I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Collingham Serviced Apartments, I wasn’t expecting much from the outside. It’s this lovely Victorian building tucked into a quiet garden square in Earl’s Court, and you know what? That understated entrance is actually perfect because it means you’re staying somewhere that feels residential, not touristy.
The apartments themselves are properly spacious – I mean, we’re talking actual kitchens with full-size fridges and decent counter space, not those sad hotel kitchenettes with a mini-fridge and a kettle. The living areas have that comfortable, lived-in feel without being shabby, and honestly, after spending days walking around London, having a proper sofa to collapse on makes all the difference. The bedrooms are well-appointed (though the street-facing ones can get a bit of traffic noise in the morning – nothing terrible, just something to mention if you’re a light sleeper). What really impressed me was the attention to practical details: proper hangers in generous closet space, good water pressure in the showers, and – this might sound silly – but decent lighting for actually reading or working.
Location-wise, you’re brilliantly positioned without paying Kensington High Street prices. Gloucester Road tube is maybe a seven-minute walk, and from there you can get anywhere quickly. But here’s what the booking sites don’t tell you – you’re also walking distance to some genuinely good neighborhood spots that most tourists never find. There’s this excellent Lebanese place on Old Brompton Road, and the Natural History Museum is close enough that you can pop over without it being a whole expedition. The area around Collingham Gardens itself is surprisingly peaceful for central London; it’s one of those pockets where you actually hear birds in the morning instead of just buses. I found myself taking different routes back each evening just to explore the surrounding streets – lots of beautiful architecture and that authentic London residential feel you can’t get staying near the major tourist drags. The 8.8 rating makes sense once you’ve stayed there; it’s not flashy or Instagram-perfect, but everything works well and the space gives you room to breathe during a London trip.