Honestly, when I first walked up to Arcore Premium Apartments on Great Newport Street, I wasn’t sure what to expect – the entrance is pretty understated, tucked between some typical London facades. But you know what? That turned out to be part of the charm. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Leicester Square’s chaos, but once you’re inside, it feels like you’ve stepped into someone’s really well-appointed London flat rather than a hotel.
The apartments themselves are what got me. I mean, we’re talking proper kitchens with decent-sized fridges (not those tiny hotel mini-bars), and the living spaces actually feel like places you’d want to hang out, not just crash after a day of sightseeing. The furniture has that modern but lived-in feel – think West Elm meets actual comfort. What really struck me was the attention to small stuff that matters when you’re staying somewhere for more than a night or two. The washing machines actually work well, there’s enough counter space to spread out your toiletries, and the wifi doesn’t cut out every time someone in the next room starts streaming Netflix. The beds are properly comfortable too, with blackout curtains that actually block out the streetlights – and trust me, on Great Newport Street, you’ll appreciate that.
Location-wise, this place is sort of perfectly positioned if you ask me. You’re close enough to Covent Garden that you can grab coffee at Monmouth (they do the best beans in central London, honestly) and still make it back without your flat white going cold. Leicester Square tube station is right there, obviously, but what I really loved was being able to walk to places. The British Museum is maybe fifteen minutes on foot, and if you cut through the little streets toward Bloomsbury, you’ll stumble across some brilliant pubs that tourists never find. The neighborhood gets busy during theater hours – all those people heading to shows – but it settles down nicely after ten. I stayed here during a particularly hectic week in summer and never felt like I couldn’t escape the crowds. One thing though – if you’re driving, forget about it. Parking around here is basically impossible, and the congestion charge will eat into your budget anyway. But honestly, with this location, you won’t need a car. The only minor gripe I had was that the check-in process felt a bit corporate for what’s essentially an apartment building, but the staff were helpful enough, and once you’re settled, you barely interact with them anyway. For the money – especially considering you’re getting apartment-style space in Zone 1 – it’s actually pretty solid value. I’d definitely book here again.