When it comes to staying at a hotel, what do you look for? Personally, my first priority is location. From there, how peaceful a sleep I might experience. And finally, the hotel’s eco credentials. If you’re looking for a place to stay in London, and share those same principles, Beyond Apartments are well worth booking. From their three prime locations (Fitzrovia, Regent’s Park, and the West End) to the complete absence of single-use plastic throughout the apartments, Beyond are setting a new precedent for sustainable tourism. Here’s my review after spending a weekend at their Fitzrovia establishment…
A Sustainable Place To Stay In London
Located on the incredibly central Great Portland Street is Beyond Apartments Fitzrovia. Despite being a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and Regent’s Street, here our apartment was quiet, elevated away from the road noise, and on the third floor, our bedroom looked out onto neighbouring rooftops. (If you looked from a certain angle, you could even see the BT Tower!)
Beyond Apartments accepts nightly hotel guests and long-term renters alike, and I have to admit, I wish I had been able to stay for longer. The apartments are pristine, calm, and well-equipped, with everything from high speed WiFi to air filtering to ensure guests can be as comfortable as possible across their stay.
When speaking to James Fry, Founder of Beyond Apartments, he was particularly passionate about their approach to creating low-toxicity environments: from the lime-wash walls that remove the need for paint (and nasty VOCs) to the low-impact dry cleaners for the bed linens, every effort has been taken to keep you comfortable and well during your stay.
Fully-Equipped Apartments, Made Sustainable
When it comes to sustainable accommodation, I often see the same charades: recycling facilities, hybrid vehicles, and LED lighting. Beyond Apartments is the antithesis of this: from the 100% renewable energy principally generated from the solar panels on the roof, to the locally-sourced finishing touches such as East London’s Grind Coffee, and Bower Collective* cleaning products… It’s what I would dream of creating if I was a hotelier!
In some strange ways I also felt quite at home. Perhaps it’s the ex-Londoner in me talking, or perhaps it was the same Prestige saucepans sitting in the kitchen cupboard. Either way, it was a lovely stay.
Peaceful Sleep In The Heart Of London
Finally, let’s talk about sleep. I slept so well! It could have been partly due to being tired out after a day celebrating my best friend’s birthday, but I know that the comfort of the bed, the sheets, and the air in the space contributed. I also slept just that little bit better knowing that Beyond Apartments was offsetting my impact across my stay, an added benefit that really sums up their approach: to provide a positive impact beyond the communities they serve. It was lovely to experience comfort, sustainability, and solutions that they lead on, rather than expect us individuals to do ourself.
