So Quartier Apartments

This place is shocking in it's own right, our room was dirty, smelly and noisy. The kitchen hadn't been cleaned properly, was missing all sorts of basic equipment, eg kettle, the TV didn't have any terrestrial channels (which we were told in normal in the UK - given we've lived there up until a year ago we know that isn't true), there was one filthy fan which was the only way to stay cool as the windows open onto a noisy railway line.

We had asked for a cot and high chair for our 1 year old, they didn't arrive. The double bed was too small for the three of us to sleep in (which was the only real option). The furniture in the sitting room was tiny, dirty and uncomfortable. There was no decoration in the rooms and only harsh overhead lighting.

We have stayed in many places around the world, some (like this one) labelling themselves as five star, this one is so far from 5 star it is almost funny.

We stayed for a couple of hours, then decided we couldn't stay any longer, especially with a small baby. Thankfully there is another serviced apartment just down the road (called Sanctum, on Greville Place), they had an apartment available, which was genuinely five star.

Really, do not stay here unless you have absolutely no alternative or want to experience living in a squat. Horrid!

We booked a 'luxury' apartment & although we weren't expecting 5 stars we were horrified to be led to a basement apartment that smelt of damp. We had to repeatedly ask for basic items - eg: a fry-pan, plug for the sink, teatowels and to get the TV working. The kitchen/living room were REALLY TINY and the bedroom was huge and there were 2 bathrooms!!!! It wasn't fun eating breakfast looking out on people's dropped cigarette butts. There was no security so the place had to be completely locked when going out, thus the damp dank smell never left the place. We didn't feel comfortable sleeping with opened windows, but with no fans there was little choice. At least it was close to the tube & a bus stop - both very convenient.

We had a busy summer. We chose So London Apartments because of the children; we wanted an apartment with the kitchen, without too much interference from daily staff. The ‘So’ was found for us through a relative and said it was popular amongst his friends. I’m traditionally a Londoner who has left London, but I have never stayed or even strayed into Kilburn. So staying in the area was quite an experience. Kilburn is busy and hectic, and certainly gives you a taste of metropolitan life. The ‘So’ is near a long let apartment block, which is next to Sanctum International, which is next to the Marriott.

I agree with reviewer mmendez999, the woman at the reception, although I could not work out what nationality she was, was abrupt. We were given our key and we took the lift upstairs. The whole place was modern in a basic way. Clean towels and a kitchen (a full one) but the sofa was scruffy, torn and smelly, to the point that I did not sit in it. It is quite a small space. The kids were happy with the plasma TV (with all the cartoon channels), and loved the fact that they could browse the internet on their laptops. This is a place that if you don’t mind roughing it, then it’s all right but if you do……..

The So London Apartments is bang on top of Tesco’s, next door to Starbucks and a pub. The over ground is just five hundred yards away, so it is conveniently placed. But I hated the sofa and the persistent smell of cigarette smoke. So I decided to check out. The abrupt woman was really abrupt as she gave us a special deal and said that we would have to pay the full amount. We agreed on a sum, I paid and then we left. A few doors away, there is another apartment hotel and next door to that is the Sanctum International. But read the Sanctum International page to know what I thought of it.