Veeve - Calming Belsize Park Retreat

We had a family room in September, and it was quiet and secure. The room had all we needed, including a kitchenette, and the bed linen and towels were spotless. Marc was friendly and flexible, letting our daughter join us at short notice for a few days and arranging another room when one of us decided to stay an extra week. The location was great, just a stone's throw from Belsize village and the fabulous Retsina Tavern, well worth a visit. We'd happily stay again and recommend it.

The location is a leafy garden suburb, with shops and cafes in one direction and main transport links a short walk the other way. Parking is only available in the evenings and at weekends. The housekeeping was excellent, but the rooms had no shower shelves or soap holders. In one, the toilet and shower were together while the sink was in a separate room, and there wasn't even a toilet roll holder. We had no other places available nearby, so we stayed, but ended up eating every meal out while house hunting. That cost more and took time out of our day since we couldn't cook in the room. At close to £150 a night, it didn't feel like value for money. It seems they charge what they think they can get from you. We were first put in a room with problems and moved to another without any hassle. Both kitchenettes had too little ventilation, and the stove and kitchens were so small that you could barely do more than boil an egg. The place is advertised as self-catering, but it really wasn't usable for much cooking. Both rooms were stuffy, with inadequate ventilation and/or no air conditioning. Fans were available on request, but didn't get the air moving enough. With Britain having several hot summers in a row, you'd think people in tourism would consider air conditioning, but that doesn't seem to be what BPA is about. The bathrooms and shower cubicles had the same ventilation issue and a moldy smell. I was worried about mold spores getting into the lungs as a health hazard, so I pointed fans into the shower most of the time to try to clear the smell. I told the receptionist, who was usually nice, but nothing was done. Belsize Apartments are two houses in Belsize Square that seem to have been quickly split into lots of tiny units, without much thought given to the conversion, which has led to these and other problems. In the end, Belsize Park Apartments will do in an emergency if nothing else is available.

The cottage was charming, nicely equipped, and the hosts were gracious. They even left fresh farm eggs for breakfast. With hiking trails nearby and hills and grazing sheep all around, it was a lovely place for anyone who enjoys nature. We felt a real sense of calm there, away from the usual bustle.

I've been staying here for more than 15 years, and it's still a great place. It's always very clean, the rooms are done every day, and it's a nice spot to come back and unwind. 👍