You know what caught me off guard about Notting Hill Retreat? It’s actually on Moscow Road, which sounds way more exotic than it is – honestly, it’s just this lovely tree-lined street that feels a million miles from the tourist chaos, even though you’re literally a five-minute walk from Bayswater tube. I mean, the address says Kensington and Chelsea, but really you’re in that sweet spot where Bayswater meets Notting Hill, and it’s perfect because you get the best of both worlds without the Portobello Market crowds trampling past your door every morning.
The two-bedroom setup is what really sold me on this place. It’s not huge – this is London, after all – but whoever designed it actually thought about how people live. The kitchen isn’t just for show (looking at you, most London rentals), and there’s proper counter space where you can actually spread out if you’re doing the whole market-shopping-and-cooking thing. The bedrooms are on opposite ends, which is brilliant if you’re traveling with friends who have different sleep schedules or, let’s be honest, different snoring levels. What I loved was the little details – decent water pressure in the shower, blackout curtains that actually block light, and windows that open properly for fresh air. The building itself has that classic white stucco front that screams “proper London,” but inside it’s been updated thoughtfully without losing character.
Location-wise, this spot is honestly pretty genius. You’ve got the 94 bus right there that’ll take you straight into town, but more importantly, you’re walking distance to Hyde Park’s quieter corners – not the Speaker’s Corner madness, but those lovely paths near the Italian Gardens where you can actually hear birds instead of tour groups. Queensway is around the corner with its late-night everything (seriously, the Tesco there is open until midnight), and if you wander toward Westbourne Grove, you’ll hit some fantastic little cafes that haven’t been completely Instagram-ified yet. The street itself gets pleasantly quiet after about 9 PM, which is rare for central London. Parking is typical London nightmare stuff, but the tube connections are solid – Central and District lines at Bayswater, Circle and Hammersmith & City at Paddington, which is a quick walk through the park. Sure, it’s not five-star luxury, but the 8.2 rating feels about right – it’s that reliable, comfortable choice where everything just works, and you’ll probably find yourself planning your next London trip around booking this place again.