Look, I’ve stayed at my fair share of London hotels, and Cleveland Residences Chelsea honestly surprised me in the best way. You know how some places look great online but feel soulless when you walk in? This isn’t one of those. It’s tucked on Redcliffe Gardens – which, if you’re not familiar with the area, is this gorgeous tree-lined street that feels more like a proper residential neighborhood than tourist central. I mean, you’re still very much in Chelsea, but it’s the kind of spot where you’ll see locals walking their dogs and kids heading to school, not just crowds of people with cameras.
The building itself has this classic Victorian charm that they’ve managed to update without ruining – you know what I mean? The lobby actually feels like someone’s elegant living room rather than a sterile hotel entrance. What really got me was the attention to detail in the residences themselves. The kitchenettes are properly equipped (I’m talking real appliances, not those tiny hotel fridges that barely keep your milk cold), and honestly, after a week of eating out in London, being able to make a decent coffee in the morning was heaven. The beds are seriously comfortable too – I’m usually the person who complains about hotel pillows, but I slept like a rock. One small thing that might matter if you’re a light sleeper: the windows face the garden side mostly, so it’s surprisingly quiet for London, though you’ll still hear the occasional late-night taxi on Earl’s Court Road.
Location-wise, this is where Cleveland Residences really shines, and I don’t just mean because it’s Chelsea (though that doesn’t hurt). You’re about a seven-minute walk to Earl’s Court tube station – super easy access to pretty much anywhere you want to go. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: you’re also walking distance to some incredible local spots that tourists usually miss. There’s this fantastic little gastropub called The Troubadour just around the corner that’s been around since the ’60s, and honestly, the Saturday farmers market on Duke of York Square is worth planning your stay around if you’re into that sort of thing. Plus, if you want to do the whole South Kensington museum thing (and you should), it’s a pleasant 15-minute stroll through some of the prettiest residential streets in London. The staff seems to actually know the neighborhood too – when I asked about finding a good bottle shop, the front desk guy gave me proper directions to this little wine place on Old Brompton Road that I never would have found otherwise. At this price point and with an 8.9 rating, you’re getting solid value for a proper Chelsea address without the stuffiness of some of the bigger hotels in the area.