Look, I’ve stayed in my fair share of London apartments, and honestly? Most of them promise “designer” everything but deliver IKEA furniture and a view of someone’s back garden. The Oxford Circus Designer Apartment on Pollen Street is actually different – and I mean genuinely different, not just expensive-different.
First thing you notice walking up is how quiet Pollen Street is, which sounds impossible when you’re literally a two-minute walk from the Oxford Circus madness. But here’s the thing locals know – this little stretch between Hanover Square and Regent Street is like this weird pocket of calm. The apartment itself lives up to that designer label without being all show-offy about it. The furniture actually looks like someone with taste picked it out (not a committee), and you know what really got me? The lighting. Proper lighting that makes you look human, not like you’re being interrogated. Small thing, but when you’re getting ready for dinner or trying to work on your laptop, it matters.
The kitchen is where this place really wins me over – and I say this as someone who usually survives on meal deals and hotel breakfast buffets when traveling. It’s got everything you’d actually use, not just the bare minimum to technically call it “equipped.” I ended up cooking way more than planned because, well, Borough Market’s just a quick tube ride away, and when you’ve got a kitchen that nice, you sort of want to use it. Plus – and this is crucial – the coffee setup is proper. Not some sad instant coffee situation, but an actual machine that makes actual coffee. The wifi’s solid too, which matters if you’re trying to work or just want to video call home without looking pixelated.
Location-wise, you’re basically in the sweet spot where you can walk to everything that matters but still feel like you’re staying somewhere with character. Bond Street’s right there for shopping (if that’s your thing), Fitzrovia’s around the corner for incredible restaurants, and honestly, some of my favorite London discoveries happened just wandering the streets around here. The building itself is quiet – I barely heard neighbors, which in London is basically a miracle. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward, no weird key-pickup situations or confusing instructions.
The only minor thing – and I’m really reaching here – is that the shower pressure could be stronger, but that’s pretty standard for older London buildings, and it’s perfectly fine, just not power-wash levels. Oh, and if you’re someone who needs blackout curtains to sleep, you might want to bring an eye mask. The morning light is lovely but definitely present.
What really sealed it for me was coming back after long days of tourist stuff and actually feeling excited to be “home” for the evening. That 9.2 rating isn’t inflated – this place earns it by getting all the details right without trying too hard to impress you. It’s the kind of spot that makes you start planning your next London trip before you’ve even left.