It is more like house sitting for a friend than staying in a hotel
I STAYED in one of Lauren Berger’s affiliate properties, a traditional two-story townhouse located at the foot of Primrose Hill.
I met the owner on the evening of my check-in day, who handed over the keys and gave a tour of the two-story property – and it really is quite a tour, compared to the cursory “here is the bed, here is the TV, can I have a tip please” you’re used to from hotels. It feels far more like you’re house sitting for a particularly wealthy neighbour than checking in somewhere for the weekend.
The apartment, which came with recommendations for local restaurants, bars and coffee shops, was quietly stunning, in the way well preserved Victorian buildings are, with wooden floors throughout, heavy shutters for the windows and cute original features like the understairs bookshelves on the lower floor. The most spectacular space was the open-plan kitchen/living area, with a gigantic bay window; ideal for having a few people round for dinner, or just sprawling out watching TV and pretending you’re at home instead of on a business trip. There was also a decent-sized terrace, which would have been a nice place to have a glass of wine had it not been December.
To pick faults, the property isn’t purpose-built for short lets, so some of the more modern (read: flimsy) furniture that would blend in in a hotel tends to stand out.
I stayed for a weekend and it’s a far more relaxed place to sit and watch a movie or grab lunch than a hotel room – room service may be convenient but you can’t beat a proper dining table. The bottle of champagne waiting in the fridge was an especially nice touch (a half eaten tub of ice-cream, not so much). If you’re away for a few days – or a few weeks – and want a real home-from-home rather than a hotel, the Lauren Berger Collection is well worth a look.
The Primrose Hill apartment I stayed in costs from £175-275 per night. Email [email protected] or call 001 239 362 0823.