You know what struck me first about this place? Walking up Newman Street, you’d almost miss it – it’s tucked between a couple of those classic London townhouses that look like they’ve been there forever. But honestly, that’s exactly what makes it perfect. You’re literally in the heart of Fitzrovia, which I mean, if you know London at all, you’ll understand why that’s such a win.
The location is actually ridiculous in the best way possible. I’m talking two minutes to Oxford Street if you need your shopping fix, but you’re on this quiet side street where you can actually sleep at night. Goodge Street tube is right there (seriously, like a 30-second walk), and here’s something most people don’t realize – you’re practically next door to the BBC Broadcasting House. I kept seeing familiar faces from the news walking around, which was kind of surreal. The apartment itself feels way more spacious than typical London places – you know how most central London spots make you feel like you’re living in a shoebox? Not here. The ceilings are high, there’s actual natural light streaming through these big windows, and whoever designed the place clearly understood that people need storage space. The kitchen’s got everything you’d actually want to use, not just the bare minimum they throw in most short-term places.
What really sold me though was stepping out in the morning for coffee. There’s this little independent café literally around the corner on Rathbone Place that does proper flat whites, and you’ve got Charlotte Street (foodie heaven, honestly) just a quick stroll away. But here’s the thing that surprised me – even though you’re surrounded by all this buzz, Newman Street itself stays pretty calm. I was worried about noise, especially being so close to Oxford Circus, but the street’s narrow enough that it doesn’t get the heavy traffic. You’ll hear the occasional delivery truck in the morning, but nothing that’ll wake you up if you’re a reasonable sleeper. The whole Fitzrovia area has this interesting mix going on – you’ve got media types, university folks from UCL nearby, and tourists who’ve figured out this is where you want to stay instead of right on the main drag. Check-in was straightforward, no weird key pickup situations or confusing instructions that make you feel like you’re solving a puzzle just to get into your room. And honestly, for a 5-star rating, it actually lives up to it – sometimes those ratings feel inflated, but the attention to detail here is spot on. Little things like having proper hangers in the closet, decent water pressure, and WiFi that actually works when you need it most.