Genuine space, a fully equipped kitchen, and the quiet calm of a residential neighbourhood — without sacrificing convenience.
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Serviced apartments occupy a distinct position in the accommodation market — somewhere between a self-catering rental and a full-service hotel. You get the space and independence of your own apartment, with the reliability and support of a managed property. That means housekeeping, fresh linen, and a reception team, but also a kitchen, a living area, and the freedom to come and go on your own schedule.
The Collingham sits firmly in the premium end of this category — on Collingham Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea — presenting itself as a home-away-from-home for visitors who want more than a standard hotel room, and who'd rather not pay Mayfair prices for the privilege.
More space, more flexibility, and usually better value for stays of a week or more.
Business travellers on extended assignments get a proper workspace and the ability to cook their own meals. Families get the extra bedrooms and kitchen that make travelling with children far less stressful than squeezing into a single hotel room. Tourists planning a longer London stay get better value per night than most comparable hotels in the area.
A typical hotel room in Kensington might give you 20–25 square metres and a minibar.
A one-bedroom serviced apartment here gives you a separate living room, a full kitchen, and often 45–60 square metres — at a comparable or lower nightly rate once you account for the money you're not spending on restaurant meals and laundry services.
The trade-off: no lobby bar, no room service at midnight. But for most guests staying at The Collingham, that's entirely the point.
The property is situated on Collingham Gardens, SW5 — a quiet, tree-lined residential street in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The postcode places it in what's commonly referred to as the Earls Court and West Kensington area, though it sits close enough to South Kensington to benefit from everything that neighbourhood has to offer.
You're within walking distance of South Kensington's museum quarter (the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum are all under a mile away), a short Tube ride from Knightsbridge and Harrods, and a 20-minute journey from the West End. Hyde Park is accessible on foot. Heathrow Airport is roughly 35–45 minutes by the Piccadilly line.
The neighbourhood itself is safe, well-lit, and genuinely quiet by central London standards — something guests who've previously stayed near busy tourist hubs tend to appreciate immediately.
One of the most common frustrations with serviced apartment searches is that room type information is often vague. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what The Collingham offers.
25–35 sqm
The entry-level option. Sleeping area, living space and kitchenette in a single, well-configured room — suited to solo travellers or couples on shorter stays, with considerably more usable space than a comparable Kensington double.
45–60 sqm
The most popular option. A separate bedroom and living room make a genuine difference for remote workers, couples on different schedules, or anyone who wants somewhere to decompress that isn't the end of the bed. More than double the space of a typical four-star hotel room at a comparable rate.
70–90 sqm
For families and groups. Two separate bedrooms, a shared living area and a full kitchen — often significantly cheaper per person than four separate hotel rooms in the same neighbourhood. Larger configurations may be available on request.
Fully equipped kitchen — hob, oven, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, and the basics (pots, pans, crockery, cutlery)
High-speed Wi-Fi — reliable for business travellers and families alike
Smart TV — with access to streaming services and international channels
Fresh linen and towels — provided on arrival and refreshed during housekeeping visits
Washing machine and/or dryer — a significant practical advantage on longer stays
Heating and air conditioning — climate control for year-round comfort
If you or someone in your group has mobility requirements, contact the property directly before booking. Some apartments may have step-free access or ground-floor configurations, but availability varies.
A staffed reception desk handles check-in and check-out and can assist with local recommendations, restaurant bookings and general guest queries. Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 11:00, with flexible arrangements on request.
A mid-stay clean is standard for shorter stays; the schedule adjusts for weekly and monthly stays. Fresh linen and towels are provided on arrival and replaced during scheduled cleans.
No private car park on site. On-street parking is permit-only, so short-stay visitors use nearby NCP options. Luggage storage is typically available at reception for early arrivals and late departures.
Small pets may be accommodated in select units, subject to confirmation. Contact the property directly before booking to confirm availability and any associated fees. Don't assume pets are permitted as standard.
Reliable Wi-Fi, desk space and a quiet residential environment make remote working genuinely comfortable. No formal business centre; nearby Kensington co-working spaces and hotel lobbies handle meeting needs.
Gloucester Road station is roughly 5–8 minutes on foot. From there, the Piccadilly line connects to Harrods (~14 min), Heathrow (~35–45 min), the West End (~20–25 min) and King's Cross/St Pancras (~30 min). Earls Court and West Brompton add further routing flexibility.
| Mode | Destination | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tube (Piccadilly) | Harrods, Knightsbridge | ~14 min | £1–£4 |
| Tube (Piccadilly) | Heathrow Airport | ~35–45 min | £3–£6 |
| Tube (Piccadilly) | Piccadilly Circus (West End) | ~20–25 min | £1–£4 |
| Tube (various) | King's Cross / St Pancras | ~30 min | £2–£4 |
| Bus C1 | Harrods, Knightsbridge | ~10–17 min | ~£1.75 |
| Taxi / rideshare | Harrods | ~4–6 min | £12–£22 |
| Walking | Harrods | ~22–28 min | Free |
| Santander Cycle | Hyde Park | ~10–15 min | From £1.65/30 min |
The Piccadilly line from Gloucester Road is a single stop to Knightsbridge — about 4 minutes on the train, 14 minutes door-to-door. The C1 bus runs directly from Cresswell Gardens (10–17 min, ~£1.75). By taxi or rideshare, it's roughly 4–6 minutes by car. On foot, it's a pleasant 22–28 minute walk through South Kensington's quieter streets.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are clustered together on Exhibition Road — roughly a 15-minute walk or a single Tube stop. Together they represent one of the most impressive concentrations of free-admission world-class museums anywhere on earth.
