Vancouver Hotel and Studios

Hotel Description

I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Vancouver Hotel and Studios on Princes Square, I wasn’t expecting much from the narrow Westminster street. But you know what? Sometimes the best finds are tucked away where you least expect them. This 4-star spot sits in one of those quintessentially London squares that feels like a secret, even though you’re literally a stone’s throw from Hyde Park Corner and all the chaos that comes with it.

The thing about staying here is that you get this weird perfect balance – you’re close enough to everything that matters (I mean, you can walk to Marble Arch in about ten minutes), but Princes Square itself is surprisingly quiet. Well, quiet for London anyway. The hotel actually spreads across a few of those beautiful white Georgian buildings, and they’ve done something clever with the studios part. These aren’t your typical cramped London hotel rooms – they’ve got proper kitchenettes that actually work, which honestly saved me a fortune on takeaway during my week there. The staff at check-in mentioned they get a lot of longer-stay guests because of this, and I can see why. There’s something refreshing about being able to make your morning coffee without hunting down the nearest Pret.

What really struck me was how they’ve managed to keep some character in the rooms despite clearly doing recent renovations. The building’s got that satisfying creak in the floorboards that reminds you you’re in a proper London townhouse, but the bathrooms are modern enough that you’re not fighting with temperamental Victorian plumbing. I stayed on the third floor facing the square, and honestly, waking up to that view of the garden in the center – with actual Londoners walking their dogs and everything – felt more authentic than staring at Big Ben would have. The Wi-Fi’s solid throughout (tested it extensively while working from the little desk by the window), and the housekeeping team actually pays attention to details. You know how some hotels just throw fresh towels at you and call it a day? Not here.

Location-wise, you’re in that sweet spot where you can walk to Oxford Street if you’re feeling masochistic, but you can also slip into Hyde Park when you need to remember what trees look like. The Tube’s right there at Marble Arch, though I found myself walking most places because the neighborhood’s got this residential feel that makes you want to explore. There’s a proper local pub called The Monkey Puzzle just around the corner that the concierge recommended – definitely not touristy, and they pour a decent pint. Parking’s typical London nightmare stuff, but if you’re smart enough to visit without a car, you won’t miss it. That 8.6 rating makes sense to me – it’s not trying to be the Ritz, but it nails what it’s going for: a genuine London base that doesn’t feel like you’re staying in a theme park version of the city.

Rooms

• Single Room with 1 single bed for 1 adult
• Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults
• Family Room with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for 3 adults, 1 child
• Twin Room with 2 single beds for 2 adults
• Studio Apartment with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Studio Apartment with 2 single beds for 2 adults
• Superior Double Room with 1 double bed for 2 adults
• One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Deluxe Single Room with 1 single bed for 1 adult
• Deluxe Twin Room with 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child

Facilities