Staybridge Suites London - Vauxhall

Opened in
2015, the Staybridge Suites offers an innovative home-away-from-home alternative to
extended-stay hotel accommodation. It’s a well executed concept with an
almost hostel-like approach to communal living, but at an unmistakably upscale level. The modern low-rise building is sympathetically designed to suit the
neighborhood, while contemporary interior decor includes high ceilings and
attractive hardwood flooring in the bright, airy lobby. The front desk features a wood panel facade, while modern retro-style seats in bright colors are dotted
around the cozy space. Bright and understated hallways have neutral-colored
carpets, modern furniture, and attractive prints. The spacious lounge is
similarly inviting, with tub chairs in complementary purples and grays as well as attractive downlighting; like the rest of the hotel, the space feels modern,
new, and high-end. A homey
atmosphere pervades, complete with a friendly resident dog. The property primarily attracts long-term business and leisure guests.

The
Staybridge Suites is set on a quiet, largely residential street surrounded by
apartments and offices. There’s a neighborhood pub just opposite, and the
hotel is a six-minute walk from Vauxhall railway, tube, and bus
station. It’s also within a five-minute walk of two public parks, while Lambeth
Palace is a 10-minute walk away. The
Kia Oval cricket club and conference center is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Attractions like Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace can be reached in about 20 minutes via public transportation. Hyde
Park and the British Museum take under a half-hour to reach by bus. London City Airport is a 30-minute taxi
ride away or 53 minutes by public transport; Heathrow Airport is about a 40-minute drive or an hour by public transportation, and Gatwick Airport
takes around an hour to reach by either taxi or public transportation.

As the
hotel’s name suggests, the 93 rooms here are all suites. The smallest and
cheapest are studios and lack a separate living space, but they’re spacious, modern, and quiet across the board. Large, comfy beds have contemporary
white headboards with built-in backlighting that rest against pleasant
turquoise accent walls. Gray wooden bedside tables have chic lamps, while large windows are framed in gray floor-length
curtains. Rooms also have daybeds or armchairs, work desks, and full-length
mirrors. Every suite has a superbly equipped modern kitchenette fitted with a sink, stovetop (but no oven), mini-fridge with ice-maker, microwave, and even a dishwasher, plus other
essential appliances and cookware. Bathrooms feature attractive tiling, walk-in
showers with power showerheads, and elegant white ceramic sinks; toiletries come in small individual pumps. One Bedroom Apartments add a separate living room with
a full-size sofa, as well as a larger kitchenette with a dining table; bathrooms feature
up-to-date shower/tub combos with power showerheads. Amenities across all of
the air-conditioned suites include large flat-screen smart TVs (with on-demand
movies for a fee), phones with voicemail, free Wi-Fi, safes, hairdryers, and
coffee- and tea-making facilities, plus irons and ironing boards. Connecting
rooms are available. Note that housekeeping provides a daily light touch and a
weekly full clean (weekend housekeeping is on request). Rooms have pleasant
views of either the main street or neighboring properties.

The
Staybridge Suites offers an extensive range of services that will appeal to
extended-stay travelers seeking convenience. A pleasing number of
freebies include a cooked and continental breakfast buffet offering
plenty of choice, plus free self-service hot beverages in the lounge 24/7. The
hotel also runs regular social events for guests, with free drinks and snacks,
while the 24-hour lobby pantry sells cooking essentials and a small selection
of beers, wines, and spirits. Free and modern 24/7 self-service laundry
facilities are a particularly nice touch (alternatively, same-day dry cleaning is
available), and there are free storage lockers as well. The 24-hour gym is
equipped with weightlifting and cardio machines, but it’s on the small side. There are chic, comfy meeting rooms
available, though all-glass walls looking onto the lobby mean these offer
little privacy; the business center offers Internet-connected computers and
copying, printing, and scanning services, and is also open 24/7. There’s
reliable free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, but guests report that getting one of the
limited street parking spaces can be a challenge.