The Royal Albert Hall is equally close, with a year-round programme of concerts and events. The Design Museum in Holland Park is worth a visit if you're interested in contemporary design and architecture.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens — effectively one continuous 600-acre green space — are within walking distance, from boating on the Serpentine to the Kensington Palace State Rooms. Holland Park (about 10 minutes west on foot) offers formal Japanese gardens and a genuine sense of seclusion.
The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is a well-designed treat for families with young children — well-maintained, and genuinely fun.
Harrods and King's Road are within easy reach; Westfield London is about 20 minutes by Tube. Gloucester Road and Old Brompton Road carry a strong run of casual restaurants and cafés. For a more special evening, the stretch of Old Brompton Road towards South Kensington has consistently strong options across multiple cuisines.
The Chelsea Flower Show in May is practically on the doorstep. Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall runs through the summer. Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge is about 1.5 miles away — a short bus or cab ride.
Beyond the C1, the 74 and N74 night bus connect the area to Hyde Park Corner and Victoria. TfL Santander Cycles docking stations sit throughout the neighbourhood — one of the more enjoyable ways to experience London at a slower pace. For those driving, the Congestion Charge applies for journeys into the central zone (roughly £15 per day).
Aggregating feedback across TripAdvisor, Google, Booking.com and Expedia reveals a fairly consistent picture — one that echoes the practical case for the property rather than a marketed one.
Value scores tend to be particularly strong — guests feel they're getting more for their money than at a hotel of equivalent star rating in the same neighbourhood.
Location tops almost every positive review — within walking distance of the South Kensington museums, a short Tube ride from Knightsbridge, and set on a quiet residential street. The space advantage over comparable hotel rooms is the second most cited positive. Cleanliness, apartment condition and kitchen facilities also score well.
Some guests note the level of service can feel less attentive than a full-service hotel — inherent to the serviced apartment format rather than specific to this property. A small number of reviews mention variability between individual apartments; requesting a specific floor or apartment type when booking is a sensible precaution.
Typically 7.5–8.5 out of 10 on Booking.com, with TripAdvisor reflecting similarly positive overall sentiment. Value scores tend to be particularly strong.
Nell Gwynn House on Sloane Avenue operates in a similar price bracket (studio and one-bedroom apartments typically £110–£200 per night) but sits slightly further from the Piccadilly line and Heathrow connections. Manson Place in South Kensington is positioned at a similar or marginally lower price point with a quieter immediate setting but fewer configurations for larger groups. The Collingham compares favourably on three counts: its proximity to Gloucester Road station giving direct Piccadilly line access, its quiet street setting on Collingham Gardens, and the range of apartment sizes available for families or groups needing a two-bedroom configuration.
Each answer is designed to reduce friction in the planning process. Always confirm specifics directly with the property before booking.
A minimum stay of 3–7 nights is common for properties in this category, though the requirement can vary depending on apartment type and time of year. During peak London periods — summer, the Chelsea Flower Show, Christmas and New Year — longer minimum stays may apply. For very short stays of one or two nights, contact the property directly or check live availability on your preferred booking platform.
Possibly, but it depends on availability and season. Serviced apartments are generally designed for stays of several nights or longer, and single-night bookings are not always available. If you need accommodation for just one night in Kensington, check directly with The Collingham — they may have flexibility outside peak periods.
From Gloucester Road station — approximately a 5–8 minute walk from the apartments — the Piccadilly line runs directly to Heathrow with no changes, covering all four terminal stops in approximately 35–45 minutes. Trains run frequently throughout the day and into the early hours. The cost with an Oyster card or contactless payment is typically £3–£6 each way — significantly cheaper than a taxi (£45–£65) or the Heathrow Express from Paddington.
Yes — Nuffield Health Kensington on Marloes Road offers gym floor, fitness classes and pool access. The Chelsea Sports Centre on King's Road is a local authority leisure centre with a 25-metre swimming pool and gym facilities at accessible prices. The Kensington Leisure Centre on Silchester Road is another council-run option worth considering for longer stays. Short-term membership or pay-as-you-go access is usually available.
The property does not operate a private car park. On-street parking in Kensington is restricted to permit holders, so guests with vehicles will need to use nearby NCP car parks or similar paid facilities. Given the exceptional public transport access — including direct Tube connections to Heathrow, the West End, and Knightsbridge — most guests find a car unnecessary. If you do drive, factor in the London Congestion Charge (approximately £15 per day) for journeys into the central zone.
Kensington is one of London's most liveable and well-connected neighbourhoods. The Piccadilly line puts Heathrow 35–45 minutes away with no changes and Harrods a single stop away. The South Kensington museums are within walking distance. Hyde Park is on your doorstep. And the quiet residential streets of Collingham Gardens give you a base that feels like a real London address rather than a tourist corridor.
