So I’ll be honest – when I first heard “London Choice Apartments” I was expecting something pretty basic, maybe even a bit corporate. But this place on Markham Square? It’s actually one of those hidden gems that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled onto something the guidebooks haven’t ruined yet. The building sits on this gorgeous garden square in Chelsea, and I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from Sloane Square tube station, which sounds convenient but doesn’t really capture how perfect the location is.
What struck me most was how genuinely residential it feels – you know how some serviced apartments try too hard to be hotels? This isn’t that. The apartments have this lived-in quality that’s somehow both homey and polished. I stayed in a one-bedroom unit and honestly, the kitchen was better equipped than my actual kitchen at home (which, granted, isn’t saying much, but still). The living spaces have these lovely high ceilings and big windows that look out onto the square’s private gardens. You can’t access the gardens yourself – they’re for the fancy residents of the actual houses – but there’s something oddly soothing about watching people walk their dogs and kids play while you’re having your morning coffee.
The area itself is proper Chelsea, which means it’s posh but not stuffy-posh, if that makes sense. You’ve got the Chelsea Physic Garden just down the road, and honestly, that’s worth the trip alone if you’re into that sort of thing. For food, you’re spoiled – there’s a brilliant little café called Daylesford Organic on Pimlico Road (about a five-minute walk) where locals actually go, not just tourists. The King’s Road is right there too, though it’s gotten a bit chain-store heavy over the years. What I really loved was how easy it was to pop over to Belgravia or even walk along the Thames – the Embankment is maybe fifteen minutes on foot, and you hit some lovely pub gardens along the way.
Practically speaking, the 9.1 rating makes total sense. Check-in was smooth (there’s actually a person at reception, not just some keypad situation), and the staff knew their stuff about the neighborhood. The apartments are quiet – you’re on a residential square, not a main road, so you don’t get the constant London traffic noise. WiFi was solid, which matters if you’re working remotely. The only minor thing I’d mention is that parking is pretty much impossible unless you’re lucky enough to find a meter spot, but honestly, you don’t need a car here anyway. The tube connections are brilliant – you can be in Knightsbridge in five minutes, Oxford Circus in fifteen.
I keep coming back to how it just feels right, you know? Like staying at a well-heeled friend’s place rather than a hotel. The four-star rating probably undersells it a bit – it’s got that effortless quality that’s actually harder to achieve than flashy five-star stuff. If you want to feel like a temporary Chelsea resident rather than a tourist passing through, this is your spot.