You know what really strikes you about this Chelsea flat? It’s actually in one of those gorgeous Victorian buildings on a proper tree-lined street – the kind where you feel like you’ve stumbled into a Jane Austen novel, except with better wifi and central heating. The moment I walked in, I was honestly surprised by how much space there was. Two proper bedrooms, not those cramped London “doubles” where you can barely fit a suitcase, and the living area actually feels like somewhere you’d want to hang out rather than just crash.
The location is pretty brilliant, I have to say. You’re basically a five-minute walk from South Kensington tube station – honestly, I timed it – which means you can be in Covent Garden or Oxford Street in about fifteen minutes without breaking a sweat. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: you’re also walking distance to some of London’s best bits that tourists often miss. There’s this fantastic little Italian place on Old Brompton Road that locals queue for (seriously, try the carbonara), and you’re close enough to Hyde Park that you can actually hear the horses from Rotten Row on quiet Sunday mornings. The Natural History Museum is practically around the corner, which sounds touristy but honestly, even Londoners pop in there when they’re feeling a bit nostalgic.
What I really appreciate is how the flat feels lived-in rather than sterile – you know those rental places that look like an Ikea showroom? This isn’t that. The kitchen’s got proper cooking equipment (rare in London rentals, trust me), and there’s enough seating that you could actually have friends over for dinner without everyone perching on the edge of the bed. The building itself is quiet too, which in central London is worth its weight in gold. I mean, you’ll still hear the occasional black cab rumbling past, but it’s more of a gentle London soundtrack than anything jarring. Parking’s a bit of a nightmare, as you’d expect in Chelsea – honestly, just use the tube or walk everywhere, it’s so much easier. The only minor thing is that the shower pressure could be stronger, but that’s pretty standard for these older buildings. Check-in was smooth though, and the keys actually worked properly, which sounds basic but you’d be amazed how often that goes wrong with rental flats.