West London Serviced Apartments, History and Area Guide

West London is an interesting, vibrant and creative quarter of London, most famous for the suburbs of Kensington, Chelsea, Fulham and Notting Hill. With so much on offer it’s no wonder people come from all over the world to stay in the area. For many tourists and visitors, finding the right place to stay is crucial and can make or break a trip. People are seeking a great location, spacious accommodation and quality service – all at an affordable price. While this is hard to find in even the best London hotels, it’s a combination you’ll find on offer at the Collingham. Our sizeable, spacious West London serviced apartments bring you a home-from-home feel combined with the staff, support and facilities you’d get from an upmarket hotel. Perfect.

Short Stay Apartments in West London – The Perfect Solution

West London is very well-known as a haven for tourists and there are many options for those seeking accommodation in the area. Among the most popular is that of a short stay serviced apartment and we believe the benefits are clear:

• Much more cost-effective than staying in an equivalent four-star hotel
• All the amenities and facilities you need
• Reception staff on hand round-the-clock
• Spacious, contemporary apartments, perfect for dining and entertaining

So if you’re looking for short-stay West London holiday apartments, the Collingham offers a range of great benefits. The apartments are situated in a period mansion building on a quiet residential street in South Kensington and range from studios to penthouses with private roof gardens and great views over the gardens of Collingham Avenue.

Each apartment is beautifully appointed and offers all the amenities and facilities you’d expect from a four-star hotel along with the space and benefits you’d find in a private apartment. We consistently rank amongst the best serviced apartments in West London and have also received a 2015 TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award.

Tranquillity and Style

The Collingham boasts the perfect location, excellent value and of course our commitment to customer service. Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, we’re close to the world-famous Natural History, Science and Victoria & Albert Museums as well as the Olympia London Exhibition Centre and we entertain hundreds of happy guests every year.

Throw in beautiful garden squares, wide avenues and the proximity to some of the world’s finest restaurants and shopping areas and you can see why the Collingham Apartments is one of the most sought-after serviced apartments in West London.

History of West London

Technically, west London comprises the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames. Kensington & Chelsea is an inner London borough even though it’s to the west of centre but locally, it is considered to be a component part of west London.

By 1700, London was quickly growing outwards from the centre. Green fields were being eaten up by landlords and property developers and after the Great Fire of 1666 that ravaged most of the wooden city, bricks and mortar were the order of the day. The city became a world centre of finance, trade and politics. To the east, the areas around Spitalfields and Bethnal Green were growing thanks in part to an influx of French Protestant refugees; to the north, London was expanding up into Hoxton and Finsbury Fields and to the south, the River Thames created a barrier between the affluent and the not so.

South London had always been populated but it was the place reserved for tanneries and factories producing vinegar, dye and soap and as such, it smelled! Throw in the prisons, asylums, suspect pubs and dens of ill-repute and it was a place best avoided. The building of Westminster and Blackfriars bridges opened up the south and laid the groundwork for the towns of Clapham, Brixton, Camberwell and the like to grow.

By dramatic contrast to the development of south London from a glorified slum, the areas to the west of central London were taking shape nicely. For the most part, the land was owned by either the aristocracy or the gentrified (who snagged a lot of it after the Dissolution of the Monasteries 200 years previously) and it was being developed quickly and beautifully.

The biggest boon to west London was the introduction of the London Underground that finally made commuter travel possible for all. The lower-middle classes, who couldn’t afford to live in the centre of town but who also didn’t want to live in the ‘poor’ areas, could settle in west London knowing they could get to work easily and relatively cheaply.

When Heathrow Airport opened soon after the Second World War, it opened up west London to the rest of the world and the area hasn’t looked back. Today the airport caters for 90 airlines travelling to over 170 destinations and in 2014 reported 73.4m passengers.

West London – Everything You Could Possibly Need!

West London is an area that now attracts a high proportion of tourists and for many of them short term accommodation offers a more refined and relaxing option than a hotel. For those seeking such a solution, our range of luxurious holiday accommodation in west London offer a great blend of style and affordability.

When you book one of our self-catering holiday apartments in west London, you will find an exciting, cosmopolitan city on your doorstep with everything you could want from a vacation centre – quaint English pubs, trendy bars, cafés and restaurants, high-class shopping and lots to do for families, couples and business travellers alike.

Travelling Around West London

There are four tube stations within minutes of the Collingham Apartments – Earls Court, Gloucester Road, High Street Kensington and South Kensington and you will also find lots of buses that go to most corners of the city as well as TfL Cycle Hire stations if you fancy riding around the city.

The Best Holiday Apartments in West London: Why the Collingham?

As a discerning tourist, you’ll be looking for the best serviced apartments in West London and we firmly believe that the Collingham will prove to be your ideal accommodation. Our customer service is our top priority and our staff are available to assist you throughout your stay. We’re perfectly located and if you don’t believe us, just have a look at our reviews on TripAdvisor to see why our guests choose the Collingham Apartments year after year!