Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Virginia House on Bloomsbury Way, I wasn’t sure what to expect from another City Living London property. But you know what? This place actually surprised me in the best way. The building itself has this lovely Georgian charm that you don’t really notice from the street, but once you’re inside, there’s something quietly elegant about it that doesn’t try too hard.
The location is honestly perfect if you want to feel like you’re living in London rather than just visiting it. Bloomsbury Way is one of those streets that locals use as a shortcut – you’re literally a two-minute walk from the British Museum (which means dealing with tourist crowds, but also means you can pop over there on a quiet Tuesday morning when it’s actually peaceful). What I really loved was being so close to Charlotte Street for dinner and Great Russell Street for that proper London pub experience. The Russell Square tube is close enough that you don’t think twice about hopping on the Piccadilly line, but you’re far enough from the main tourist drags that you can actually hear yourself think at night.
The rooms themselves feel more like a well-appointed flat than a hotel room – and I mean that as a major compliment. There’s this sense that someone actually thought about how people live, not just where they sleep for a night. The kitchenette situation is genuinely useful (I made coffee every morning and picked up groceries from the Sainsbury’s Local around the corner), and the beds are properly comfortable, not hotel-firm. I stayed on the third floor and it was surprisingly quiet considering you’re right in central London – though I’d probably avoid the ground floor rooms if you’re sensitive to street noise. The Wi-Fi actually works, which honestly shouldn’t be noteworthy but somehow still is in London. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too – none of that overly complicated key card nonsense, just practical efficiency.
What really won me over was how the place feels during different parts of the day. Mornings are lovely and quiet, with good natural light in most rooms. By afternoon, you’ve got that nice buzz of Bloomsbury life happening outside – students from UCL, people heading to meetings, that sort of authentic London energy. And evenings? Well, you’re perfectly positioned for pretty much anything – whether that’s a quick walk to Covent Garden or settling in with takeaway from one of the brilliant Indian places on Charlotte Street. The area has this great mix of residential and business energy that never feels dead or overly touristy. It’s the kind of place where you start to develop little routines, like grabbing coffee from the same spot or taking the same shortcut through the squares – which, honestly, is exactly what you want from a longer London stay.