You know what really struck me about this JOIVY place on Saint George’s Drive? It’s one of those spots where you actually feel like you’re living in London, not just visiting. I mean, sure, it’s technically a serviced apartment, but walking up to that Victorian terrace building – honestly, it just feels right. The kind of address where you can picture yourself having a proper morning coffee while watching the neighborhood wake up.
The location is honestly brilliant, and I don’t say that lightly. You’re literally a five-minute walk from Victoria Station, which sounds touristy until you realize what that actually means – direct lines to Gatwick, easy connections to literally anywhere in the city, and you’re spitting distance from both the District and Circle lines. But here’s the thing nobody tells you: Saint George’s Drive itself is this lovely residential street that feels completely removed from the Victoria Station chaos. I walked it multiple times and you’d never guess you’re so close to one of London’s busiest transport hubs. The street has that proper London residential vibe – tree-lined, mostly locals going about their business, the occasional dog walker.
What really won me over was how the two-bedroom setup actually works for different types of stays. I’ve seen plenty of London flats where “two bedrooms” means one real bedroom and a glorified closet, but this place gets it right. The bedrooms are properly sized, and there’s enough space in the living area that you’re not constantly bumping into each other. The kitchen – well, it’s compact but actually functional, which is more than I can say for a lot of central London accommodations. You can make a proper breakfast, maybe even attempt dinner if you’re feeling ambitious.
Getting around from here is almost stupidly easy. Victoria Park is right there when you need some green space, and you’re walking distance to Pimlico (which, honestly, more people should explore – great little restaurants and way fewer tourists). The Tate Britain is maybe a 15-minute stroll along the river, and if you’re into that sort of thing, you can walk to Buckingham Palace faster than most people can figure out the tube map. I actually found myself walking places instead of taking transport, which in London usually means you’ve found a pretty sweet spot.
The building itself has that solid, quiet feel you want when you’re staying somewhere for more than a night or two. No creaky floors keeping you awake, decent heating (which matters more than you think in a London winter), and the whole check-in process was refreshingly straightforward. Sometimes these apartment-style places can be a hassle with key collection and whatnot, but this was simple – the kind of place where you get settled quickly and then just… live there for a bit.
Look, with a 9 rating, this isn’t some hidden gem with major flaws you need to overlook. It’s just a really solid choice that happens to be exactly where you want to be in London, without feeling like you’re camping out in a hotel lobby every time you come home.