You know what struck me first about The Other House South Kensington? It doesn’t feel like a hotel at all. I mean, walking up to 15-17 Harrington Gardens, you’re basically on this gorgeous tree-lined street that honestly feels more residential than touristy – which is exactly what makes it work so well. The building itself has that classic London townhouse vibe, but once you step inside, it’s clear they’ve done something pretty special here.
The whole concept is sort of like extended-stay meets boutique hotel, if that makes sense. Instead of cramped hotel rooms, you get these apartment-style spaces that actually feel livable. I’m talking proper kitchens (not just a sad mini-fridge and kettle situation), living areas where you can actually spread out, and – this was huge for me – decent storage space. The design leans modern but not in that sterile, Instagram-perfect way that makes you afraid to touch anything. It’s more like staying in a really well-appointed friend’s flat, except your friend happens to have impeccable taste and a serious budget.
Location-wise, you’re golden here. Gloucester Road tube station is literally a two-minute walk, which means you can pop into central London whenever, but you’re also perfectly positioned for all the South Ken good stuff. The Natural History Museum is right there (honestly, you can walk it in five minutes), and if you’re into the whole museum crawl thing, you’ve got the V&A and Science Museum practically on your doorstep too. But here’s what the guidebooks don’t tell you – Harrington Road, just around the corner, has some genuinely decent restaurants that aren’t total tourist traps. The Lebanese place there? Absolutely worth it.
What really sets this place apart though is how they handle the details. Check-in was refreshingly smooth – no standing around while they upsell you on room upgrades you don’t need. The staff actually seem to know the neighborhood well enough to give you proper recommendations, not just the obvious stuff. And parking – well, it’s London, so street parking is the usual nightmare, but they can point you toward the nearest sensible options without the whole “sorry, not our problem” attitude you get some places.
I’ll be honest, it’s not cheap, but for what you get – especially if you’re staying more than a few nights – it makes sense. The 8.7 rating feels about right; it’s definitely doing something right without being absolutely perfect. The only thing that might throw some people is that it doesn’t have that traditional hotel feel with a big lobby scene or concierge desk. If you’re looking for that classic London hotel experience with afternoon tea service and all that, this might not be your spot. But if you want to feel like you’re actually living in London for a bit, rather than just passing through? Yeah, this works really well.