Hotel Kempton

About Hotel Kempton

Hotel Kempton suits first-time visitors who want to reach Kolkata's best-known sights and restaurants on foot. The three-star hotel sits at 3 Marquis Street, a side street off Park Street, with the Indian Museum, New Market and the Park Street dining strip all within a short walk. Guests who prefer a fixed base and a short commute to the Maidan rather than a long daily taxi ride will find the address does most of the work. It is a practical choice for a first trip of a few days.

The property is a three-star hotel with a guest score of 3.9 out of 5 from 2,806 reviews, which points to a steady, well-used city hotel rather than a boutique stay. Expect an uncomplicated arrangement: a room, an on-site restaurant, Wi-Fi and parking, with a business centre and laundry for working trips. The building has lifts and wheelchair-accessible areas. Guests looking for a central address with a moderate level of service fit here best.

Location and neighbourhood

Marquis Street runs off Park Street, the stretch officially named Mother Teresa Sarani and long the city's restaurant and music address. The immediate area holds Flurys, Peter Cat, Mocambo and Trincas, the Asiatic Society founded in 1784, and the old South Park Street Cemetery. Side streets such as Camac Street, Middleton Row and Russell Street lead towards the Maidan, while Sudder Street and Free School Street, the budget lanes, lie to the north. This is central Kolkata, with offices, shops and colleges in walking range.

Several sights need no transport at all. The Indian Museum is 0.3 km away, Park Street 0.4 km, New Market 0.5 km and Esplanade 0.9 km, all walkable by road. South Park Street Cemetery at 1.4 km and St Paul's Cathedral at 1.6 km make comfortable walks in cool weather. Victoria Memorial, 1.8 km away, is 10 to 20 minutes by road and better reached by cab or metro than on foot in the heat of the day.

Mornings are quiet here. Offices open late, the Maidan is open ground for a walk, and breakfast places fill gradually. Evenings bring the area to life, with Park Street restaurants and music venues busy until late. Around Christmas, Park Street and Allen Park are lit from mid-December to New Year. During Durga Puja, usually late September or October, crowds swell and roads near the Maidan close to traffic, so check the current year's dates before planning.

Rooms and facilities

For business travel, the hotel lists a business centre, Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant, so a working day can be run without leaving the building. Laundry service and luggage storage help on changeover days, and the lifts save time on upper floors. Double glazed windows are listed, which matters on a street close to a busy restaurant quarter. A concierge is on hand for arranging transport, and free car parking is listed for guests bringing a vehicle.

Families and late arrivals have the practical basics covered: lifts, wheelchair-accessible areas, housekeeping, and a cafe on the premises for a simple meal after a long journey. Sheets and towels are provided, and a sauna appears in the facilities list. Guests arriving by road can park on site. Room configuration and any accessibility requirement are worth confirming directly with the property before booking, since needs vary from one group to the next.

Kolkata's heat and monsoon shape how a room is used. Between April and May daytime temperatures often pass 35 °C, and the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain and waterlogging after downpours, so reliable air conditioning and sealed windows make a difference. Winter mornings can be hazy with poor air quality. Confirm room type, whether a quieter side of the building is available, and check-in and check-out times with the hotel when booking, along with airport pickup if needed.

Getting there

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) lies near Dum Dum, about 14.5 km from the hotel in a straight line, with a road time of 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Allow more in the morning and evening peaks. Prepaid taxis and app cabs are available at the terminal. The Yellow Line metro serves the airport at Jai Hind Bimanbandar station; services are expanding, so check Metro Railway Kolkata for current timings and connections.

Howrah station, on the west bank, is 3.2 km away in a straight line, a road journey of 15 to 30 minutes, longer when the bridge approaches are congested. Sealdah, on the east side of the centre, is 2 km away, or 15 to 25 minutes by road. Both handle long-distance trains, and Kolkata station at Chitpur serves some long-distance and Bangladesh services. Allow extra time for station traffic and keep luggage secure in the vehicle.

