Inside SLO Residences, Claridge House

The draw of the aparthotel is clear. All the trappings of a luxury hotel – a full-time concierge, beauty products on the side of the bath and tasteful art hanging on the walls – but with the privacy of an apartment. And people are certainly paying attention. By 2033, the aparthotel market is set to be valued at $89.7 billion, proving that the industry is more than hype: it’s practically an economy in itself.

London, of course, lends itself to such an arrangement. Loved by long-term tourists looking to escape the conveyor belt of hotel check-ins, the city has become a natural home for the aparthotel format.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SLO (@stayatslo)

SLO Residences, one of the most recent additions to London’s aparthotels, is not to be overlooked. Set within the historic red-brick walls of Claridge House in the heart of Mayfair, it comprises just eight one, two and three-bedroom fully serviced apartments. Last week, SPHERE took over two of these residences for a sleepover in our own city.

SLO by name, Slow in nature

As you enter through the Davies Street entrance of Claridge House, you’re immediately struck by the quiet. There are no lines queueing up at the check-in desk, no luggage trolleys squeaking across the lobby floor, or families arguing about who last had the passports. Instead, you’re met with a seamless check-in experience – a code emailed to you prior to arrival – and are quickly whisked upstairs to your apartment.

For the night, SPHERE took over the Jeeves and Elizabeth apartments. Although different, both have been designed to encourage guests to slow down. Be it the spacious living areas, fitted with a small library of thoughtful reads or the neutral colour palette and abundance of natural light, there’s a real sense of calm. The type that warrants a giant exhale upon entry.

The bedrooms, of course, are positioned as the pinnacle of relaxation in the apartments, with the bed right at the centre. The Hypnos mattress is sublime to sleep on – medium-soft and perfect for melting into after a long day, particularly when paired with memory foam pillows. The Anatome sleep spray on the bedside table is also a nice touch, a useful blend of botanicals to help you drift off.

In typical Mayfair style, the bathrooms are all marble with subtle gold and wooden accents. It’s undeniably luxurious, but never ostentatious. No matter where I am – home or away for the night – if I can have a bath, I will. And have a bath I did. Enveloped by bubbles, courtesy of Anatome, stress dissolves almost entirely.

Dining In

While some suites come equipped with a dining table, I challenge you to find one with a fully functioning kitchen as well. Yes, there are plenty of restaurants with white tablecloths just around the corner, waiting for you. And of course, we urge you to sample the best of what Mayfair has to offer – here’s a helpful guide if you intend to do so – but for shorter-term guests, make the most of the apartment by staying in. With a wooden round table, an accompanying bar cart or marble kitchen island, there’s more than plenty of space to eat, drink and be merry.

Here's where you can make use of the full-time concierge. On hand for exclusive access to everything from after-hours gallery visits, shopping trips, or tickets to London’s premier cultural events (Frieze, Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon), it can also arrange for private chefs to come and cook in the apartment. It’s less of a traditional service and more like having an unbelievably well-connected friend who knows the best of what the city has to offer.

A Sustainable Stay

Alongside a slow-living ethos, sustainability also runs through everything at SLO Residences. Following a deep retrofit of the 1924 neo-Georgian building, modern, carbon-conscious systems were added, including heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, advanced cork- and aerogel-based insulation and air purification technology. The result was a 93 per cent reduction in emissions and energy use has been cut by 80 per cent.

The interiors, too, have been selected to champion long-lasting materials and local makers. Each apartment features mid-century-inspired furniture by British artisans, including grain-matched fluted oak side tables by Robin Myerscough, sculptural dining tables from Galvin Brothers and Mythology Studio, bespoke mirrors from Chelsea Vivash and side tables from Nicola Harding. Not only does this fly the flag for British craftsmanship, but it also reduces the air miles associated with importing mass-produced pieces from overseas.

For more information or to book, visit www.stayatslo.com