Chancery Quarters - 124 Chancery Lane

There’s a Tesco about a five-minute walk away for the usual convenience-store basics. Nearby places to eat include The Gaucho, though it’s pricey even by London standards, and the Old English Bank pub, which can close for private events, so check first. The other pubs and taverns tend to be booked up, and we found it nearly impossible to get a table without a reservation. Chancery Quarters is well placed for sightseeing: Big Ben is about 20 minutes away on foot or 10 by bus. Buckingham Palace takes around 40 minutes to walk to, or 30 by bus, including the walk to the stop and then to the palace. A taxi from Heathrow is roughly £120. The apartments are in central London and have been renovated with a lot of care. The design feels aimed at making guests comfortable, with thoughtful touches you might not even get in a five-star hotel. You can control the bathroom heating to suit yourself, and set the room’s heating or air conditioning separately. The heating is unrestricted, so you can choose a temperature as high as +30 °C if you want. Some European hotels limit the temperature or shower water so much that you end up getting out shivering; that wasn’t an issue here. Although it’s an apartment, the bathroom comes with tubes of shampoo, conditioner, and body cream. There’s also an iron and board, a clothes dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, oven, stove, and refrigerator. All the appliances are Miele, high quality and easy to figure out. There’s lots of wardrobe and shelf space outside the living room and bedrooms. During the day, until 5 p.m., a very friendly manager is on the ground floor and ready to answer questions or help. For the comfort, equipment, thoughtful service, and renovation, Chancery Quarters costs less than comparable hotels. I think it’s a good choice if you want to save money without giving up quality.