Housed in a five-story Georgian building that's been converted into apartments, the Hyde Park has little common space or sense of community. In fact, part of the property's appeal is its home-like studios and apartments, and it feels more like an apartment building than a hotel. The property draws budget travelers in groups and those on extended stays, and clients tend to keep to themselves (though they may overhear one another through the thin walls). The building itself has character, with large Victorian windows and a staircase with intricate gold banisters and gold-colored cherub moldings along with worn brown carpet.

The Hyde Park Economy Apartments are conveniently located a short walk from its iconic namesake park. Queensway and Bayswater Stations are just down the road, making it easy to get around town by public transport. Notting Hill is roughly a 15-minute walk away. Historic attractions, such as Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, are about 20 minutes by tube. Heathrow Airport takes around half an hour to reach using a combination of the tube and the Heathrow Express, or upwards of an hour by road depending on traffic. 

The Hyde Park Economy Apartments are nothing special to look at, with cheap, typically old furnishings, plain bedspreads, and -- if you're lucky -- one or two framed prints on the walls. However, the apartments are large enough for big groups. While some apartments have been refurbished, others remain shoddy, and there have been complaints of thin mattresses, broken lamps, and old stovetops. Updated Studios are significantly better, with sleek kitchenettes complete with stainless-steel microwaves and electric stovetops. Larger apartments also have ovens. Most of the bathrooms are cramped and musty, and guests can expect to find some calcium build-up and possibly even soap scum. 

The Hyde Park Economy Apartments are aptly named -- they offer economy and space, but very few amenities on top of that. The reception is in a different building down the block, meaning that visitors are cut off from caretakers. Maid service is offered on a weekly basis, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.