Spacious 2 bedroom / Gloucester Road / Kensington

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about this place? Walking down Stanhope Mews West feels like you’ve stumbled into one of those hidden London secrets that most tourists never find. I mean, you’re literally steps from the chaos of Gloucester Road – with its endless parade of chain restaurants and that slightly frantic Tube station energy – but the moment you turn into this cobbled mews, it’s like someone hit the mute button on the city. The apartment sits in this gorgeous row of converted Victorian stables, and honestly, the contrast between the bustling main road and this quiet little enclave is pretty remarkable.

The space itself really delivers on that “spacious” promise in the name. I’ve stayed in plenty of London places where “spacious” means you can open a suitcase without rearranging furniture, but this actually feels generous – two proper bedrooms that don’t require contortionist skills to navigate, and a living area where you can spread out without bumping into everything. The kitchen’s well-equipped too, which matters more than you’d think when you’re staying somewhere for more than a couple nights. What I particularly appreciated was how quiet it stays, even though you’re in the heart of Kensington. Those thick Victorian walls do their job, and being tucked away in the mews means you’re not dealing with constant street noise. Well, except for the occasional delivery van navigating the narrow cobbles – but that’s more charming than annoying.

Location-wise, this place hits that sweet spot where you feel properly embedded in London life without being stuck in some touristy bubble. South Kensington station is maybe a seven-minute walk (closer than Gloucester Road, actually), which puts you on the District, Circle, and Piccadilly lines – basically, you can get anywhere. The Natural History Museum crowd tends to stick to Exhibition Road, so you’re near enough to pop over when you want but far enough to avoid the school group stampedes. There’s a decent Sainsbury’s on Gloucester Road for groceries, and if you walk toward Old Brompton Road, you’ll find some genuinely good restaurants that locals actually use. The whole area has this lived-in feel – you see people walking dogs, heading to work, living their actual lives, rather than just posing for Instagram shots. I’d definitely come back here, especially if I was staying for a week or longer and wanted somewhere that felt more like borrowing someone’s London life than just passing through.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 6 adults

Facilities