Honestly, when I first walked up to 102 Marsham Street, I wasn’t expecting much – it’s this fairly unassuming building tucked between government offices and those classic Westminster mansion blocks. But you know what? Sometimes the best places are the ones that don’t try too hard to impress you from the street.
The moment you step inside this one-bedroom apartment, though, everything changes. The space feels way bigger than you’d expect (London property magic, I guess), and there’s this lovely natural light that pours in through these generous windows. But here’s the real kicker – that terrace. I mean, having any outdoor space in central London is already a win, but this one’s actually usable. Not one of those tiny balconies where you can barely fit a chair, but proper space where you can have your morning coffee and actually breathe. The view isn’t exactly Big Ben – you’re looking out over a mix of period buildings and some newer developments – but it feels authentically London in a way that’s hard to explain.
What really got me about this place is how it sits right in the thick of things without feeling touristy. You’re literally a five-minute walk from Westminster Cathedral (the red brick one, not the Abbey), and Pimlico’s just around the corner with all those great little cafes on Tachbrook Street. The location is honestly brilliant for getting around – Victoria Station is close enough that you can drag your luggage there without breaking a sweat, but you’re not dealing with the chaos of staying right on top of it. I stayed here during a pretty busy week in autumn, and while you can hear the city humming away, it never felt overwhelming or kept me awake. The building itself is solid – proper thick walls, not like some of these converted places where you hear every footstep.
The apartment itself has that lived-in quality that makes you feel like you’re borrowing a friend’s place rather than staying somewhere sterile. The kitchen’s small but functional (managed to cook a proper breakfast without any drama), and the bathroom’s one of those compact London setups that somehow fits everything you need. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – none of that corporate hotel rigmarole, just practical instructions that actually worked. Storage space is better than most London rentals I’ve seen, which matters when you’re living out of a suitcase. That 9.8 rating isn’t just people being generous – this place genuinely delivers on what it promises, and in Westminster, that’s saying something.