You know what struck me first about City Prime Apartments? It’s actually in one of those gorgeous white Victorian terraces that makes Kensington feel so distinctly London – but without the stuffiness you’d expect. The moment you walk into 11-15 Collingham Place, there’s this sense that someone really thought about how people actually want to live when they’re away from home. I mean, sure, it’s got that polished four-star feel, but it doesn’t scream “hotel” in that generic way that makes you feel like you’re sleeping in a catalog.
The apartments themselves are honestly brilliant – proper kitchens where you can actually cook (not those sad hotel kitchenettes with a mini-fridge and prayers), living spaces that don’t feel cramped, and bedrooms where you’re not bumping into furniture every time you turn around. What I love is how they’ve managed to keep some character in the design without going overboard on the “ye olde London” theme that some places lean into way too hard. The location is pretty genius too – you’re tucked away on this quiet residential street, so you’re not dealing with the tourist chaos of South Ken, but the Gloucester Road tube is literally a three-minute walk. And if you know anything about London, you know that puts you on the Piccadilly, Circle, and District lines, which basically means you can get anywhere without the usual tube gymnastics.
Here’s what really sold me though – the neighborhood actually feels lived-in. There’s a proper butcher shop around the corner, a few local pubs that aren’t tourist traps, and you’re close enough to the museums that you can pop over to the V&A or Natural History Museum without planning your whole day around it. The staff seem to get that people staying here aren’t just ticking boxes on a London itinerary – they might be here for work, or a longer stay, or they just want to feel less like tourists and more like temporary locals. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward (no hovering concierge trying to upsell you on restaurant recommendations), and honestly, the whole place just runs smoothly without making a big show of it. The only minor thing I’d mention is that being on a residential street means parking can be a bit of a puzzle if you’re driving, but really, who drives in central London anyway? With a 9 out of 10 rating, it’s clearly hitting the mark for most people, and I can see why – it’s one of those places that gets the balance right between comfort, location, and not trying too hard to impress you.