“The home-from-home in South Kensington trades in lavish, unnecessary extras to offer unbeatable value in the capital city.”
A four-star luxury hotel in London charging three-star prices might seem a little unbelievable to some, yet this is exactly the premise behind base2stay in South Kensington. By ridding itself of the ‘extras’ usually offered in a luxury hotel, it has managed to achieve a chic, urban space for independent travellers visiting the capital.
The facilities
There’s no restaurant, gym or even room service to speak of, but people do not choose base2stay for pampering and preening. Its excellent location, just a five minute walk from Earl’s Court station, boasts a sizable amount of restaurants and bars; there’s a guide to the area provided in each room.
For those arriving too early to check in, or leaving a while after check-out, base2stay provides an Arrival Base. This is a single room, priced at £15, which is available for one hour. Guests can have a shower, enjoy complimentary internet and prepare some food - basically it’s a convenient and cheap way to freshen up.
The rooms
There are five room classes in base2stay, ranging from the petite singles to the much more spacious deluxe. The bathrooms are spotless, with either bath-shower combinations, or stylish oversized showers. The attention to detail here shines through; knowing the usual lack of water pressure in the capital, the management installed special shower units that provide a deluge-like spray.
All of the rooms share a neutral palette of cream and brown, and pared-down, yet high-quality amenities – a flat screen television, complimentary internet, pay-per view, air-conditioning and a compact work station. There’s a kitchenette in every room too, complete with fridge, microwave and plenty of crockery. It is within the rooms that the real concept of this luxury hotel becomes apparent – to provide an excellent value, comfortable environment without all the added extras that people seldom make use of in a busy city.
Star rating:
Address: 25 Courtfield Gardens, London, England, United Kingdom SW5 0PG
View rooms
Address: 25 Courtfield Gardens, London, England, United Kingdom SW5 0PG
Booking info
Arrival:
Fri 29 Aug 2008
Departure: Sat 30 Aug 2008
No. adults: 2
Departure: Sat 30 Aug 2008
No. adults: 2
Check Availability
Come for
- Cutting out expensive extras
- Small, sleek singles for GBP 93
Not suitable for
- Lovers of expensive extras
Children
The hotel can provide extra cots for children at no extra charge in the larger rooms. There are no interconnecting rooms, but some do share a private corridor.
Eating in
You can whip up a very simple meal in your teeny kitchenette, especially if you're a whiz with a microwave; otherwise it's cereal bars from vending machines.
