You know what struck me first about The Belgrave? It’s got this perfect sweet spot thing going on – you’re literally a three-minute walk from Victoria Station (and I mean actually three minutes, not London estate agent three minutes), but the moment you turn onto Belgrave Road, all that tourist chaos just… disappears. The building itself is this gorgeous white Georgian terrace that honestly looks like it belongs in a period drama, and when you walk into the lobby, there’s this immediate sense that someone actually cares about the details here. The staff behind the front desk knew my name before I’d even finished digging for my confirmation email, which – let’s be real – doesn’t happen at every London hotel.
What I really love about this place is how it feels properly London without trying too hard. The rooms have this sophisticated thing going on with dark wood furniture and these heavy curtains that actually block out the street lights (crucial if you’re jet-lagged), but they’ve also got all the modern stuff that matters – decent Wi-Fi, a shower with proper water pressure, and thank god, air conditioning that works. I was there during one of those random London heat waves in September, and while half the city was melting, I was perfectly comfortable. The neighborhood is brilliant too – Eccleston Street is right around the corner with some genuinely good restaurants that aren’t tourist traps, and if you walk five minutes toward Pimlico, you’ll find this little Tesco Express that’s open late when you inevitably need snacks or forgot to pack something essential.
Honestly, the 8.6 rating makes complete sense when you experience the place. It’s not trying to be the flashiest hotel in London, but everything just works the way it should. The concierge actually knows the area – like, really knows it – and gave me walking directions to avoid the Victoria Station crowds that I never would have figured out myself. Breakfast is served until 10 AM on weekends (hallelujah), and they don’t rush you out even if you show up at 9:45 looking slightly worse for wear. The only tiny thing I’d mention is that some of the rooms facing the road can get a bit of traffic noise in the morning, but honestly, it’s London – if you want complete silence, you’re probably in the wrong city anyway. For the location and the quality, it’s the kind of place I’d actually book again, which is saying something since I’m usually all about trying somewhere new.