You know what struck me first about Cheval Harrington Court? It’s tucked away on this quiet residential street that feels completely removed from the tourist chaos, but you’re actually just a two-minute walk from South Kensington tube station. I mean, you step out the front door and you’re basically equidistant from the Natural History Museum and the V&A – which sounds too good to be true, but honestly, it just works.
The building itself has this elegant Victorian thing going on, but inside it’s been converted into these spacious aparthotel suites that feel more like staying in a really well-appointed London flat than a traditional hotel room. The kitchenettes are actually functional (not those sad mini-fridges with a hot plate situation), and I appreciated having proper counter space and a decent-sized fridge. The beds are genuinely comfortable too – none of that rock-hard European mattress nonsense. What really impressed me was the attention to detail in the bathrooms; they’ve got these rainfall showerheads and the water pressure is fantastic, which anyone who’s stayed in older London properties will tell you is not a given.
The neighborhood vibe is pretty special, actually. Harrington Road runs parallel to Old Brompton Road, so you get this perfect balance where you can grab coffee at one of those little independent places on the corner, but you’re also close enough to pop into Harrods or the shops along Brompton Road when you want something fancier. The area gets busy during museum hours – you’ll definitely notice families with kids heading toward Exhibition Road in the mornings – but evenings are surprisingly peaceful. I loved that you could walk to Hyde Park in about eight minutes, and there’s this great little gastropub called The Anglesea Arms just around the corner that locals actually frequent (always a good sign). Check-in was smooth, staff seemed genuinely helpful rather than just going through the motions, and they’re pretty good about handling packages if you’re doing some shopping. The only minor thing I’d mention is that some of the street-facing rooms can get a bit of traffic noise in the early morning, but honestly, for this location and this level of comfort, it’s hardly worth complaining about. If you want to feel like you’re living in London rather than just visiting it, this place gets it right.