Immensely beautiful Studio, 5 min to Paddington

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed in my fair share of London places, and this little studio on Devonshire Terrace honestly surprised me. The name’s a bit much – “immensely beautiful” feels like someone got carried away with the listing – but you know what? It’s actually not wrong. The space has this gorgeous natural light that floods in through these tall Victorian windows, and whoever designed it really knew what they were doing with the layout. I mean, it’s a studio, so we’re not talking massive here, but every inch feels intentional.

The location is what really sold me though. Five minutes to Paddington sounds like marketing speak, but I timed it – it’s literally a four-minute walk if you take the little shortcut through the mews behind Norfolk Square. You’re right in the heart of Bayswater, which means you’ve got Hyde Park practically on your doorstep (the Lancaster Gate entrance is closer than Paddington, actually), and all those great Middle Eastern restaurants along Edgware Road are a quick stroll away. The street itself is surprisingly quiet for being so central – I was worried about noise from the main roads, but Devonshire Terrace sits just off the chaos in this lovely tree-lined pocket that feels almost residential. Well, it is residential, but you know what I mean.

What I really appreciated were the small touches that you don’t get in chain hotels. The bathroom has this incredible rainfall shower head, and there’s actually decent water pressure – anyone who’s dealt with London plumbing will appreciate that. The kitchenette is tiny but functional, with a proper coffee machine (not one of those awful pod things), and they’d stocked the fridge with local milk and some pastries from a bakery around the corner. Check-in was smooth too – the host met me there personally rather than doing that awkward key-box thing, and she gave me this little printed guide with her actual recommendations, not just tourist traps. Parking’s tricky around there, honestly, but if you’re driving in London you probably already know you’re making questionable life choices anyway. The Tube connections from Paddington are brilliant though – you can be in central London in minutes or catch the Heathrow Express if you’re flying out. I stayed during a pretty busy period in September, and even then the street stayed peaceful in the evenings. There’s something about those Westminster terraces that just absorbs the city noise. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels like a proper London experience rather than just a place to sleep, this studio gets it right.

Rooms

• Standard Studio for 2 adults

Facilities