The Blue Line metro is the simplest way to move north and south. Park Street station is 0.3 km from the hotel and Esplanade 0.9 km, both on the line running from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash through Shyambazar, Central and Kalighat. Esplanade also connects with the Green Line towards Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake Sector V. Fares are charged per journey; check the current fare and running hours with Metro Railway Kolkata before travelling late.

Food and sights near Hotel Kempton

The Indian Museum, 0.3 km away, was founded in 1814 and is the oldest museum in India, with collections that reward a half day. New Market, opened in 1874 as Hogg Market, is 0.5 km off and good for produce, clothing and household goods. South Park Street Cemetery, opened in 1767, and St Paul's Cathedral, consecrated in 1847, sit 1.4 km and 1.6 km away and pair well in a single outing. All four are reachable on foot in cool weather.

Park Street, 0.4 km away, holds the city's best-known restaurants: Flurys, trading since 1927, Peter Cat, Mocambo and Trincas. Bookings help at dinner, particularly at weekends. Nizam's near New Market is credited with the original kathi roll and is a short walk for a quick meal. For a wider choice, Indian Coffee House on College Street is a ride away. Mishti doi and sandesh are easy to find in the surrounding shops.

Shopping is straightforward. New Market covers most daily needs, and the streets around Park Street and Camac Street have bookshops and clothing stores. Oxford Bookstore on Park Street is a useful stop for maps and reading. Evenings belong to the restaurant strip, with music at some venues. In December the Christmas lights on Park Street and Allen Park draw crowds after dark, and the Maidan, a short walk away, offers open space for a stroll.

• Indian Museum (350 m)
• Park Street food & music (450 m)
• New Market (500 m)
• South Park Street Cemetery (1.4 km)
• St Paul’s Cathedral (1.6 km)

A day from Hotel Kempton

Start with the Indian Museum, 0.3 km away. It is closed on some national holidays, so check the museum's own listing before setting out. Give the galleries two hours, then walk 0.5 km to New Market for coffee and a look at the produce halls. Both are within minutes of the hotel, so returning for a rest at midday costs little time and keeps the afternoon free for the longer outings.

In the afternoon, take a cab 1.8 km to the Victoria Memorial, 10 to 20 minutes by road, and allow time for the 64-acre grounds as well as the galleries. The museum is closed on Mondays and some national holidays. On the way back, stop at St Paul's Cathedral, 1.6 km from the hotel, with the Birla Planetarium nearby. Returning via Park Street station, 0.3 km from the hotel, avoids the worst of the evening traffic.

Use the late afternoon for South Park Street Cemetery, 1.4 km away, which is best seen in daylight. Then walk to Park Street, 0.4 km from the hotel, for dinner at one of the long-established restaurants; book ahead at weekends. The walk back afterwards is short. For a longer evening, continue 0.9 km to Esplanade and the Maidan, and return by metro from Esplanade or Park Street.

Booking tips and when to go

Book well ahead for Durga Puja, usually late September or October, and for the Christmas period from mid-December to New Year, when the area is at its most crowded and rooms fill early. Check the current year's festival dates before fixing travel. A weekday arrival outside office rush hours is easier by road. Confirm check-in and check-out times with the hotel when booking, and ask about early arrival if a morning flight lands before the room is ready.

November to February is the best season for this address. December and January highs sit in the mid-20s °C and walking to the museum, market and cemetery is comfortable; February is pleasant. March warms into the low 30s. April and May are hot and humid, often above 35 °C, with evening storms. The monsoon runs roughly June to September, heaviest in July, with waterlogging after downpours. October rains taper off before the festival season.

Carry cash for taxis, markets and street food; cards and UPI are widely accepted in hotels, malls and restaurants. Metered yellow taxis should use the meter, and app cabs are an alternative. Drink bottled water. Dress modestly at temples, covering shoulders and legs, and remove shoes before entering Kalighat Kali Temple, where the present building dates from 1809. For any visa question, use the official Indian Visa Online portal before travel.

Hotel Kempton: questions

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