You know what? I wasn’t expecting much from Avari Apartments when I first walked down Hatton Wall – it’s one of those narrow streets tucked between Farringdon and Holborn that most tourists completely miss. But honestly, that’s exactly what makes this place special. The building sits right in the heart of Hatton Garden (yeah, the diamond district), and there’s something kind of cool about staying where London’s jewelry traders have been wheeling and dealing for centuries.
The apartments themselves are proper spacious, which is saying something in London. I mean, you can actually open a suitcase without having to climb over the bed – revolutionary stuff, right? The kitchenettes are surprisingly well-equipped too, not just the usual kettle-and-microwave situation you get in most hotel rooms. I actually ended up cooking breakfast a couple times because there’s a decent Tesco Metro just around the corner on Gray’s Inn Road, and honestly, after a few days of £15 hotel breakfasts, your wallet will thank you. The design feels contemporary without trying too hard – clean lines, good lighting, and they’ve managed to soundproof pretty well considering you’re basically in the middle of everything.
Location-wise, you’re hitting the sweet spot between touristy and authentic London. Walk five minutes south and you’re at Chancery Lane tube station, which gets you anywhere fast. But here’s the thing locals know – head north toward King’s Cross and you’ll stumble into some brilliant gastropubs and that whole Coal Drops Yard area that’s become quite the scene. The street itself goes completely quiet after the jewelry shops close around 6pm, so you get that peaceful evening vibe while still being walking distance from Covent Garden’s chaos. I particularly loved grabbing coffee at the little Italian place on Leather Lane Market (about a three-minute walk) – proper espresso, none of that chain store nonsense. The staff at Avari seem to actually live in London too, which sounds obvious but isn’t always the case. They knew about the weekend market timings and could point you toward the better restaurants without just rattling off the obvious tourist traps. Check-in was smooth, no drama with the key cards, and they’ve got that rare thing in central London – they can actually store your luggage if you arrive early without making you feel like you’re asking for a kidney.