You know what struck me first about this place? It’s actually in one of those quiet pockets of Paddington that tourists usually walk right past without knowing what they’re missing. Star Street sits just close enough to the Hyde Park action that you can hear the occasional clip-clop of horses from the riding paths on weekend mornings, but far enough from the Paddington Station chaos that you won’t be dealing with rolling suitcases at all hours.
The flat itself has that modern London vibe down pat – clean lines, decent-sized windows (which honestly matters more than you’d think in this city), and they’ve clearly put thought into the layout. I mean, it’s not massive by any stretch, but whoever designed it actually understands how people live. The kitchen’s got proper counter space, not just some afterthought kitchenette, and the bathroom doesn’t require advanced yoga skills to navigate. What I really appreciated was the attention to soundproofing – you’re in Westminster Borough, so there’s always going to be some city hum, but it’s never intrusive. The 8.2 rating makes sense when you stay here; it’s the kind of place that gets the important stuff right without trying to oversell itself.
Location-wise, you’re basically winning the London geography lottery. Hyde Park’s right there – and I’m talking about the good bit near Speaker’s Corner and the Marble Arch entrance, not the touristy Diana Memorial area (though that’s walkable too if you’re into it). What the booking sites don’t tell you is that you’re also stupidly close to some excellent Lebanese places on Edgware Road, and there’s this little Tesco Express about three minutes away that stays open late, which honestly saved me more than once. The Paddington Station proximity is genuinely useful – fifteen minutes to Heathrow on the Express, easy connections to Bath or Oxford for day trips, plus you’ve got three tube lines within reasonable walking distance. Parking’s typically London impossible, but the public transport connections mean you really don’t need a car anyway. The area gets busy during evening rush hour, but it settles down nicely after 7 PM, and weekends have this almost village-y feel despite being smack in Zone 1.