Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “Imperial Hogarth Road Apartment” I was expecting something a bit stuffy, but this 4th floor flat actually surprised me in the best way. The location is what really got me excited though. You’re basically planted right in the heart of Kensington, and I mean the *real* Kensington where locals actually live, not just the tourist bits. Hogarth Road itself is one of those lovely tree-lined streets that feels properly residential, but you’re literally a three-minute walk from Earl’s Court tube station – which, you know what, is actually brilliant because you can get anywhere in London from there without dealing with the chaos of some of the bigger stations.
The apartment itself sits on the fourth floor (no lift, just so you know – but honestly, after a day of walking around London, those stairs weren’t the end of the world). What I really loved was how it felt like staying in someone’s actual home rather than a sterile hotel room. The windows face out onto the street, and there’s something quite soothing about the morning light filtering through. The kitchen is properly equipped too – I mean, you can actually cook a decent meal if you want to, which is rare for London accommodation at this price point. The bathroom’s compact but well-designed, and the shower pressure was surprisingly good (small victories, right?). I was a bit worried about noise since it’s right on the road, but the double glazing does its job well. You’ll hear the occasional bus rumbling by, but it’s more of a gentle London soundtrack than anything disruptive.
Here’s the thing that really sold me on this place – the neighborhood knowledge you get just by being there. Your morning coffee spot becomes that little Italian place on Old Brompton Road, and you’ll find yourself popping into the Tesco Express on Earls Court Road like you actually live there. The Natural History Museum is basically a pleasant 15-minute stroll through some gorgeous Victorian streets, and if you’re into the whole South Ken museum scene, you’re golden. But what I really appreciated was being close to the more authentic bits too – Earls Court Market on a Saturday morning, or that proper British pub on Warwick Road where you’ll actually hear local accents. The whole area has this lovely mix of international energy (lots of French families, some American expats) but still feels distinctly London. Just a heads up though – this isn’t budget accommodation, but for what you’re getting in terms of location and that proper “living in London” experience, it’s actually quite fair value. The 8.7 rating makes sense to me – it’s not flashy or Instagram-perfect, but it gets all the important stuff right.