You know what struck me first about Templeton Place? It’s tucked away on this quiet residential street that feels completely removed from the tourist chaos, but you’re actually right in the heart of South Kensington. I mean, you walk five minutes and you’re at the Natural History Museum – though honestly, I’d recommend going early morning or late afternoon to avoid the school groups.
The aparthotel itself has this understated elegance that I really appreciated. It’s not trying too hard, if that makes sense. The lobby feels more like a boutique hotel than your typical serviced apartment building, and the staff actually seem to know the neighborhood. When I asked about good coffee (because let’s be honest, hotel coffee is usually terrible), the front desk guy pointed me toward this little place on Gloucester Road that locals use – turns out it was maybe a three-minute walk and had proper flat whites. The apartments themselves are surprisingly spacious for London standards, and I loved that you get a proper kitchenette. Not just a mini-fridge and kettle situation, but actual counter space and a decent-sized fridge. The windows are double-glazed too, which matters more than you’d think since Templeton Place connects to busier streets on both ends.
What really sold me on the location was how easy everything became once I figured out the lay of the land. South Kensington tube is literally around the corner – I timed it once and it was genuinely a two-minute walk door to platform. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: you’re also walking distance to Earl’s Court station, which sometimes has fewer delays on the District line. The whole area has this village-y feel during the day, especially if you wander down toward Old Brompton Road where there are proper grocery stores and pharmacies mixed in with the restaurants. Speaking of food, skip the obvious tourist spots on Exhibition Road and head toward Cromwell Road instead – there’s better value and the locals actually eat there. I will say the aparthotel can get busy during museum exhibition season (basically spring through early fall), so book ahead if you’re planning around major shows. The 8.8 rating honestly feels about right – it’s not flashy or Instagram-perfect, but everything works properly and the location really can’t be beat if you want to feel like you’re staying in residential London rather than tourist London.