Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to Sonder Chelsea Green on Ixworth Place – it’s one of those tucked-away streets you’d walk right past if you weren’t looking for it. But that’s actually part of its charm, you know? The building has this understated elegance that feels very Chelsea without being flashy about it. You’re literally a three-minute walk from the King’s Road, which means you can grab coffee at Bluebird or browse the boutiques whenever you want, but when you retreat back to Ixworth Place, it’s surprisingly quiet for central London.
The apartments themselves are what I’d call “intelligently designed” – everything has its place, and there’s this clean, Scandinavian-ish vibe that somehow doesn’t feel cold. The kitchenettes are actually functional (I mean, you can cook a proper meal if you want to), and the beds are comfortable enough that I didn’t wake up with that hotel-bed backache. What really impressed me was the attention to small details – decent water pressure in the shower, blackout curtains that actually block out light, and reliable WiFi that doesn’t cut out during video calls. The 4-star rating feels about right; it’s not trying to be The Ritz, but it’s definitely a step up from your average hotel chain.
Location-wise, you’re in the sweet spot of Chelsea where you can walk to Sloane Square tube in about eight minutes, or stroll down to the Thames via the Chelsea Embankment when you need some green space. The neighborhood has that lived-in feeling – there’s a proper local pub (The Chelsea Potter) around the corner, and you’ll see the same dog walkers every morning heading to the small garden squares. I’d say the 7.7 rating is fair, maybe even conservative. It’s not perfect – the building can be a bit echoey, and parking is pretty much impossible unless you’re willing to pay through the nose – but for someone who wants to feel like they’re actually living in London rather than just visiting, this place gets it right. Plus, honestly, having your own space with a proper kitchen after a long day of tourist activities? That’s worth quite a bit.