Argyle Apart Hotel

The Argyle Apart Hotel sits on a London street corner like thousands of other converted Victorian terraces - nothing flash, nothing that screams 'visit me'. It's a serviceable three-star operation in a solid residential area, the kind of place you'd stay if you wanted to be close to London proper without paying central hotel prices. The building itself is typical red brick, early 20th century, with sash windows and the sort of tired grandeur that defines so much of outer London.

If you're planning a longer London stay and want your own kitchen and space rather than a cramped hotel room, this works. Families benefit from the self-catering setup - no lugging kids to restaurants every night. The location puts you within reach of proper neighbourhoods with actual life to them, rather than tourist traps. It's functional rather than memorable.

Given that Lovat Parks sits just under five miles away, the Argyle makes a decent base if you're mixing self-catering with caravan park facilities - though you'll want your own transport or be comfortable with London buses. Lee Valley, six miles north, offers a grittier camping experience if that appeals more.

Honestly? The hotel itself isn't a destination. You're not visiting the Argyle for the experience. You're staying here because it solves a practical problem - you need somewhere to sleep with a kitchen attached, and you'd rather not spend a small fortune. That's its entire job, and it does it adequately.