 |
| Two-bedroomed apartment in Go Native Hyde Park |
There’s been a lot of discussion on this blog recently about the ideal hotel breakfast. Is it better to have it delivered to your room, where you can slurp your Rice Krispies in private, or is the option of an all-you-can-eat buffet, with the opportunity to snaffle some extra rolls for lunch, a more satisfying arrangement?
What if there is no breakfast available? Is going self-catering a chore? I was pondering this issue after being asked to try out a serviced apartment in London with Go Native.
The ethos behind the Go Native group is to provide spacious, high quality apartments whilst introducing its guests to the local neighbourhood. They are keen for business and leisure travellers to get out and about and enjoy their surroundings. The neighbourhood guide in each apartment suggests good pubs, cafes, places of interest and even jogging routes.
We were given a family two-bedroomed apartment in Go Native Hyde Park which is a beautiful Grade II listed building on Sussex Gardens. The location was fantastic – two to three minutes walk from Lancaster Gate underground station and maybe five minutes from Paddington, so plenty of transport options and, if you are flying in to the UK, only 15 minutes on the Heathrow Express. As we shopped on Oxford Street later in the weekend, we were able to keep walking west and were back at the apartment within a few minutes.
The local neighbourhood is very attractive: a stone’s throw from Hyde Park where we spent a few hours enjoying the May Bank Holiday sunshine. The streets surrounding the apartments are a mixture of smart, residential terraces in one direction and the hustle and bustle of shops and eateries around Paddington in the other.
How did we manage breakfast? We had several options, including The Bathurst Deli round the corner or the Bonne Bouche cafe near Paddington. Both of these looked appealing yet, I am embarrassed to admit, because we needed a few extra bits, we found a Sainsbury’s in the bright and airy Paddington station. Laden with pastries and croissants, we were soon back in the apartment, stocking the fridge and popping the kettle on. No need to wake the sleeping teens, breakfast at our own pace, with the papers and the TV in the background, was a pretty good way to start the day.
What we loved about our apartment
- The space: two large bedrooms, a decent-sized bathroom (with a bath) and a great kitchen/lounge area. There was even a huge hallway.
- The decor: each floor of Go Native Hyde Park has a different style. Ours was very funky: lime green sofa, orange chairs, clean white kitchen, chic black and white bathroom. If you have a tendency towards migraines, try the more neutral tones on other floors.
- Three TVs with Freeview.
- Free WiFi
- Bookshelves: a strange assortment of new books, often two or three of each title, with Wayne Rooney snuggled up to Stella Rimington, plus a copy of Dr Dawn’s Health Check, for the hypochondriacs among us. Odd but in a good way.
- Fully equipped kitchen: fridge freezer, oven/microwave, dishwasher. Tea and coffee provided plus fresh milk in the fridge.
- 24 hour reception. Very friendly service, especially when my husband locked us out by fiddling about with the Do Not Disturb door feature.
- The location: we adored being part of the community. It felt very safe and restaurants were good and plentiful. There was also lots to do in the vicinity.
What we didn’t love quite so much about our apartment
- We were on the lower ground floor so our view was mainly of legs as they walked past the window. It wasn’t a huge problem but, if I had a choice, I would ask for an apartment on another floor.
- Lack of mirrors. I’m not vain but there were none in either bedroom. Two hair-dryers were provided but no way of seeing what on earth I was doing with them. There was a large mirror in the hall but not close enough to a socket.
- The apartment could accommodate six people, using a sofa-bed in the lounge, but there was only one bathroom. I wonder, could they have cut down the ample hall space and squeezed in a little ensuite?
Despite a few niggles, the family verdict was that this is a serious contender for any future visits to London. I think Go Native is onto a winner with its business model for relaxed, smart, reasonably priced accommodation within the UK and now in a growing number of European and US cities.
Our Bank Holiday in London was a great success – keep an eye out for the follow-up post to find out what we did in the ‘hood.
We were given two nights free accommodation in a two-bedroomed apartment in Go Native Hyde Park. Prices start from £249.71 including VAT. For other options, prices start from £124.43 for a classic studio.
Go Native Hyde Park
206-214 Sussex Gardens
London W2 3UA
+44 (0)20 7221 2028
You had me at 'bookshelves; a strange assortment of new books' I LOVE apartments with bookshelves where I am invited to dip into random stuff.
These were a very weird selection, not the usual collection of holiday reads. Made me smile as I checked out what diseases I had.
Jealous. Please don't say you say Wolf Hall! Tell me next time you're south with spare hours. Would be lovely to meet up!
Wolf Hall?? I know the book but no idea what you are on about.
Meeting up would be a great thing to do x
It's on at the Aldwych to enormous rapture apparently. Am going on July 5th and beside myself with excitement.
This kind of set up can be a really good idea can't it? we stayed in something similar some years ago with the kids, although it was in no way as modern as your place…..we too had the basement apartment but we also had a sainsburys on the corner and happened to be shopping there just when they were reducing everything……that always pleases me ….when we arrived we let the kids go mad in the supermarket and then had breakfast and supper in the apartment each day…….
That's what we should have done – shopped the evening before to get the bargains!
Self-catering does take the stress away, doesn't it, for all I love hotels.
I really liked these apartments too and we did the same as you for breakfast. The location is great but the only problem we had was that the apartment was too hot, even with the windows open and no heating.
