Citadines South Kensington London

We'd definitely stay here again. There’s lots of space and useful facilities, it’s surprisingly quiet, and the price is competitive if you can do without daily cleaning and modern rooms. Our one-bedroom apartment was about the size of a small American one-bedroom, a welcome change from London's tiny rooms and the CitizenM experience without the CitizenM discount. It had a full foyer, plenty of closet space, a kitchen stocked with appliances and wares, and separate living and sleeping areas. The bedroom and bathroom were upstairs in a loft, which gave some privacy but didn't fully block sound. The stairs creaked, and climate control varied between floors. We were on the second floor facing Gloucester Rd, and the windows did a surprisingly good job blocking street noise. We still heard low sounds from pipes and neighbors. The building is dated, with scuffs and chipped panels, though nothing egregious. There were several desks and chairs, which we appreciated. The sofa converts to a bed for two more people in theory, but it isn't very comfortable. The room was clean, with no bugs. There's one hotel-style cleaning per week, which helps keep the cost down. Towels and toiletries are free, with no limit, but you have to get more yourself. That suited us since we aren't messy and don't like being disturbed. The basement laundry room lets you reserve machines through a silly phone app. It's a bit pricey, but convenient. South Kensington felt like a hidden oasis: posh and busy without being crowded, with food, shops, quaint London rows and major museums all within walking distance. Gloucester Rd station is three blocks away, with direct access to three tube lines and less of the crush you get at busier stations. The street is basically quiet by 8pm. Prices compare well with standard four-star rooms, especially the fully refundable rate: lower than the big American chains and a little above the small local places. Staff were mostly good. Special thanks to Chip, the maintenance guy, who stayed after his shift to help us figure out a hot water issue that turned out to be user error. One woman was less helpful when I called to confirm my reservation. She tried to get me to hang up and use the Ascott website instead of looking up my name on the computer in front of her. I pointed out the website gives the local hotel's number for confirmation inquiries, and she reluctantly checked. That felt like a basic courtesy, especially when websites can lose or overbook reservations. One night, the first-floor restaurant set off the fire alarm and we had to evacuate for 10 minutes. Annoying!