Kensington Nest Serviced House

Hotel Description

You know that feeling when you stumble onto something that’s actually better than the photos? That’s Kensington Nest – and honestly, the name threw me off at first because I was expecting some tiny cramped place, but this is proper serviced apartments done right. It’s tucked onto Earls Court Road in one of those gorgeous white Victorian terraces that make you feel like you’re in a period drama, except with really good WiFi and a Nespresso machine.

The thing about this location is you’re genuinely in Kensington proper – not some sketchy bit they’re trying to rebrand. I mean, you can walk to Hyde Park in about eight minutes, and there’s this little corner shop literally next door where the guy behind the counter knows everyone’s usual order. The Earl’s Court tube station is close enough that you’ll use it constantly, but far enough that you don’t get the weekend chaos of drunk tourists stumbling past your windows at 2am. Actually, the whole street stays pretty quiet, which surprised me given how central everything is.

What really got me though was how they’ve managed to make these apartments feel like actual homes rather than hotel rooms with kitchenettes awkwardly shoved in the corner. The kitchens are properly equipped – I’m talking real knives that cut things, decent-sized fridges, even proper plates instead of those sad melamine things most places give you. The living areas have these massive windows that flood everything with light, and the furniture actually looks like someone with taste picked it out rather than just ordering whatever was cheapest from the hotel supply catalog. I stayed in one of the one-bedrooms and kept forgetting I wasn’t in someone’s actual flat. The bedroom was surprisingly spacious too, with built-in wardrobes that could handle a proper suitcase explosion and blackout curtains that actually work – crucial if you’re dealing with jet lag or just happen to be someone who can’t sleep with any light creeping in.

The staff here get it right without being overly fussy about everything. Check-in was straightforward, they gave me proper local recommendations (not just the touristy spots), and when my radiator started making weird clicking noises at midnight, someone actually answered the phone and sorted it out the next morning. There’s a laundry service that doesn’t cost a fortune, and they’ll hold packages if you’re doing that thing where you ship stuff to your hotel because international shipping is madness.

Honestly, if you’re staying in London for more than a few days, this makes so much more sense than a regular hotel room. You can actually live a bit – grab groceries from the Whole Foods on Kensington High Street, make coffee in the morning without paying £4 for something mediocre from the lobby, spread out your stuff without everything falling off tiny hotel furniture. Plus there’s something satisfying about having an actual address in Kensington, even if it’s temporary. The 9.4 rating isn’t just people being generous – this place genuinely delivers on what it promises, which is rarer than it should be.

Rooms

• Three-Bedroom House with 2 × 1 double bed, 1 single bed and 2 sofa beds for 8 adults

Facilities