Ah, there is an advantage of being in the basement! They will need to think about air conditioning then, or at least darker curtains or blinds.
Perfect timing, I want to take the boys to London this summer to do the museums and a show and I think an apartment is so much easier with young kids. You can maintain a bit of your own routine. I'll definitely check this out.
You're right, the ability to keep to a routine is very useful when you have little ones. Even with older kids, hoisting them out of bed to go down for a hotel breakfast can be a bind.
Oooh that looks like a great apartment. And so central too.
It was great being just off Oxford street. Hyde park was gorgeous.
One bathroom for 6 potential guests? Wow, that sounds like morning stress! Otherwise it sounds great, and nice and handy for Sainsbury's!
Even with four of us, it needed perfect timing. We only discovered on the morning we left that they had a separate loo nearby on the lower ground floor. That would have been very handy.
I love self catering when we have the kids in tow, makes it so much easier to cater for fussy eaters and staggered meal times. This looks fab!
I think there are pros and cons for hotels and self-catering. With younger kids, having a bit more space and freedom in an apartment is a big benefit.
A great idea! I didn't know of serviced apartments as an option until we visited Barcelona and stayed in one. Must look into this next time we're in London – and Hyde Park – what a great location 🙂
We have tried this in a few cities over the year, Birmingham most recently, and it has worked very well. Hyde Park was just gorgeous – I used to live in London and had never been!
Hyde Park is a great location, and I really like the sound of these apartments and the suggestions given for places to eat etc…. but like you, I think I would need more mirrors, just to open up the space. Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog earlier! X (a new reader :o) ).
It was a delight to discover your blog – will be visiting again!
I loved staying in an apartment in Manchester, it's often more cost effective than a hotel for a family.
I've never had any luck finding availability in London so I'll have to check out Go Native.
We stayed in an apartment in London a few years ago but that was in the financial district. The location of these was excellent for a family stay.
I must admit that I haven't heard of serviced apartments before but they sound great; I love the idea of being able to do what I want food wise and the location is amazing. we love trips to London but have found the hotels in the Paddington area to be really expensive so it will be interesting to see how this compares.
Certainly worth a look 🙂
Funky colours and seems like a good alternative to a hotel.
Breakfast would not be a problem for us as we always head to Starbucks when away, the only time we go there, it has become a tradition. 😉 xx
Oh yes, have been reading of your holiday routines!
Look forward to reading about your adventures while in London. This sounds a good option, especially for families, though would hope for a mirror by the time the next family stay! Also, have to admit, I love to be served a good breakfast when I'm away and not sure this sounds as if it's so much cheaper than a hotel?
Now that Rory is older we always have to get two rooms when we travel so it can work out expensive. I think there are pros and cons with hotels and apartments and, for us, sometimes the hotel ambience is what we want and sometimes an apartment hits the spot. Have to admit, the room service in Glasgow worked out brilliantly but then we all had to wake up early – although this suited us as we had a lot to fit in!
Sounds like a fabulous trip but the mirrors I found really odd, are you sure there wasn't a concealed one maybe one of those push cupboard's that open up? Or maybe they Feng shui=ed the place??
I wonder?
I did look, at least I'm sure I looked in the cupboards – I think they were sliding doors!
Now, this is PERFECT for us! We are always happiest when we can totally do our own thing. I want to bring the teens to London when they finally finish their exams and this would be absolutle fab!
I know Rory thought it was ideal for him – lots of space and chilling time.
This sounds like a great idea – especially if you're travelling with children. It's so much easier being able to eat meals as and when you want, and put little people to bed but then stay up yourselves. If we ever find ourselves back in London I'll definitely be checking availability (and I hope they still have plenty of weird books for me to peruse!) x
I'm sure they will keep their weird book selection for you :-))
I'm just back from Ragdale Hall, they deliver your breakfast in bed, lovely 🙂
Ha! Well, yes, that does sound lovely. Was it as good as my Sainsbury's pain au chocolat? Probably yes 🙂
WOW! this looks amazing! I wish i could go there for when i come to london in the summer! really beautiful!
Pleased you like it, Otilia.
we re going to do an apartment when we go to new york, it's just so much easier when you are with children.
Will keep an eye on your blog – will you be writing about your trip?
Lovely looking place and what wonderful colours. I vote for delivery to the room, I hate the mornings even on vacay and I would rather chomp down in the privacy of a bedroom
If I had to choose, I think I agree that room service is wonderful, as long as I don't get crumbs everywhere.
It looks like a super apartment, I love the vibrant colours and it sounds like it's in a very convenient spot.
I'm not sure about breakfast, sometimes I like to eat in my room and lounge about a bit longer but in somewhere like London I may want to be up and in a little deli for delicious coffee and croissants! I can't make my mind up which I'd prefer!
I've decided I like all three. Sometimes good to eat in the room, other times to be in a hotel dining room or out and about finding a local place. Just being on holiday makes it a pleasure.
Love the sound of that… I love hotels but sometimes having an apartment is so much easier, especially when there are small constantly hungry people involved! 😀
Of course the ideal compromise is an aparthotel but they tend to only have them in resorts, maybe when guests stay longer. I love having access to a fridge and kitchen facilities for longer stays.
What a cool location- you'd be able to pretend you lived there with such a central place!!
I am coming round to thinking about apartments as an alternative to hotel rooms- we usually just stick with what we know don't we but this looks like a fab option!
I did feel a bit like a resident – made the stay very relaxed.