La Belle Etage by Harrods Airconditioning

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to La Belle Etage, I almost missed it. The entrance on Beauchamp Place is surprisingly understated for being literally across from Harrods, which is sort of refreshing actually. You’re not dealing with some flashy lobby full of tourists wrestling with shopping bags, just a proper townhouse that feels more like staying at a well-connected friend’s place in Knightsbridge.

The whole Harrods connection isn’t just name-dropping either – you really are a two-minute walk from the back entrance, which locals know is way less chaotic than the main Brompton Road circus. What I didn’t expect was how quiet it gets once you’re inside. I mean, you’re in the heart of one of London’s busiest shopping districts, but the rooms have this almost library-like calm to them. The air conditioning (clearly a priority given it’s right there in the name) actually works properly, which anyone who’s spent a muggy London summer in an old building will appreciate. The staff seem to know their stuff too – they pointed me toward the little pedestrian bit of Beauchamp Place where the cafes are, rather than just telling me to head to the obvious tourist spots.

Here’s what really won me over though – the neighborhood transforms completely depending on when you’re walking around. Mornings are all about locals grabbing coffee before work, afternoons bring the serious shoppers who know exactly what they’re after, and evenings? Well, it’s surprisingly peaceful for central London. The hotel sits right in this sweet spot where you can walk to South Kensington’s museums in about ten minutes, but you’re also close enough to Sloane Street that you feel properly connected to everything. Parking is typical London nightmare stuff, but honestly, you won’t need a car here – the Knightsbridge tube is right there, and most things worth doing are walkable anyway. The only real downside I noticed was that weekend mornings can get a bit lively with the Harrods crowd, but that dies down pretty quickly. For a four-star place with an 8 rating, it delivers exactly what you’d hope for without trying too hard to impress you – just solid comfort in one of London’s most central spots, with staff who actually seem to live in the city rather than just work in it.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed, 1 large double bed and 1 futon bed for 5 adults

Facilities