You know what? I wasn’t expecting much from Notting Hill Residences when I first walked up to the building on Moscow Road – it’s tucked away in this quieter pocket between Bayswater and Notting Hill proper, and honestly, the entrance is pretty understated. But that actually turned out to be one of its best features. You’re literally a three-minute walk from Hyde Park (I mean the real entrance, not just “near” it like so many places claim), and Queensway tube station is close enough that you’ll never stress about getting around London.
The thing that really struck me about this place is how it feels more like staying in someone’s well-appointed flat than a typical hotel. The rooms have this lived-in quality – not shabby, but comfortable in a way that makes you want to actually unpack instead of living out of your suitcase. The kitchenettes are properly equipped too, which is clutch if you’re staying more than a couple nights or if you’re like me and need proper coffee first thing in the morning. I stayed during a particularly busy week in August, and while you could hear some street noise (it’s London, after all), it wasn’t the kind of thing that kept me awake. The double-glazed windows actually work, unlike some places I’ve crashed in this city.
What I really appreciated was how the staff seemed to know the neighborhood inside and out. When I asked about dinner spots, they didn’t just hand me a generic list – they pointed me toward this brilliant little Lebanese place on Westbourne Grove that I never would have found otherwise. And here’s something you don’t usually think about: the check-in process was refreshingly quick, even when I showed up early on a Sunday morning looking pretty rough after an overnight flight. The location means you’re close enough to all the Notting Hill action (Portobello Market is maybe a ten-minute walk) but far enough from the weekend crowds that you can actually think straight. I’d definitely stay here again – it’s got that sweet spot of being professional without feeling stuffy, and comfortable without cutting corners on the details that actually matter when you’re trying to get some decent sleep in an expensive city.