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Shepherd’s Bush feels like an unlikely home for the British entertainment industry. But sure enough, it’s where Charlie Chaplin performed in the early stages of his career, where The Who used to regularly rehearse and where major film and TV studios have lived, most notably, of course, the BBC.
Hotel Indigo K West sits inside one of those former studios. BBC’s Kensington House was where major stars would go for recording sessions – we’re talking the likes of David Bowie, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix. Those days are long gone now, and the building has been a hotel since 2001. It closed in 2023 in order to undergo a multimillion pound transformation by IHG and reopened earlier this year as Hotel Indigo London K West.
The previous hotel here was loudly done out in garish metallics, fringed chandeliers and swish furnishings. Its new look is, thankfully, much less aggressive. To deck out the new and improved abode, IHG enlisted the help of art consultancy Art Story (whose other recent credentials include 1 Hotel Copenhagen, Great Scotland Yard Hotel and Treehouse Hotel Manchester). The result is a far more tasteful look and a reassuring sense that this place, though immaculate, doesn’t take itself too seriously.
You’ll find K West down a residential street, a stone’s throw from Shepherd’s Bush Station, but far away enough that you’re wholly undisturbed by the hub’s notorious chaos.
What are the rooms like?
Hotel Indigo’s seven floors (floor three is at ground level) hosts 231 rooms and suites. We’re put up in one of the 33 square metre premium rooms and it’s just charming from top to bottom. The earthy seventies palette – salmon pink, yellow ochre, olive green – is a clear homage to the building’s musical glory days and from the huge wood-framed mirror to the coffee table to the headboard, there’s hardly a sharp edge in sight. Playful little details, like the mustard-coloured rotary telephone on the wall (for room service) and the Roberts radio on the terrazzo desk (in the case you want some background noise), add even more personality. The bathroom is just as characterful, ornamented with glamourous jade and turquoise tiles, with a generous walk-in shower and a good stock of Urban Apothecary products. Keep your expectations low when it comes to views, though – our room directly faced what looked like an office building about ten metres away.
What is the food and drink like?
On first inspection, the short menu at the hotel’s restaurant, Flock, might leave you tempted to venture elsewhere for your dinner. But that would be a grave mistake. From the polenta crostini to the beautifully roasted seabass to the vegan pizza topped with kale and hemp pesto (vegans won’t feel hard done by), every dish far exceeded our expectations. Drinks are excellent too, and the ‘Carnival Encore’ with chill-infused rum, coconut rum, lemongrass and ginger cordial, guava and lime juice was one of the best crafted cocktails I’ve had in a while. As for breakfast, expect a generous spread of pastries, fruits, charcuterie and cheeses with a menu of hot classics like eggs benny, a full English and porridge.
What are the facilities like?
A spa with treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool is lined up to open in autumn 2026 alongside a 24-hour gym.
What is the service like?
It’s largely a young team and, for the most part, service is suave and down-to-earth. I’d be lying if I said we didn’t spot a few teething issues, but staff were charming and attentive enough that they were easily put aside.
What is the area like?
Most people think that all this corner of London has to offer is Westfield but if you venture beyond the mammoth shopping centre you’ll find an abundance of brilliant bars, caffs, restaurants and venues. There’s Next Door Records and the Bush Tavern for good drinks and good tunes, Mr Dumpling, Chet’s, Shepherd’s Bush Market and a parade of Levantine bakeries for great food, and Bush Hall and the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire for top class live music. Have a look at what’s on at the Bush Theatre, too – it’s one of the city’s smallest major theatres and regularly puts on fantastic new productions that later move on to the West End. Notting Hill is a short walk away, so you’re perfectly placed for Carnival at the end of August .
DETAILS
Address: Richmond Way, Kensington House, W14 0AX
Price: From £333 a night.
Closest transport: Shepherds Bush Underground Station and Shepherds Bush Rail Station