Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “studio flat” in the description, I was expecting something cramped and depressing. But this place on Longridge Road actually surprised me in the best way. The moment you walk in, you realize someone really thought about how to use the space. It’s not huge, obviously, but there’s this clever flow between the sleeping area and the little kitchenette that makes it feel way more spacious than the square footage suggests.
What I love about this spot is how genuinely Kensington it feels without the tourist trap vibe. You’re tucked away on this quiet residential street – honestly, you’d walk right past it if you didn’t know it was there. But here’s the thing: you’re literally a five-minute walk from Earl’s Court tube station, which means you can be in central London faster than most people living in Zone 2. And if you want to feel fancy, the actual posh bits of Kensington (you know, where the museums and Hyde Park are) are just a pleasant stroll north. I actually walked to the V&A one morning and it took maybe fifteen minutes through some really lovely streets.
The studio itself has this modern but not sterile thing going on – good lighting, decent Wi-Fi that actually works for video calls, and a kitchen that’s small but functional if you want to grab groceries from the Tesco Express around the corner instead of eating out every meal. The bed’s comfortable enough that I didn’t wake up feeling like I’d been wrestling with it all night, which honestly is more than I can say for some supposedly fancier places I’ve stayed. One small thing that really stuck with me: the windows actually open properly and let in fresh air, which sounds basic but you’d be amazed how many London places have those awful sealed windows. The street’s quiet enough that you’re not dealing with constant traffic noise, though you will hear the occasional late-night conversation from people walking home from the pubs on Earl’s Court Road – but that’s London for you.
The whole check-in process was refreshingly straightforward, none of that awkward waiting around in a lobby that doesn’t exist. And parking – well, it’s Kensington, so don’t even think about bringing a car unless you enjoy paying £4 an hour for the privilege. But honestly, you won’t need one anyway. The area has this perfect mix of local life and tourist accessibility that’s getting harder to find in central London. You’ve got proper neighborhood spots like that little café on Penywern Road where locals actually go for coffee, but you’re also close enough to South Ken that you can hit Harrods or the Natural History Museum whenever the mood strikes. It’s basically the Goldilocks zone of London accommodation – not too touristy, not too isolated, just right for someone who wants to feel like they’re actually staying in London rather than just visiting it.