Hotels
The 6 Best Aparthotels in London
Serviced apartments and aparthotels for a stay with your own kitchen, a proper sofa and hotel service on tap. Six London addresses we'd actually book, from Kensington townhouses to Thames-side flats.
In short: our top picks are The Other House South Kensington, Cheval Three Quays and Native Bankside. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
There comes a point on the third hotel night when you want to make your own coffee, not ring down for it. That’s the case for an aparthotel: a flat with a real kitchen and somewhere to sit that isn’t the end of a bed, plus a front desk that still sorts your bags and books your table. London does this better than most cities now, partly because the design-led operators (Locke, Native, The Other House) treat the lobby as somewhere to linger rather than pass through. The picks below run from a members’ club wrapped around 200 flats in South Kensington to a quiet 32-apartment building off Lamb’s Conduit Street. We’ve leaned towards places that feel residential rather than corporate, and noted where the kitchen is genuinely usable versus a token hob.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Other House South Kensington | South Kensington | ££££ |
| Cheval Three Quays | Tower Hill | ££££ |
| Native Bankside | Bankside | £££ |
| Ember Locke | Kensington | £££ |
| Wilde Aparthotels Covent Garden | Covent Garden | £££ |
| SACO Holborn | Bloomsbury | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Other House South Kensington
Why we pick itOver 200 Club Flats spread across a row of Victorian townhouses, with stays running from a night to a year and a private members' club thrown in for the duration. The Owl & Monkey bar and a proper spa and gym mean you rarely need to leave; the design, all clashing wallpapers and painted birds, is a long way from corporate beige.
Residents' club and serviced flats
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Cheval Three Quays
Why we pick it159 one, two and three-bed flats right on the river next to the Tower of London, many looking straight across the Thames to Tower Bridge. This is the grown-up end of the market: full kitchens, concierge, and space to actually unpack. Cheval has been doing serviced apartments for over 40 years and it shows in the service.
Five-star serviced apartments
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Native Bankside
Why we pick itA converted Victorian tea warehouse a couple of minutes from Tate Modern and Borough Market, with exposed brick, arched factory windows and polished concrete floors. Apartments run from light studios to penthouses, each with a kitchen and living area. The location, tucked behind the river on a cobbled lane, is hard to beat for a weekend.
Design-led aparthotel
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Ember Locke
Why we pick it121 studios and suites behind a Victorian facade on Cromwell Road, done out in Locke's warm, slightly louche seventies palette. EVE, the in-house New York-style pizza place, does delivery to your room, and there's a gym, coworking space and a garden. Good value for west London if you want a kitchenette and a sofa rather than a cramped box.
Design-led aparthotel
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Wilde Aparthotels Covent Garden
Why we pick itJust off the Strand, so close to the West End theatres you could roll out of a matinee and be back in five minutes. Studios come with proper fitted kitchenettes (dishwasher, hob, Nespresso) and floor-to-ceiling windows over the street. Sensible rather than showy, and very well placed for a central base.
Studio aparthotel
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SACO Holborn
Why we pick itA quieter, more residential choice: 32 apartments on one of Bloomsbury's nicest streets, all independent shops and pubs, with the West End and the City both walkable. Flats range from studios to two-beds with full kitchens, dishwashers and washing machines, and some have a roof terrace. The sort of place that suits a fortnight, not just a night.
Serviced apartments
Before you book
Aparthotels reward longer stays: weekly and monthly rates drop sharply, and most waive daily housekeeping in favour of a weekly clean. Studios at the smarter addresses start around 200 to 300 pounds a night, with Cheval and The Other House climbing well past that for one and two-bed flats. Book direct for the best rate and flexible cancellation. Check whether the kitchen has a dishwasher and washer if you’re staying a week or more.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Other House South Kensington is our editor's choice: Over 200 Club Flats spread across a row of Victorian townhouses, with stays running from a night to a year and a private members' club thrown in for the duration. The Owl & Monkey bar and a proper spa and gym mean you rarely need to leave; the design, all clashing wallpapers and painted birds, is a long way from corporate beige. The Other House South Kensington, Cheval Three Quays and Native Bankside lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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