England: 9 Hertford Street – Apartment Stay In The Heart Of Mayfair, London

We visit London on a regular(ish) basis, usually three or four times a year and we always chose a different area every time we do. This is so we can experience different things and places. Also, we have always stayed in hotels. Therefore, when we were invited to stay at 9 Hertford Street, luxury holiday apartments located in the heart of Mayfair, it was a completley different direction for us both in terms of location and accomodation. Firstly, we have never been based in Mayfair so we were excited to explore the local area and secondly, we have never stayed in an apartment in London before, so we couldn’t wait to see what extra benefits staying in one would hold.

Location

As mentioned, 9 Hertford Street is located in Mayfair on, as the name suggests, Hertford Street. It is a quiet residential street, with a number of embassies as neighbours. Yet just a minute in either direction we found a number of bars and restaurants, meaning we didn’t need to stray too far if we didn’t want to. We found the closest tube station to be Green Park, we arrived on the Piccadilly Line directly from Kings Cross, although we could have jumped off at Hyde Park Corner tube station too, they are roughly the same distance away. Once at street level 9 Hertford Street was a mere 5 minute walk away. Mayfair is very centrally located, so there are plenty of attractions and tourist hot spots on the doorstep and as massive fans of hop on hop off buses (although we have never taken one in London yet – tut!), we were pleased to see a bus stop close to the apartments, perfect for exploring further afield.

First Impressions and Check In

As we walked through Mayfair we were in awe of the beautiful buildings we passed and both agreed that we would love to live there, the exterior of 9 Hertford Street itself was just as impressive and grand.  Check in was open from 2.00pm and we arrived shortly after so we could spend as much time in the apartment as possible. Entrance into the building was easy, on the bell panel we simply pressed the reception button and we were buzzed in. The reception area was just as impressive as the exterior. It offered a welcoming vibe and felt extremely luxurious and homely. Once checked in we were shown up to our one bed Mayfair club apartment on the first floor. I was surprised that porterage wasn’t offered, luckily for us we only had an overnight bag each so it wasn’t a problem and if we had arrived we more luggage, maybe it would have been offered? Maybe we should have asked? Even though we wouldn’t have taken the offer up, with prices starting from around £200 per night, it did surprise us.

Our Apartment (104)

As we walked into our apartment our jaws dropped, it was huge – 827 sq ft in fact. There was so much room for just the two of us, we knew instantly we never wanted to leave. Hotel rooms in London can be very small and on a number of occasions, Mr ESLT and I have actually tripped over each other or our stuff, there was no chance of that in this wonderful apartment.

Living/Dining Area

Our apartment had a large open plan living and dining area perfect for chilling out in, especially after a hardcore day of sightseeing. With large plush sofas, a full Sky TV package, wifi throughout and complimentary magazines, in reality we didn’t need to leave the apartment if we didn’t want to. The area also had a work station, which we didn’t use, however it would have been great if we had been travelling on business. There were also so many well thought out and homely touches such as books and ornaments, it really did feel like we were staying at a friend’s house which made us feel settled and content straight away. The area also had a dining table which would have been a great place to sit and enjoy a meal and a couple of bottles of wine if we had not had dinner reservations on the night of our stay. It would be perfect if we were staying longer and perhaps wanted to cut down on the expense of eating out every night. Or again if we had been travelling on business and did not have time to head out for dinner.

Bedroom

Again the bedroom was huge with so much storage space we could unpack fully and put our overnight bags away. In fact I got a dose of wardrobe envy and wished we had that many at home. The super king sized bed was so inviting, I had to stop myself getting in for an afternoon nap. Therefore, when bed time did come, I crawled in without hesitation. It was so soft and comfortable and with sleep being one of my favourite pastimes it was a struggle to get out again the next morning. Another reason for that was because the of the black out curtains which were great, and especially for Mr ESLT as he is quite a light sleeper and even a slither of sunshine in a morning can wake him up. However, even if the curtains hadn’t been black out ones, sleep kits were provided in the room which included a sleep mask and earplugs. Dressing gowns and slippers where also provided which got a big thumbs up from me, there’s nothing better than feeling cosy when travelling and in my opinion you can’t beat accommodation that provide creature comforts that I’m used to at home.

Kitchen

The apartment had a small yet fully equipped kitchen with oven, hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, Nespresso machine, dinner service, cutlery, cooking utensils, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine, which would have been great if we were staying longer or if we were travelling with children. As we only stayed for one night we did not have need for the kitchen apart from the kettle, we are British after all and can’t go too long without a cuppa. Fortunately for us there was a large selection of Twinings tea available for us to choose from. Complimentary Blenheim Palace Mineral water was also provided in the kitchen which again was very welcome, even though water from the tap in England is fine to drink.

Bathroom

The bathroom was complete with all the usual amenities including a bath tub. I love a bath and any accommodation that offers one. They are quite hard to come by in mainland Europe but in England they are more commonplace, therefore when I stay somewhere with one, I always have to indulge. With all the beautiful smelling Arran Aromatics toiletries available it made the experience all the more fulfilling.

Balcony

London on a sunny day is a beautiful sight to behold and we were lucky enough to visit on one, therefore we were very pleased to find that our apartment had a balcony where we could relax with a cup of tea in the mid afternoon sun. In the height of summer it would be a great area to sit and relax with a glass of wine or three.

Other facilities/services

There were so many extras that we were pleased to find, including things that we consider essential like hairdryer and iron and ironing board. Other services offered include concierges who are on duty Monday to Saturday : 8am to 10pm and Sunday: 8am to 8pm for assistance and information, daily housekeeper service: Monday to Friday, passenger lift to all floors, air cooling system, entry phone system, baby cot on request, scan services in reception are available between 8.30am and 10.00pm and a digital safe is available in each apartment. 9 Hertford Street also offer some additional services which can be paid for including daily newspapers, external laundry/dry cleaning service, private on-site secure underground parking – £40 per day, welcome hampers on arrival and airport transfers.

9 Hertford Street also offer pet friendly apartments, which means you can take your four-legged friend with you. Even though we don’t have a pooch, it appears no amount of begging and pleading is going to change Mr ESLT’s mind, we have a number of friends who do and would never have considered taking theirs to London with them. Therefore, we will be letting them know that they can have a break in the capital and take their dog with them.

Summary

In summary, we loved our stay at 9 Hertford Street, it’s just a shame we couldn’t stay longer. We highly recommend a stay here, there was nothing we didn’t love. Having never stayed in an apartment in London before staying here made us realise that they really offer that extra something especially on a short-term let basis. The location was perfect, we loved exploring Mayfair and yes the prices are quite high, however they are comparable to luxury hotels in the area and are in reality value for money because of the extras you get here that you don’t in hotels. Even though we try to visit different areas and stay in different accommodation when visiting London, we certainly would make an exception when it comes to 9 Hertford Street.

• We stayed at 9 Hertford Street, London on a complimentary basis in exchange for an honest review.