For the best merge of apartment-style living with upscale hotel services, there’s no better option in London than The Other House South Kensington.

The Other House South Kensington isn’t simply a place to stay, but a place to live with access to restaurants, cocktail bar, wellness studio and a private members club. It heightens a sense of locality rather than voyaging as a visitor, adhering to the modern concept: having great experiences is the new luxury which is now deemed as something quite intangible, and more so on garnering fantastic memories upon departure.

 

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The Other House South Kensington is made up of 11 Victorian townhouses that were transformed into a hotel at one point. Naomi Heaton, CEO and founder of The Other House, recreated the property into a relaxing infusion of the best of a hotel and residential living. With a formidable background in advertising and property development, she knew what the customers wanted:

“It took a decade for it to come to life. What I wanted was an upscale hotel that was a fantastic local hub with a private members club, so it’s a complete mesh for any length stay, and a combination of a beautiful living space,” Heaton explained. 

The entire elegant space includes four luminous atriums, a restaurant and cocktail bar, pool, gym, wellness center, and a private members club. Following the success of The Other House South Kensington, there will be another location opening soon in Covent Garden this year.

Located in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in London, The Other House South Kensington is merely footsteps away from popular sights, including: Natural History Museum, Science Museum, London Eye, Queen’s Gate Mews, and Victoria and Albert Museum which the hotel partners with for elevating guests experiences.

The property is also 12 miles from London City Airport, and a 9-minute walk from South Kensington Tube station. Not to mention, there are numerous popular restaurants and cafés that travelers can easily stroll to, like Hjems, and Montparnasse Café.

In collaboration with Cox London, The Other House South Kensington welcomes guests with an artful space incorporating nature and animals through various design elements. In an effort to emulate the neighborhood’s verdant gardens, the lobby area and glitzy chandeliers are accented with leafy motifs while the brand’s iconic monkeys and owls – which the bar is named after – are sprawled through stylish wallpapers. Look closely, even the china in the kitchen are presented with the curious monkey.

As an underlying theme of “the wise and the curious,” inside each room, there are also vintage books from the 1800s effortlessly displayed with open pages. Flip through a few chapters, guests will notice stickers. Such diligent detail is a continual sign of repurposing, in this case, reworking vintage into contemporary beauty.

Stepping inside the Private Members Club; sculptures of birds, golden lion wallpaper, decorative pillows that display bees, tigers and deer enhance the sense of grace and beauty exuded throughout the alluring establishment.

As an homage to South Kensington, each floor is aptly named after famous faces that have lived in the upmarket neighborhood: Spencer (for Princess Diane who lived in Kensington Palace,) and Potter (after Beatrix Potter, the English writer and illustrator who lived on 2 Bolton Gardens.)

The Club Flats are five Victorian apartments combined to provide the greatest flexibility, accommodating everyday needs, where guests can rent apartments around a courtyard, making it their very own pied-à-terre.

All the Club Flats are designed for any length of stay, from a day to an entire year. Each sophisticated room in gorgeous teal blue, includes a living room, kitchenette, separate bedroom and en-suite bathroom. Cozy tweed and deep velvet texture palettes with botanical patterns lift the residential experience to the ultimate degree of homely comfort.

The Other House South Kensington offers: studio-style Club Flats, apartment-style Greater Flats that come with spacious sitting/dining area, open-plan living Greater Club Flat, Greater Courtyard for those who yearn to be surrounded by trees, The Club Collection which ranges from duplex Mezz to the distinctive Turrets and Courtyard Apartment, and riad-style Club Combos that are ideal for families and larger parties.

In addition to 24-hour reception, there’s also housekeeping services provided once a week along with communal laundry facilities that are available with additional fees.

Each apartment features king-sized beds, at least one bathroom, and a kitchenette with a hob, combination microwave, coffee machine, dishwasher, fridge with separate freezer, a dining area, smart TV, in-unit safe, built-in air conditioning, and free internet access.

The Other House Kitchen brings flavors of a traditional French brasserie, with British produce that are locally-sourced in order to reduce carbon footprint, as well as ensuring ethical animal treatment while committing to zero food waste. The restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch.

The Owl & Monkey cocktail bar is a hidden gem serving up signature mixology accompanied with tree-top views. Along with a wide range of beers, ciders, champagnes and wines; the cocktail list recalls stories from the past and tasteful creativity.

Threading the theme of Owl and Monkey, the menu is divided into two sections: Cocktails for the Curious, and Cocktails for the Wise. Featuring delectable concoctions like: Monkey See, Monkey Do (Bumbu Rum, umeshu, yuzu sake, milk, pineapple, and spiced pineapple rum,) Pineapple & Salted Caramel Caipirinha (Yaguara organic cachaca, pineapple, and salted caramel.)

The Other Space is the property’s relaxing sanctuary, meant to be far more than a typical wellness center as it focuses on revitalizing the mind, nourishing the body and calming the spirit. Furthermore, the concept is built from seven dimensions of wellbeing that span from physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, to vocational.

The fully-equipped gym is home to numerous cardio machines, Peloton bikes and weight training devices that help staycationers meet fitness goals. Group sessions are also available three times a week, on top of yoga and other workout classes led by a friendly staff at Wellness Concierge. For those that love to swim laps, there’s a glamorous pool chicly lit for tranquil transitions to serene steam rooms and saunas.

One of the most unique component to The Other House South Kensington is The Club which encourages community with a blend of cool events while maintaining exclusivity.

“We created The Club so people can feel a sense of community, something that was lost during COVID,” Heaton indicated. 

The massive space below lobby floor is a getaway to dimly-lit rooms, adorned with plush couches, sizzling fireplace, a grand piano tucked at the corner hard to resist. Akin to a maze inside an old medina, there are multiple areas eclipsed in discrete corners, each embody cave-like nooks. Meticulously decorated, a refined urban escape. Hung on the walls are humorous paintings that were originally poor amateur Victorian art, though the most valuable part are the frames giving vibrant portraits a new life – another gentle nod sustainability.

The Club is open to residents, with access to lounges, a private bar, The Other Space, and a slew of lifestyle events led by creative thinkers, innovative entrepreneurs and inspiring artists. Locals are also welcome to apply for annual access to indulge in club amenities all year round.

Sustainability is deeply embedded in the foundation of The Other House South Kensington as the edifice itself is an amass of the neighborhood’s rooted history, heritage and infrastructure. The property also utilizes efficient electricity and power by minimizing energy consumption, as well as offering guests its own filtered water, rather than purchasing bottled water. All the top flat furniture are made in England, while the furniture placed in public areas are manufactured in the UK or by local artists.

There’s an in-house app that facilitates a multitude of services, and for guests to feel completely at home without feeling the pressure interact with staff members. A quick tap away, the app allows:

• Check in and out
• Use your mobile key to access your club flat
• View what’s happening around the House
• Message a House Jack if you have a question
• Book a table and order food and drinks around the House
• Arrange dry cleaning
• Find out how busy the pool and gym are
• Book a meeting space or private dining room
• Explore the local South Kensington area
• Schedule movie night in the screening room

It’s clear that The Other House South Kensington is a forward-thinking establishment that caters to long-term staycationers and perfectly aligns with slow travel as well as business jetsetters calling London their new home.

With an ideal location in a lively neighborhood, the trendy property not only provides a comprehensive residential and sustainable experience, but is also a growing brand welcoming more visitors to call it their other house.