So I’ve stayed at Baker Street Central Apartments a few times now, and honestly, the name’s a bit misleading – you’re actually on Paddington Street, not Baker Street itself. But you know what? That’s actually better. You get all the benefits of being in Marylebone without the tourist chaos of Sherlock Holmes fanatics taking selfies every five minutes.
The location is properly brilliant, I mean it. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Baker Street tube station, but tucked away on this quieter residential street that feels more like where actual Londoners live. There’s this lovely little café called Philglas & Swiggot just around the corner – locals queue up there every morning, which is always a good sign. And if you need groceries, there’s a Waitrose practically next door (well, maybe a 30-second walk). The apartments themselves are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star place – clean, well-equipped kitchenettes that actually work, and decent-sized rooms by London standards. The Wi-Fi’s reliable, which honestly can’t be said for every place in this city. I particularly like that they’ve got proper washing machines in the units, not those weird combo washer-dryer things that never actually dry anything.
What really sold me on this place though is how quiet it gets at night. Westminster Borough can be mental during the day, but Paddington Street sort of settles down after 9 PM – you might hear the occasional black cab, but nothing like the constant noise you get closer to Oxford Street. The building itself has that solid Victorian construction, so you’re not hearing your neighbors through paper-thin walls. Check-in’s straightforward, though I’d recommend calling ahead if you’re arriving after 8 PM – learned that one the hard way. The staff’s genuinely helpful too, not just going through the motions. They actually know the neighborhood and can point you toward the good pubs (The Volunteer is excellent) rather than just handing you a generic tourist map. One thing to note – parking’s basically non-existent on the street, but there’s a car park on Gloucester Place if you’re driving. Though honestly, why would you drive in central London? The tube connections from Baker Street are incredible – you can get to King’s Cross in ten minutes, Bond Street in five.
The 8.6 rating feels about right to me. It’s not trying to be fancy or boutique-y, just solid, comfortable accommodation in one of London’s best-connected areas. Perfect if you want to feel like you’re staying somewhere with character rather than another generic hotel chain. Plus, you’re close enough to walk to Regent’s Park for a morning jog, or just wander through some of the most beautiful Georgian streets in London. I keep coming back here when I’m in town for work – that probably says more than any review could.