London has a hot new mash-up: The Other House. This 237-unit Residents’ Club in London’s central South Kensington neighborhood combines apartment-style living with luxury hotel and club services. That means it provides private dining and bars, meeting rooms and event spaces, cinema, and, of course, wellness.
Our take? The place is jaw-droppingly beautiful. And convenient, just a short walk from the museum trio—Natural History, V&A and the Science Museum—and not far from Harrods and Chelsea’s boutiques and chic restaurants. Basically, a perfect situation whether you’re in London for work or leisure—or dare we say “bleisure”?
The Other House is the brainchild of Naomi Heaton, who got her start in real estate fixing up and outfitting flats in central London for international renters and buyers. She grew the business into London Central Portfolio, one of the biggest players in the London residential market. Noticing trends of clients wanting smaller units, better locations and hotel facilities, she began creating the concept for The Other House some 10 years ago. She founded a likeminded partner in APG, the Dutch pension company already in the hotel space with CitizenM and The Student Hotel, a few years ago they began working together to develop what is now The Other House, a lifestyle brand that provides residents with apartment-style living, club facilities, and hotel services on tap — and no membership is required.
So far, they have secured three London locations—the first in South Kensington, a second in Covent Garden set to open in Spring 2024, and the third in Belgravia.
South Kensington
Not far from Hyde Park, between Knightsbridge and Chelsea, the South Kensington neighborhood is home to some of London’s most beautiful residences, not to mention fantastic shopping, museums, and restaurants, making it an ideal first location for The Other House. On leafy Harrington Gardens, behind the impressive façade of 11 grand Victorian townhouses, the property has been completely and sustainably renovated and reconfigured with the help of Bergman Design House (known for doing luxury yachts, hotels, and high-spec homes) and now includes four sunny atriums, a café, cocktail bar, private meeting and dining rooms, a pool, gym, and wellness space.
Designed in a bold maximalist style—think big patterns, animal prints, texture, and jewel tones—each space is the perfect Instagram or TikTok backdrop, but the vibe is actually much more subtle and cool. Yet, the welcome is warm. The reception is efficient with a small check-in area and what would be the lobby is instead a series of relaxed areas for hanging out and some library-like nooks for working that leads into the restaurant and overlooks one of the tree-filled interior courtyards.
Accommodation
What is great about The Other House is that the Club Flats have been purpose-built for apartment-style living, each offers a compact but fully equipped kitchenette, a sitting area with a small table and chairs, TV and sofa, and a bedroom cleverly separated by beautiful metal screens that evoke foliage but allow for light and air. The décor is warm with leathers and woolens in deep tones and a cheeky nod to the English with plaid and tweed accents. As the units are meant for extended stays, there is ample closet space and good storage in the bathrooms, which have marble fixtures and brass accents.
As of September, all 237 Club Flats were open (there was a partial soft opening over the summer) and there are actually over 20 different room types and a variety of configurations that can sleep up to 10 people—combining King and Twin bed options. Choices range from 247 square feet Studio-style flats to Club Combos, with options to interconnect two, three, or four Club Flats up to 1,238 square feet.
Top digs: The split-level Club Mezz Flats, which have sitting and dining areas with grand floor-to-ceiling windows; upstairs is an open-plan bedroom. Another special option is either of the two Club Turret Flats, which have vaulted ceilings and open street views. For families, the two-bedroom Club Courtyard on the ground floor offers exclusive use of a tree-filled glazed courtyard, perfect for letting little ones safely run around.
Dining and Lounging
The Other House offers a mix of options, with some open to the public and others only open to residents and a limited number of local Club Members (FYI: there is already a waiting list for membership). Open to everyone is The Other Kitchen, just off the bustle of Gloucester Road, offering casual all-day dining with a menu designed by the acclaimed Asimakis Chaniotis (London’s youngest Michelin-starred Chef).
In the evenings, The Owl and Monkey bar is where the action happens, locals and residents mix to enjoy craft cocktails, small plates, and good tunes in an atmospheric spot overlooking one of the courtyards. Heaton tells us plans are in the works for supper clubs, pop-up restaurants, and a speaker series to engage residents and the local community.
Good to know: There are two private dining rooms, The Mervyn Peake Room seats eight and The Francis Bacon Room seats 10, for entertaining. And, for members only, there are a few more options for working or relaxing: the Keeping Room is a cozy space for relaxing with plush low-level seating, underground vaults, and an open fire; and The Hogsmire is a light, tree-filled two-story glazed atrium with an outdoor feel, adjacent to the serene wellness area.
Wellness
Heaton believes in the “slow travel” movement and this has influenced the development of The Other Space, the spa and wellness area which has a holistic sensibility. Classes are designed to allow for reflection — sound healing ceremonies with gongs, breathwork and meditation, and Shamanic women’s circles are just some of the options. We tried a gong ceremony, which was incredibly soothing and relaxing. There’s also a beautiful black-tiled vitality pool for laps, plus a sauna, steam room, and state-of-the-art gym with Peloton bikes. Group sessions of bodywork such as yoga and pilates, and personal trainers are also on offer.
For all VIP requests, email Alex Holbrook ([email protected]), head of wellbeing, The Other Space.
Tech and Touch
An innovative component of The Other House is a proprietary app they developed which allows guests to access anything, from arranging beauty treatments to seeing if the gym is busy or making dinner bookings. Tech makes it easy for staff to communicate with residents, but not at the expense of human touch, sharply dressed, friendly staff seemed to be ready to offer assistance around every corner. We love: The Other House has a special security area for food deliveries, packages, and mail for residents.
Green Credentials
Sustainability is one of the guiding brand principles of The Other House, from construction to operations. The South Kensington property has been efficiently rebuilt with the highest sustainability standards and materials, mostly sourced from the U.K. Heaton hopes to be awarded the coveted BREEAM ‘Excellent’ category, representing only the top 10 percent of buildings. Green practices have been woven into all of the operations from housekeeping to food and beverage, reducing waste and maintaining the smallest carbon footprint possible.
The Other House definitely ticks all the boxes for today’s traveler trends: longer stays, onsite working and meeting spaces, self-care and wellness, private club services, and the option to sustainably enjoy the local culture, and all of it connected by cell phone.
For more information, luxury travel advisors can contact Tracy Ramsey ([email protected]; +44-753-029-217), director of sales. The hotel is offering commissions of 15 percent off all public rates; discounts are also available for long-term stays.
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