Fraser Suites Queens Gate, London

BACKGROUND Frasers Hospitality is part of Frasers Property Group, a global hospitality operator of serviced apartments and hotels with around 25,000 rooms worldwide. In the UK, it has apartments across London, Edinburgh and Glasgow with living space, separate bedrooms and in-room kitchen facilities.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The apartments are located in several large multi-storey stucco blocks. Reception is a walk up a few steps, under a modest portico, and all the COVID-19 protocols are marked out. Reception is attended 24 hours, with good security, but guests need their room key to get into the property at night.

WHERE IS IT? On Cromwell Road in London, a short walk from Gloucester Road Underground station, with good service to Heathrow and the West End.

ROOMS There are 105 suites in total, ranging from studio apartments to one and two bedrooms including duplexes. As the building is a conversion of several large Victorian stucco buildings, each room is di erent in shape, ceiling height and vantage. Entry-level studio deluxe rooms are 31 sqm, while the studio executives are 40 sqm. The one-bedroom deluxe is 41 sqm and one-bedroom executive is 48 sqm. My room was one of the latter and had a separate bedroom accessed down a corridor, then a living room, kitchen and a good-sized bathroom. There was a comfortable sofa, a circular table with two gold-coloured chairs, and a wardrobe with iron and ironing board.

All the suites are designed with functionality in mind and are neutral in tone. Touches of luxury include shot silk curtains and padded velour headboards on comfortable beds, with good-quality cotton sheets. There is large if slightly anonymous abstract framed art, interesting Giacomettiinspired lamp stands and dark brown

laminate flooring, though the latter does cause a problem when someone is walking overhead since the sound of their footsteps can be very noticeable. I mentioned this at reception and they said it was because the apartments are a Victorian conversion.

The bathrooms have good shower pressure and L’Occitane toiletries, and all of the suites have fully equipped kitchens.

There is a thin but adequate desk and very fast wifi. A QR code was provided for accessing newspapers and magazines via devices. The TV didn’t seem to have the ability to stream content from my device, which would have been useful, but it was adequate for watching the local news.

A few points generally: there is a shortage of plugs from which to power

All the suites are designed with functionality in mind and are neutral in tone

devices, the fridge had no door shelf, meaning bottles could not be stored upright, the kitchen tap leaked, there was a rip in the seat of the o ice chair, marks on the walls, and the extractor fan didn’t work in the bathroom so it steamed up and had condensation on the walls.

On the lower-ground floor, there is a self-service laundry, or, of course, you can pay to have laundry done. Housekeeping is for stays of eight nights or more, so you must keep the place tidy, though towels and other in-room amenities are replenished on request.

FOOD AND DRINK The property has a good-sized bar (Magenta Bar) to one side of reception and an outdoor eating area, but with the wealth of choices available on neighbouring Gloucester Road and South Kensington, it’s tempting to eat out. Food can be served in the downstairs breakfast room, though I didn’t take advantage of the £12 breakfast since there are so many options nearby.

MEETINGS There is a meeting room on the ground floor near reception that can seat 12 in a boardroom arrangement.

LEISURE There is a gym in the lower basement with a variety of equipment.

VERDICT A good-value property with a residential feel, in a convenient location for travel in London and to Heathrow, and only a short walk from Kensington Gardens.

Tom Otley

BEST FOR Good value for money, and you can book short stays of one night up to several months

DON’T MISS Choosing a room at the front with large sash windows

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in November started from £176 (US$233) for a Studio Deluxe room

LOCATION 39B Queens Gate Gardens, London; +44 (0) 20 7969 3555; london-queensgate.frasershospitality.com