Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “Devon Mansions” on Tooley Street, I wasn’t expecting much. The building itself is pretty typical London converted flats, nothing fancy from the outside, but once you get inside Flat 13, it’s actually quite a pleasant surprise. The space has been done up nicely with that clean, modern aesthetic that works well without trying too hard – you know, the kind of place where everything’s functional but still looks good in photos. What really got me though was stepping onto the little balcony area and realizing just how close you are to everything that matters. I mean, Tower Bridge is literally right there, and I don’t mean “London close” where everything’s supposedly walking distance – you can actually see it from the windows.
The location is honestly the real winner here. You’re on the south side of the Thames, which some people overlook, but it’s actually brilliant for getting around. Borough Market is maybe a ten-minute walk (perfect for proper coffee and those ridiculous sandwiches), and you can walk to London Bridge station in about the same time. The thing about Tooley Street is that it feels residential enough that you’re not constantly dodging tourists, but you’re still close enough to pop over to the Tower of London or walk along the Thames Path whenever you want. Actually, that walk along the river towards Butler’s Wharf is gorgeous, especially in the evening when all the lights come on. The flat itself is well-equipped – decent kitchen if you want to cook, proper shower pressure (always a gamble in London), and the wifi actually works properly, which isn’t always a given. I noticed they’ve got good blackout curtains too, which you’ll appreciate since London never really gets dark in summer and the street lights are pretty bright.
Now, it’s not perfect – the building can get a bit echoey, especially on weekends when people are coming and going, and parking around there is basically nonexistent unless you want to pay through the nose. But honestly, you don’t need a car in this spot anyway. The 7.8 rating feels about right to me – it’s solidly good without being extraordinary, and for the price point in central London, that’s actually pretty decent. What I really liked was how straightforward everything was – check-in was simple, the place was clean and ready when I arrived, and there weren’t any nasty surprises. Sometimes that’s all you need, you know? A comfortable base where you can actually relax after walking around London all day, close enough to everything that you don’t spend half your time on the tube. If you’re the type who wants to be in the thick of things but still have a proper night’s sleep, this place delivers on that pretty well.