THE APARTMENT: This is one of the latest apartments to be added to Flying Butler’s London portfolio. It’s an elegant Victorian townhouse in Kensington’s prestigious Lexham Gardens, just off the Cromwell Road, under a 10-minute walk to Earl’s Court and Gloucester Road tube stations, and with a mix of one- and two-bed apartments
THE CHECK-IN: I had arranged a ‘Meet & Greet’ with Ponnusha, who had contacted me in advance to confirm a time and was waiting on the steps when I arrived. She gave me a very thorough tour of the apartment, paying particular attention to the coded entry system and the key box, instructing me to leave my keys there when I left the following morning. I was delighted with my VIP welcome pack, which included a small bottle of Proseoco, a box of chocolates and some White Company toiletries.
THE ROOMS: I was one of the first guests to stay here so it was all still sparkly and new. Fabulously-tall windows (double-glazed) and high ceilings make the apartment feel really bright and spacious, especially the open-plan lounge/kitchen/dining room. The kitchen has a a dishwasher and a washer-dryer, a decent-sized fridge, oven, electric hob and a microwave. The lounge area has an L-shaped sofa and two armchairs, coffee tables, a flat screen TV on the wall and a few plants. It’s modern but homely and has a nice view over a pretty, cobbled mews. The master bedroom has ample cupboard and wardrobe space, a dressing table with good lighting, and a super-comfy king-sized bed with a plush velvet bedrest. The second bedroom, a double, has a cute balcony. Compared to the rest of the apartment, the bathroom is small but was spotlessly clean, with a bath and built-in shower.
THE FACILITIES: I set up my laptop on the large kitchen counter, which had conveniently-positioned power points. The Wi-Fi worked well. There’s a Sainsbury’s supermarket just round the corner for all your essentials and a short walk away is Kensington High Street, which has plenty of shops, pubs, restaurants and cafés.
THE VERDICT: With such a great location and feeling of spaciousness I would have happily stayed a few weeks, and I felt safe too.
THE DETAILS: 9 Lexham Gardens London, flyingbutler.com, one-beds from £180 a night, two-beds from £280
By Bev Fearis
