Honestly, when I first saw the name “Lux St James Park Apartment Central London FREE WIFI by City Stay Aparts London” I thought, okay, someone really went overboard with the SEO keywords there. But you know what? Sometimes the places with the clunkiest names surprise you the most, and this little gem tucked away in Westminster absolutely delivers on its promises – well, most of them anyway.
The location is what really sold me on this place. I mean, you’re literally a three-minute walk from St James’s Park, which sounds touristy until you realize that means you can actually jog around the lake at 7 AM before the crowds hit, or grab a coffee and watch the pelicans being fed (yes, there are pelicans in central London, who knew?). The apartment sits on one of those quiet residential streets that make you forget you’re in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities – until a double-decker rumbles past and snaps you back to reality. Victoria Station is close enough that you can hear the faint hum of activity if you really listen, but far enough that it won’t keep you up at night. And honestly, having Victoria right there is brilliant because you can hop on the Gatwick Express or catch the Tube literally anywhere without dealing with the chaos of somewhere like King’s Cross.
The apartment itself feels properly lived-in rather than sterile hotel-clean, which I actually prefer. The WiFi works exactly as advertised (I spent three days on video calls without a single dropout), and there’s this lovely natural light that streams through the windows in the afternoon – perfect for reading or just watching London life happen below. The kitchen’s compact but functional, and I appreciated having a proper fridge because let’s face it, London meals add up fast. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too – none of that awkward waiting around in a lobby while they “prepare your room.” The 4-star rating feels about right; it’s comfortable and well-maintained without being fancy, though I did notice the shower pressure could be better and there’s a slight quirk with the heating that takes some figuring out. But honestly, for the price point and location, those are pretty minor gripes. What really impressed me was how quiet it gets at night – you’d expect more street noise being this central, but the double-glazed windows do their job well. If you’re planning to stay here during summer, just know that St James’s Park gets absolutely packed on sunny weekends, but early mornings and weekday evenings are pure magic for a peaceful walk.