Chelsea Bridge Apartments is just as its name suggests: It's a collection of apartments, primarily targeted at long-stay guests, rather than a conventional hotel. There’s not much of a vibe to the place, and public spaces are limited to a bare-bones reception area in a single-story modular building set apart from the main rooms. In fact, this space feels more like an office than a lobby, with little more than a simple curved high white desk and brown sofa on gray carpet. Hallways are also plain, with white walls, gray carpets, and generic canvas prints. All that said, this is a fine option for long-term business travelers and tourists who want an apartment-like stay and the option of cooking their own meals.

Chelsea Bridge is set on a busy main road in south London’s Battersea neighborhood, around a 10-minute walk from the banks of the River Thames, with plenty of shops, cafes, and pubs in the vicinity. Numerous buses stop nearby, and mainline railway connections to central London are within walking distance, but the distance from the Tube (aka the London Underground) can leave the property feeling more isolated than it actually is, and makes traveling to popular attractions a bit more of a hassle.

• Three-minute walk to Battersea Park railway station
• Three-minute walk to Battersea Park
• 12 minutes to Vauxhall tube station by bus (five-minute drive)
• 19 minutes to Buckingham Palace by public transportation (10-minute drive)
• 22 minutes to Oxford Street by public transportation (14-minute drive)
• 25 minutes to the London Eye and Big Ben by public transportation (10-minute drive)
• 31 minutes to Borough Market by public transportation (15-minute drive)
• 40 minutes to Gatwick Airport by public transportation (one-hour drive)
• 55 minutes to London City Airport by public transportation (34-minute drive)
• 57 minutes to Heathrow Airport by public transportation (27-minute drive)

All 21 of the property's spacious, air-conditioned apartments come with large, fully equipped, open-plan kitchen/dining areas -- a real plus. Units are modern and homey but generic, with handsome pinewood floors, white walls, and only occasional bland canvas prints. Beds are comfortable and have fabric headboards and bed-side tables with elegant lamps. Large windows fill rooms with natural light, and there are pleasant neutral curtains (Penthouses have white blinds on sloping windows, but these don’t block out all light). Decor includes a mix of leather sofas, glass dining tables, and desks (with stylish hardwood coffee tables in pricier rooms) -- yet some rooms still feel sparse. The modern kitchens are a standout feature, with stovetops, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, and crockery and utensils. Executive Rooms add narrow, unfurnished, grubby balconies; balconies in Luxury units are more pleasant, with rattan tables and chairs. But apart from attractive top-floor views (including of historic Battersea Power Station), Penthouses offer no discernible upgrades. Standard amenities include large flat-screen cable TVs, DVD players, phones, iPod docks, safes, and irons and ironing boards. 

With simple, cream tiles and small freestanding sinks bathrooms are more for function than style. Most have slightly dated corner shower stalls with rainfall and power showerheads, though Superior units have shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and free, basic miniature toiletries are provided. Poor soundproofing means many rooms are noisy, and guests report maintenance and housekeeping issues.

Chelsea Bridge lacks all but the most basic of facilities. In the absence of any on-site restaurant, room service is available (including for breakfast, which costs extra). Secure outdoor parking is available for a fee, and there's spotty hotel-wide Wi-Fi, again for a fee. Note that the front desk isn’t staffed 24/7 (an after-hours contact number is provided).