Niru Experience Royal Deluxe

Hotel Description

You know what? I’ve walked past this place on Finborough Road probably a dozen times before actually staying there, and honestly, I kept thinking it was just another one of those tiny London hotels squeezed between the Victorian terraces. Boy, was I wrong. The Niru Experience Royal Deluxe – and yes, that’s quite the name – actually delivers on the “royal” part without making you feel like you’re staying in some stuffy museum.

The location is pretty brilliant if you know this corner of Kensington. You’re literally a three-minute walk from Earl’s Court tube station, which means you can be in central London faster than most people living in Zone 2. But here’s the thing that surprised me – Finborough Road itself is this lovely quiet residential street where you’ll see actual Londoners walking their dogs and heading to the local Tesco Express, not just tourists dragging suitcases. The Royal Marsden Hospital is right around the corner, which explains why the area feels more like a neighborhood than a tourist trap. I mean, you’ve got proper pubs like The Finborough (they do excellent Sunday roasts, by the way) and that fantastic little French bakery on Old Brompton Road where locals actually queue up for their morning coffee.

What really got me about this hotel was the attention to detail – and I’m talking about the stuff that matters when you’re actually living somewhere for a few days, not just the fancy lobby photos. The rooms genuinely feel spacious by London standards, with proper wardrobes where you can actually hang clothes without everything getting wrinkled. The beds are… well, let’s just say I slept better than I do at home. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – no waiting around while they “prepare your experience” or whatever. The staff clearly know the area inside out; they sent me to this incredible Indian restaurant on Gloucester Road that I never would’ve found otherwise. Parking is tricky like everywhere in London, but there’s a decent-sized Sainsbury’s with parking just down the road if you need to stock up on anything. The neighborhood gets pretty quiet after 9 PM, which is perfect if you’re trying to recover from jet lag or just want to actually sleep through the night without sirens and drunk people shouting. During the day though, you’re connected to everything – South Kensington’s museums are a pleasant 15-minute walk through some gorgeous residential streets, and if you’re feeling lazy, the District and Piccadilly lines from Earl’s Court will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go. It’s one of those places where you feel like you’re staying in London rather than just visiting it, if that makes sense.

Rooms

• Apartment with 3 × 1 extra-large double bed, 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 8 adults, 2 children

Facilities