Beaufort House

The lobby of Beaufort House is impressive, and every bit as elegant and luxurious as the apartments themselves. There is dark wood flooring, a discreet wooden reception desk, and heavy drapes framing huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Velvet sofas surround a glass coffee table set with a range of lifestyle magazines and the chic room is lit by a modern chandelier. There aren't many other common areas for guests, though, as this is an apartment-style hotel. The property is generally geared towards guests staying for a week or longer, rather than just a couple of days. It attracts guests from all over the world, from couples and families wanting a high-end independent stay, to corporate clients.

The hotel is located just off of busy Brompton Road on a quiet tree-lined street surrounded by residential flats in the heart of affluent Knightsbridge. It’s just a few steps away from the famous Harrods department store, while Harvey Nichols, another well-known retailer, is a five-minute walk away. There are plenty of options for stocking the apartments' full kitchens, with grocery stores like Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, and Sainsbury’s all within a couple of minutes on foot. Some of London’s best museums are a short walk from the property, too. The Victoria and Albert Museum is a five-minute walk from the hotel, while the Science Museum is eight minutes away on foot. For trips farther afield, the underground is easily accessible. Knightsbridge Tube station is a five-minute walk, and South Kensington station is a 10-minute walk. Heathrow Airport is a 25-minute taxi ride from the property, or 45 minutes away by tube.

The individually designed apartments at Beaufort House are immaculately clean and well maintained. They are lavishly decorated, many in chic shades like champagne and oyster, and have elegant touches such as chandeliers and velvet sofas. Each apartment is spacious and large windows provide lots of natural light. Configurations vary from one to four bedrooms, and each unit has a separate living room and full kitchen. Some have separate dining rooms and a furnished balcony or patio. There are flat-screen TVs in all living rooms and bedrooms, and bedrooms are air-conditioned. TVs offer a large selection of satellite channels, including international ones. There are also DVD players, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi in all apartments, as well as a safe, hairdryer, and iron and ironing board. The modern kitchens include a stove, full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, microwave, and Nespresso coffee machine. They are thoughtfully stocked with groceries like fresh fruit, bread, butter, jam, chocolates, milk, juice, and water at no extra charge. Bathrooms are equally luxurious and immaculate. Many have a monochrome color scheme and thermostatic power showers. Some have a bathtub as well, and all include high-end Molton Brown toiletries. Housekeeping services are provided daily at no extra cost, an amenity many apartment-style hotels do not offer.

Despite being apartments rather than a traditional hotel set-up, the property still provides guests with a 24-hour front desk, laundry service, and concierge team. There’s an elevator in the building and Wi-Fi is free throughout. There’s no fitness center on site, but guests have free access to a nearby Aquilla Healthclub during their stay, which has cardio and weight machines, a small heated indoor pool, a sauna, and a steam room.