THE BRIEF
For this particular four-night stay, we needed a London base that could comfortably support a packed diary of meetings, events, dinners and interviews. Somewhere central, practical and well-connected, but with enough personality that returning at the end of the day felt like part of the experience.
THE OVERVIEW
Occupying 11 interconnected Victorian townhouses in South Kensington, it sits somewhere between a private members’ club, a serviced apartment and a boutique hotel. The concept is simple but surprisingly rare: provide guests with the independence of having their own London pied-à-terre, while retaining the service, facilities and atmosphere of a luxury hotel.
THE LOCATION
South Kensington has long been one of London’s most desirable postcodes and with good reason. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum sit just moments away. Hyde Park, Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington are all within easy reach, while Gloucester Road station is less than five minutes on foot.
For international travellers, particularly those flying through Heathrow, the location is a major advantage. The Piccadilly Line offers a direct connection to the airport, while the Circle and District lines make navigating the rest of the city remarkably straightforward. It’s also one of the few central London neighbourhoods that still feels distinctly residential. Elegant white stucco townhouses line the streets, cafés spill onto pavements, and there is a noticeable absence of the frantic pace found in areas such as Soho or Leicester Square.
During our stay, we found ourselves moving easily between East London meetings, Chelsea dinners and museum visits without once feeling tethered to a particular part of the city.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Other House understands that hospitality is theatre. The lobby unfolds beneath a dramatic botanical chandelier commissioned from Cox London, inspired by the private garden squares that characterise this corner of South Kensington. Throughout the property, animal motifs appear in unexpected places: parrots perch on lamps, monkeys hide within wallpapers and peacocks make regular appearances across fabrics and furnishings.
The result feels perfectly playful. Unlike many contemporary hotels that lean heavily into minimalism, The Other House embraces colour and character. The deeper you venture into the property, the more it reveals itself. A tucked-away members’ lounge. A quiet corner beneath the atrium. A room you somehow didn’t notice on your first pass. It rewards curiosity.
THE CONCEPT
Founder Naomi Heaton built her career in property development before launching The Other House and that background is immediately apparent. Rather than designing rooms around short stays, she has designed them around how people actually live. The result is a hybrid hospitality model centred around Club Flats, apartment-style accommodation designed for stays ranging from a single night to several months. Guests can use its app to manage almost every aspect of their stay, from ordering food and booking facilities to checking how busy the gym is.
THE ROOMS
The Club Flats are thoughtfully designed, with separate living and sleeping zones, kitchenettes, dishwashers, proper refrigeration and considerably more storage than most London hotel rooms. After years of travelling for work, we’ve learnt that the most luxurious thing a hotel can offer isn’t necessarily a larger bathroom or a grander lobby. It’s practicality. Having somewhere to make breakfast before an early meeting (or grabbing a takeaway coffee and croissant downstairs). Space to unpack properly. A fridge that holds more than a bottle of water. The ability to work comfortably without balancing a laptop on the edge of the bed.
We stayed in Potter on the upper floor and would strongly recommend requesting a higher-floor room if available. The views across London’s rooftops are lovely and the additional quiet is appreciated. One small note for UAE travellers: the beds are queen-sized rather than the oversized super-kings many are accustomed to, but they are very comfortable.
EAT & DRINK
Breakfast was one of the highlights of our stay. Served daily from 7am to 11am in The Other Kitchen, the menu ranges from pastries, yoghurt pots and granola to Clarence Court eggs and cooked breakfast classics. Residents, members and locals all drift through throughout the morning, giving it a noticeably buzzy atmosphere from a typical hotel breakfast room.
The restaurant remains equally useful later in the day. Available Monday to Friday from 11.30am to 6pm, the all-day dining menu is built around locally sourced produce and a low-waste philosophy, with a regularly changing selection of seasonal soups, salads, sandwiches and small plates. Whether you’re grabbing lunch between meetings or settling in with a laptop for an hour, it’s the sort of space that can quickly become part of your routine.
Come evening, Owl & Monkey takes over. Open from 5pm until late, the signature cocktail bar is inspired by the wisdom of the owl and the curiosity of the monkey, serving classic cocktails alongside more inventive creations. They are accompanied by sharing plates, cheese boards and dishes such as Padron peppers. Richly coloured interiors and a lively local crowd make it feel far more like a neighbourhood cocktail bar than a hotel lounge.
THE WELLNESS
Wellness is one of the features that helps set The Other House apart. Alongside a vitality pool, sauna, steam room and exceptionally well-equipped gym, the property works with Mamma Wellbeing to offer a broader programme of holistic experiences. Guests can book Reiki, meditation, sound healing, astrology consultations and Tarot readings, either in dedicated treatment rooms or, for residents, in the privacy of their Club Flat.
Wellness is integrated throughout the property rather than confined solely to a traditional spa setting. Rather than treating wellness as a standalone facility, The Other House integrates it into the wider experience of staying there. For travellers balancing demanding work schedules with wellbeing goals, it’s a genuinely valuable addition.
SUSTAINABILITY CREDENTIALS
Sustainability appears throughout The Other House in a number of considered ways. During our stay, we noticed refillable toiletries in place of miniature plastic bottles, a focus on reusable materials and an emphasis on seasonal produce within the food offering. Much of the property’s design also draws on existing architecture, reflecting a thoughtful approach to longevity rather than disposability.
While sustainability is increasingly expected within modern hospitality, what stood out here was how naturally these elements were integrated into the guest experience. Nothing felt performative or overly signposted. Instead, the focus remained on creating a comfortable stay while making more conscious choices behind the scenes.
BEAUTILIST TIPS
One of the biggest surprises during our stay was the people. The staff were among the friendliest we’ve encountered in London. Not overly formal, not performatively attentive, simply warm and genuinely helpful.
One evening, after a long day of meetings, we returned to the hotel, put on Harry Potter and realised just how well the surroundings suited it. Between the velvet interiors, hidden nooks and quietly eccentric details, The Other House has a touch of grown-up magic about it.
During our stay, the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s annual Albies were taking place at the Natural History Museum. On our way back one evening, we unexpectedly crossed paths with actress Shailene Woodley as she stepped out of the hotel in full red-carpet glamour. A very South Kensington moment.
THE DETAILS
Location
15–17 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 4JJ
Nearest Tube
Gloucester Road (approx. 3-minute walk)
South Kensington (approx. 8–10-minute walk)
Website
OtherHouse.com
Instagram
@InTheOtherHouse
Starting Rate
From approximately £280 (AED 1,390 / US$380) per night (subject to season and room category)
Best For
Business trips, solo travellers, museum lovers, girls’ weekends, longer London stays and first-time visitors to the city.
Nearby
Natural History Museum (5 mins)
Victoria & Albert Museum (8 mins)
Science Museum (8 mins)
Hyde Park (15 mins)
Harrods (20 mins)
Would We Return?
Without hesitation.
Rates were correct at the time of writing and may vary depending on season and availability. The Other House South Kensington is closing for an extended renovation on Tuesday, 30th June 2026. Guests planning future stays should check directly with the hotel for reopening updates.
