You know what? When I first walked up to this four-story apartment building on Betterton Street, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. The address says Camden, but don’t let that fool you – you’re smack in the heart of Covent Garden, literally a two-minute walk from all the street performers and that gorgeous covered market everyone raves about. I mean, the location is pretty ridiculous when you think about it. You step out the front door and you’re already hearing the distant sounds of buskers echoing off the Victorian buildings.
The apartment itself has this sort of lived-in charm that actually works in its favor. It’s spread across four floors, which sounds fancy until you realize there’s no lift – so pack light or embrace the daily workout. The rooms have decent space (by London standards anyway), and the windows on the upper floors give you these glimpses of the neighborhood that make you feel like you’re really living in central London, not just visiting. What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night, despite being surrounded by theaters and restaurants. Betterton Street doesn’t get the heavy foot traffic of the main drags, so you can actually sleep without earplugs. The kitchen’s properly equipped too – I made coffee every morning and picked up groceries from the Tesco Express on Long Acre, which became part of my little routine.
Here’s the thing about staying here: you’re going to walk everywhere, and that’s actually perfect. Seven Dials is right around the corner with all those cute independent shops, the Royal Opera House is a five-minute stroll, and when you get tired of the Covent Garden crowds (which you will), you can duck into Lincoln’s Inn Fields for some peace and quiet. The 7.9 rating feels about right – it’s not going to wow you with luxury touches, but honestly, why would you want to stay inside when Leicester Square tube station is practically next door and you’ve got the entire West End at your fingertips? I spent way more time exploring than I did in the apartment, which is exactly how it should be when you’re staying somewhere this central. Just remember to grab some groceries because eating out for every meal in this neighborhood will absolutely destroy your budget.