So here’s the thing about this Waterloo flat – it’s one of those places that actually makes you feel like you’re living in London rather than just visiting it. I mean, you’re right on Lambeth Walk in what’s basically the heart of Zone 1, and honestly, the location is pretty brilliant once you get your bearings. The flat itself is in Wedgwood House, which sounds fancier than it is (it’s just a typical London residential building), but the space inside? That’s where it gets interesting.
The apartment is genuinely spacious by London standards – and I say that having stayed in plenty of shoebox-sized places around the city. You’ve got a proper bedroom that fits more than just a bed, and the living area doesn’t make you feel like you’re playing Tetris with your luggage. The kitchen’s functional too, which matters if you’re planning to grab groceries from the Tesco Express down the road instead of eating out every meal. What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night, considering you’re so central. Sure, you’ll hear the occasional late-night reveler stumbling home, but it’s nothing like what you’d expect being this close to everything.
Location-wise, you’re about a ten-minute walk to Waterloo Station – though honestly, it feels longer when you’re dragging a suitcase over those uneven pavements. But once you’re settled, everything just clicks. The Imperial War Museum is practically around the corner if you’re into that sort of thing, and you can walk to the South Bank in maybe fifteen minutes. I actually found myself taking that route most evenings because there’s something nice about strolling past the mix of council estates and new developments that gives you a real sense of how this part of London actually works. The area around Lambeth Walk has this interesting character – it’s not touristy at all, but it’s not rough either. Just… real London, you know?
The flat scored an 8.4 rating, which honestly feels about right. It’s not going to win any design awards, and the Wi-Fi can be a bit temperamental (though that might just be London in general), but it does what it promises. The host was straightforward with check-in instructions, and I didn’t have to hunt around looking for key boxes or anything complicated. Parking’s a nightmare if you’re driving – this is Zone 1 after all – but the bus connections are solid, and you’ve got multiple tube lines within walking distance. Borough Market’s not far either, which became my weekend ritual for coffee and browsing.
What really sold me on the place was how it felt after a few days. You start recognizing faces at the local shops, you figure out which route to the tube avoids the most construction noise, and you begin to understand why people actually choose to live in this part of town. It’s got that sweet spot of being central enough that you can walk to most of the major sights, but residential enough that you’re not constantly surrounded by other tourists taking photos of everything.