Airbnb: What makes an Airbnb truly unique for guests in London?

Recent reports show that there are 55,484 active Airbnb listings in London. With lots of competition, and proposed stricter licensing for short stay properties coming to the Capital, it's more important than ever to create a truly unique experience in your property, to help increase Airbnb bookings and your ratings. It's good to research your competitors and look at what you can offer that stands out and makes your property different. While price, location and size can factor into guests' decision making, focus more on things you can do to upgrade your space to create a luxury, functional and unique experience that rivals that of hotels and other listings. Guests are looking for more than just somewhere to sleep. So, tap into some of the main reasons that draw people to choose an Airbnb over a hotel such as: Being able to socialise with their travel companions. Being able to cook on-site. Hotel-inspired amenities and little luxuries will help make your property stand out as the place to book for their next London visit. Designing your kitchen with cooking in mind Although we are spoiled for choice with amazing restaurants in London, one of the main draws to why guests often choose Airbnb over traditional hotel stays is that they can cook in a full kitchen. This can help guests keep their costs down and provide a more relaxed dining experience for some of their trips. Ensuring that your kitchen is set up with all the key cooking essentials and tableware will ensure that your guests can enjoy home-cooked food in comfort. Even in small spaces, ensure you include a hob and oven, not just a microwave, so your guests can feel comfortable cooking meals during their stay. Good coffee is important, so investing in a decent coffee machine and providing premium coffee, whether it's pods or ground, can help to keep your guests caffeinated. Including the basics, like salt, pepper and olive oil, is expected in most short stay rentals, but if you want to add an extra special touch, why not leave some local produce for guests to try, like a loaf of bread from a nearby artisanal bakery, or an infused olive oil. Living rooms that prioritise socialising Another key reason people choose to stay in an Airbnb when travelling in a group is to all stay together, rather than in separate rooms. Not only does this work out cheaper, but it also allows groups to socialise together more conveniently. So, when it comes to designing your short stay space, keep socialising in mind and create living and dining areas that can accommodate your guests and encourage conversation. If your Airbnb accommodates 4 people, ensure that there is enough seating and dining space for all your guests. This might sound simple, but you'd be surprised at the number of rentals that don't consider this. So, by prioritising comfort and functionality in your Airbnb, you can create a great experience for your guests. If your space allows it, opt for an open living room layout that lets your guests socialise together, while also allowing them to have privacy in their own bedrooms. Many guests would appreciate board or card games in your Airbnb, so leave out some of your favourites for them to play. Being considerate of your layout and how guests can be entertained and socialise in your space can make a real difference to their experience, and make for a truly unique stay compared to other spaces that don't accommodate this. Improve guests' sleep experience Despite Airbnb often being a more affordable option for travellers compared to hotel stays, guests are likely to appreciate some of the little luxuries associated with hotels. Creating a bedroom that gives the same luxurious feel as a hotel can help your guests have the full holiday experience. Giving them a sanctuary to return to so they can rest and recuperate after a busy day exploring all London has to offer. Pay attention to lighting in the bedroom, as this can drastically impact the mood of a space. Adjustable lights that are dimmable or can change temperature from cool to warm can help guests customise their lighting setup, and adding bedside lamps can allow for an inviting, cosy vibe in the evening. Window shutters are another great way to allow guests to choose how much light they want to block out in the evening and how much they want to flood the bedroom with first thing in the morning, all while preserving their privacy. Additional ways to improve your guest's sleep experience think about incorporating plush cushions into your space and a comfortable, supportive mattress and crips clean sheets that scream luxury. Create a spa-inspired bathroom Creating a sophisticated spa-inspired bathroom can help to enhance your guests' experience at your Airbnb. Maximise natural light in bathrooms with a larger mirror to reflect light and allow guests to get ready in the best light. Ensure you have plenty of soft, clean towels in a range of sizes to accommodate your guests. London has quite hard water, so investing in a filter shower head can help to soften your water and give your guests a more pleasant showering experience. Shower filters can also help to improve skin and hair health, so your guests may even leave with a fresh glow, too! Upgrade the hand and body soaps to nice-smelling, quality products. Even better, purchase beautiful containers that can be refilled between guests - this will be more economical for you and more eco-friendly for the planet! Smart home tech to increase convenience and efficiency in your Airbnb Even if your Airbnb is more of a traditional style, adding in some clever smart home tech can really enhance your guests' experience, giving them convenience, while also improving your home's energy efficiency, too. Smart home tech could include voice-activated home assistants, like Alexa or an Apple HomePod, which could be useful for guests for many reasons. Guests can use these as speakers to play music or the radio, or even play fun quizzes, as well as more practical and helpful tasks, like asking them to look things up online, set alarms or even ask what the weather is like. Installing smart home heating will let your guests easily set the temperature, but also allows you to access this remotely, in case your guests accidentally leave the heating on after they depart or if you want to put the heating on remotely before your next guests arrive. Instead of leaving out printed instructions, try using a QR code that takes guests to a webpage with checkout requirements, local recommendations as well as any instructions for things like heating or any of the smart devices in your property. This will allow guests to refer back to this information conveniently, even when not in the space - especially good if they want to revisit your recommendations for the best places to eat or drink in the local area! You could even consider using this simple website to remind guests to leave you a review after their stay to increase your ratings. Take inspiration from local London landmarks and culture London is an incredibly vibrant and eclectic city, with both historical influence and modernist elements that you can take inspiration from when it comes to creating a truly unique Airbnb. Adding theming to your Airbnb can be done subtly or can become your entire USP. This can be achieved on a small scale, like a nod to local landmarks in the form of art prints, or can be an immersive experience, designing a fully themed space that feels like you're stepping into another time period. Giving your Airbnb a theme can help to set your Airbnb apart as a unique place to stay alongside the many other listings in London, and help you to get more bookings for your Airbnb. Final Thoughts With lots of competition, making a truly unique Airbnb in London means giving your guests all the conveniences and amenities needed to recharge after a busy day in the Capital city. Putting your guests at the heart of your design choices will help you to create a space that will lead to unforgettable stays, and even make your guests want to spend more time in their Airbnb than exploring the city! Feature image by Andrea Davis on Unsplash