Look, I’ll be honest – when I first rolled up to Marlin Apartments on Long Lane, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The building itself is pretty modern looking, sort of blends into that whole Southwark vibe where you’ve got these sleek developments sitting right next to old Victorian warehouses. But here’s the thing that actually impressed me: you’re literally a five-minute walk from Borough Market, and I mean the real deal, not some tourist trap version.
The apartments themselves are… well, they’re proper apartments, not hotel rooms pretending to be something they’re not. Full kitchens with decent appliances (though honestly, who’s cooking elaborate meals on holiday?), separate living areas that don’t feel cramped, and – this matters more than you’d think – really good water pressure in the showers. The 4-star rating feels about right; it’s comfortable and clean without being fancy for the sake of it. You know what struck me though? The windows are actually decent quality, which is crucial because Long Lane can get a bit noisy during the day with delivery trucks heading to the market. At night it quiets down completely.
Empire Square itself is one of those newer developments that’s still finding its feet, but the location is genuinely brilliant if you want to feel like you’re living in London rather than just visiting it. You’ve got the Thames literally around the corner – and I don’t mean a touristy bit, but that lovely stretch where locals actually jog and walk their dogs. London Bridge station is maybe eight minutes on foot, which puts you anywhere in central London stupidly quickly. The 7.7 rating seems fair, maybe even a touch conservative – I suspect some people dock points because it’s not flashy enough, but that’s actually part of its charm. It’s the kind of place where you can pop to Tesco Express for groceries (there’s one right there), grab proper coffee from Monmouth at Borough Market, and still be at the Tate Modern in fifteen minutes if culture calls. The staff were pretty straightforward during check-in, no fuss, just gave me the keys and pointed out where everything was. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want after a long travel day.