Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a flat rental on Kensington Gardens Square – I mean, the location sounded almost too good to be true, being that close to Hyde Park and all. But stepping into this one-bedroom place, I actually got it. The whole setup feels more like borrowing a well-off friend’s London pad than staying in some sterile hotel room.
The flat sits on one of those gorgeous garden squares that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a Jane Austen novel, you know? Number 50 is right there overlooking the private gardens (which you can’t access, but honestly, just the view is enough). What really got me was how quiet it stays despite being in Zone 1 – I mean, you’re literally a three-minute walk from Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner, but the double-glazed windows keep most of the city noise out. The bedroom’s at the back anyway, so even with London’s early sunrise in summer, you can actually sleep in. The kitchen’s properly equipped too, not just some sad little kitchenette – I ended up cooking breakfast most mornings because there’s a decent Tesco Express on Praed Street, and well, London breakfast prices can be brutal.
Here’s what I really appreciated: the owner clearly knows the area. There’s a folder with actual useful local tips, not just tourist trap recommendations. They mention the shortcut through the garden square to reach Paddington Station (seriously saves you five minutes with luggage), and how the 94 bus from right outside takes you straight to Oxford Circus without dealing with tube crowds. The flat itself has that lived-in elegance – good quality furnishings that don’t feel precious, fast WiFi, and a proper shower with decent pressure, which honestly can be hit-or-miss in older London buildings. The heating works well too, though I visited in October when you really start needing it. One small thing – the building’s entrance is a bit tricky to find at first, especially at night, but once you figure out it’s the dark blue door (not the black one), you’re sorted. Check-in was smooth, done remotely with a lockbox system that actually worked without drama.
What makes this place special isn’t just the postcode, though that W2 location is pretty sweet – it’s that you get to live like a local in one of London’s most beautiful residential areas. I’d walk through the garden square every morning on my way to Hyde Park for a run, and honestly, it never got old. The whole Bayswater area has this perfect mix of grand Victorian architecture and everyday London life. You’ve got Lebanese restaurants on Edgware Road five minutes one way, and Notting Hill’s cafes ten minutes the other way. For the price point and location, especially compared to what hotels charge in this part of town, it’s actually solid value – just don’t expect hotel-style daily service or a 24-hour front desk.