Cheval Gloucester Park at Kensington

Hotel Description

You know what really struck me about Cheval Gloucester Park? It’s not just that it’s gorgeous – though honestly, these serviced apartments are pretty stunning – it’s how they’ve managed to feel like an actual London home rather than some sterile hotel room. I mean, I’ve stayed in plenty of five-star places that leave you feeling like you’re living in a showroom, but this place actually gets it right.

The location is absolutely spot-on, and I’m not just saying that because it’s Kensington. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Gloucester Road tube station, which sounds small but makes such a difference when you’re juggling luggage or rushing to catch the District line. The building sits on Ashburn Place, this lovely quiet street that somehow manages to feel residential despite being right in the thick of everything. You can walk to the V&A in about ten minutes – I actually timed it because I’m nerdy like that – and the Natural History Museum is basically around the corner. What I really loved though was discovering that little Tesco Express on Gloucester Road when I needed emergency snacks at 10 PM (because let’s be real, hotel minibars are highway robbery).

The apartments themselves are properly spacious, which is rare for London. I had this one-bedroom unit with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the garden square, and the morning light was just… well, it made my terrible attempts at coffee look Instagram-worthy. The kitchen actually works – like, you could genuinely cook a proper meal if you wanted to, not just heat up sad takeaway. The bathroom had this massive rainfall shower that I may have spent too much time in, and the bed was one of those perfect firmness situations where you sink in just enough without feeling like you’re drowning in marshmallows.

Honestly, the service is where they really shine though. The front desk team remembered my name after one day, which either means they’re exceptionally good at their jobs or I made some sort of memorable first impression (hopefully the former). They sorted out restaurant reservations, gave me actual useful tips about avoiding tourist traps, and when I mentioned I was looking for a good bookshop, this one guy drew me a little map to Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street. That’s the kind of stuff that sticks with you.

The only tiny thing – and I mean tiny – is that the walls aren’t completely soundproof, so if you get unlucky with neighbors who think 2 AM is a great time for animated phone conversations, you might hear a bit of it. But that happened exactly once during my week there, so hardly a deal-breaker. The area does get busy during museum peak hours, but honestly, that just means there’s good people-watching from the café across the street.

This is the kind of place you book when you want to feel like you’re living in London rather than just visiting it. The 9.5 rating isn’t marketing fluff – it’s because they’ve figured out how to do luxury without losing the warmth that makes you want to come back.

Rooms

• Superior One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 single beds and 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• Superior Three-Bedroom Apartment with 2 single beds, 1 double bed and 1 extra-large double bed for 6 adults, 4 children
• Luxury Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• Deluxe Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 single beds and 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• Luxury One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child

Facilities