picture.......I went through the website and I found that you made decent point here. Keep up the topic that everyone can choose one of the best.Free hotel

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  13. Wasn't it the most charming hotel? Like you, missing new friends, breakfast trays and champagne and canapés. Paulax

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  14. So good you're back; the posts are gorgeous! I lived in Kensington all through my childhood and the schoolchildren walking crocodile fashion in the 16th photo are in my school, Hill House! I squealed with delight when I saw the photograph! The headmaster's wife chose the bright colors for the uniforms because she did not think children should wear black and gray as though they were in mourning; it was considered eccentric at the time.

    Glad you had such a lovely time! Thank you for sharing it with us!

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  15. hi sweet friend! just catching up here.... omg! the photos are fabulous and it looks like you had a wonderful, wonderful time! so happy for you and your trip. can't wait to hear what inspiration and ideas you found for your cottage garden! love all the boxwood photos, and yes, so classic with the black.
    champagne every evening sounds like heaven!
    xxoj.

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  16. just lovely and kind of reminds me of Charleston! I wonder what the Queen thinks of that pub/restaurant named "Queeens Head"? lol

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  17. Omgeee that hotel room! Could be a guest room at Martha Stewart's home...so comfy and lovely! How did you ever tear yourself away?

    And outside the hotel....every shot is stunning. Thoses buildings are so gorgeous, and the flowers, wow so pretty. I can see why you're missing it. Except for the constant cold weather it looks heavenly.

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  18. Love your photo's of London. What a pretty bedroom you have in the hotel!

    Enjoy your visit,

    Madelief x

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  19. What amazing and lovely photographs Janet... beautiful and what a gorgeous hotel too. Always good to know a great hotel in London. Fantastic flowers particularly -oh, and the florist guy looks pretty easy on the eye ;-) ........ XXX

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  20. These pictures bring back such wonderful memories of my trips to England! I always stay in Kensington when I'm in London (but head to the country to be with friends asap, as I love it there best!).

    I've always marveled at the beautiful window boxes and hanging baskets that proliferate in the spring and summer months in England. Just so lovely!

    I do hope that you had the opportunity to take "afternoon tea" at the L'Orangerie at Kensington Palace, while you were there!

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  21. Man, did you go to Europe the RIGHT way. What a trip.

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  22. Your photos keep on bringing back happy memories of our lovely trip. I am so missing my afternoon scones with jam and cream too. Victoria x

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  23. Janet, I had no idea London could be so lovely. I've always put visiting on a back burner, however, this post has changed my mind! Visiting, seeing such beauty, I'm certain there would be no regrets!

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  24. p.s. GREAT photo of the uniformed school children!

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  25. so pretty! I love that photo of the girls in uniforms. And I do love afternoon tea and scones!

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  26. I was there today! Working, but still.. Great pics.

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  27. Wonderful - I love the hanging flowers over the balcony rail pic - now that's a balcony! And I agree with Hicks - sight-lines in the garden are important! "The eye loves to travel" and these eyes are loving all your travel-sharing - thank you.

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  28. What a nice photo!So beautiful and such a good soul.

    Kensington London Hotels

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  29. Wow!What a nice picture!Glad you had such a good time.Thanks

    Kensington London Hotels

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