Native Places review: My time at King’s Wardrobe, St Paul’s

If you were to ask me one thing that I miss when travelling, I’d say the convenience and comfort of my own home. Hotels can provide comfort, but I find they often lack the necessary amenities for work trips and long stays (like kitchens and your own laundry facilities). Whilst apartment rentals often provide the latter, they lack the high standards of a hotel.

This is why I have been enjoying staying in Aparthotels. The perfect blend of a hotel and an apartment space – offering the service of a hotel but with the space, flexibility, and facilities of an apartment.

One such brand is Native Places, with numerous Aparthotels dotted across the UK. I was excited to be offered a complimentary stay in one of their one bedroom apartments in their newly opened Native King’s Wardrobe in St Paul’s. As a digital nomad, I have stayed in many hotels and apartments, so I was ready to put their aparthotel to the test!

In this Native Places review, I will discuss in detail the apartment itself as well as the overall service provided by the Aparthotel, including factors like the location, service, and facilities.

What is Native Places?

Native Places is a boutique aparthotel and apartment brand with locations in various UK cities (like Locke), including London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Their accommodation offers the service and style of a boutique hotel with the space and flexibility of an apartment. They have created spaces which can be lived in or used as temporary stopovers.

Their properties are often housed in renovated historical buildings, like their King’s Wardrobe location which housed the ceremonial robes of the royal family in the 14th century. Native Places prides itself on creating stylish and comfortable living spaces with all the amenities needed for guests to use the space as their own – including washing machines, dishwashers, and kitchenware.

A few of their aparthotels also feature on-site cafes and bars, like Counter at King’s Wardrobe (St Paul’s). They also have a membership programme, “Be Native,” offering discounts and exclusive access to events.

My experience

Having stayed in a fair few Aparthotels across Europe I was excited to see how the spaces at Native Places compared. I stayed in a one-bedroom apartment at the newly launched Native King’s Wardrobe, located in St Paul’s.

I used all the on-site facilities, including their WiFi, the kitchen, and their cafe – Counter. I will now go into detail about the apartment itself, the location, service, facilities, and the food and drink offerings.

The apartment

My first impression of the one-bedroom apartment at Native King’s Wardrobe was that it was both spacious and cosy. There was plenty of living space, including a sofa and comfy chair, a dining table, a well-equipped kitchen and a comfortable bed. The ensuite bathroom had a powerful shower and some lovely smelling toiletries (all vegan-friendly). Both the living room and the bedroom had a TV which you could use to watch live shows and YouTube, or you could cast anything you wanted to it from your own devices.

The design was clean and simple with a sophisticated feel to it. It was the kind of space that I could relax in, but I could also imagine inviting a few friends over for an intimate dinner party. They also had all the equipment you need in the kitchen to make that happen! Including oven dishes, plenty of pans, and all the necessary crockery.

Most importantly for me, they had a coffee machine and a cafetiere, plus some complimentary teas and coffees. The inclusion of both a dishwasher and washing machine was really handy and I imagine it makes long-term stays that bit easier.

The bedroom had a large wardrobe, with plenty of hanging space for your clothes. The bed and bedding were comfortable and I had a great night’s sleep!

One key difference between this aparthotel and many hotels is the variety of lighting options to choose from. They had a few lamps dotted around as well as wall and ceiling lights. This was perfect for changing the mood of the space. Plus the big windows dotted around the apartment meant that I could let plenty of natural light in.

The location

The location of Native Places King’s Wardrobe was absolutely spot on. It is just around the corner from St Paul’s cathedral, making it the perfect spot for tourists, but with it also being in a central London spot, it is also perfect for anyone on longer-term work stays.

It’s just a 5 to 10 minute walk away from numerous stations, including St Paul’s (Central line), Bank (Northern, Central, and Waterloo & City lines), Mansion House (Circle and District lines), and City Thameslink.

Having looked at other Native Places locations, they are all really well located, close to popular destinations across all the cities. For example, in London, they have locations in Hyde Park, Mayfair, and Bankside (right next to the Tate Modern).

Therefore, if you are looking to be in the thick of it, whether it’s for a short stopover or a long-term stay in the city, then you’ll enjoy staying at any of the Native Places Aparthotels!

The service

I found the service at Native Places to be of a similar standard to a nice hotel. The staff at the front desk were friendly and helpful. They even took me to my room and helped with my bags. They were on hand to help with any of my queries, plus you are given a number you can text if anything else comes up during your stay.

Their staff are on hand 24/7, which gives me peace of mind! Unlike apartment rentals where you are often left to your own devices, this hotel-style service means you can be a lot more comfortable throughout your stay. Whether you need more supplies or help figuring something out, they’ll be there!

Everything in the apartment was spotless. No dust, dirt, or mysterious stains to be found anywhere. If your apartment gets a little messy during your stay, there is nothing to worry about – their cleaners do a daily refresh of your room and a weekly clean.

You are also allowed to bring your pets along with you for an extra (small) fee – making their Aparthotels a true home away from home.

The facilities

The apartments in Native King’s Wardrobe have loads of great facilities for long stays, like washer dryers and dishwashers. On-site you will also find a cafe and bar, a pantry, and space to work from.

There is no on-site gym at Native King’s Wardrobe, but you can access a local Anytime Fitness for a small fee. That being said, there are other Native locations with on-site gyms and studio rooms for working out, this includes Manchester and London Bankside.

They have great WiFi across the whole aparthotel and it worked perfectly for me. I was able to take video calls, from my room and the cafe, and stream my favourite programmes with no difficulties.

Food & drink

Because Native Places is an aparthotel, your room comes with a fully equipped kitchen. Which means you can bring your own food and drink to use and cook with. You can also easily order takeaway and groceries to the hotel via Deliveroo or Uber Eats.

A few Native Places locations also have an on-site cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as hot drinks and a bar. This includes Counter and King’s Wardrobe. I checked out Counter for breakfast and had delicious avocado on toast with an oat flat white. The service in the cafe was quick and friendly!

They also had a well-stocked pantry next to the reception which was handy if you needed anything for cooking or eating in your apartment. It included a variety of snacks and even dog treats.

There were no complimentary food items in the apartment, but they did have a few sachets of milk in the fridge and some tea and coffee. Unfortunately, no milk alternatives, which I would have loved to have seen!

Native Places locations

You can currently find Native Places in several major cities across the UK, including a few in central hotspots within London, as well as locations in Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Find out more about each location below:

• London: Native Bankside, Native Hyde Park, Native Mayfair, and Native King’s Wardrobe (St Paul’s)
• Manchester: Native Manchester
• Edinburgh: Native Edinburgh
• Glasgow: Native Glasgow

Discounts

Staying in an Aparthotel does come at a premium, since you are getting a blend of both an upscale hotel and a fully kitted out apartment. So make sure to join their membership programme, Be Native, and get up to 20% off your room, the best cancellation policies, and the opportunity to win free stays. Sign up for free here