Sleep
Although The Pilot’s setting is far from picturesque, with flats on one side and a main road on another, the pub come boutique hotel itself holds up well. It’s been around since 1801 so retains plenty of original charm alongside more modern design elements. The upstairs double rooms are pretty spacious and have amazing ‘rainforest’ showers, a huge comfy bed and some quirky design touches such as a stack of vintage suitcases and a whole wall filled with framed illustrations of birds.
Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel is A LOT more than just a hotel. Oh yes, this place has rooms 91 rooms, a roof terrace, outdoor terrace on the ground floor, bowling alley in the basement, cinema room, conservatory, bar and restaurant. It’s HUGE. The Deluxe Rooms come with floor to ceiling windows, a big comfy bed, sofa and impressive bathroom with big bath and TV, walk-in shower and two basins. The breakfast menu beats your usual greasy offerings with a small cold buffet table (hello fresh cakes, pastries, fruit, granola) and a menu featuring the likes of baked eggs, black pudding with bubble and squeak, and avocado on rye.
Just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park you’ll find La Suite West. Designed by actress turned hotelier Anouska Hempel, the hotel is more than a little bit different. Made up of interconnecting terraced houses, LA Suite West is very minimalist in style with rooms decked out in dark woods and slatted sliding doors. The place feels very pared back and slick but still manages to feel cosy with big comfy beds, fluffy duvets, bathrooms with under floor heating and big baths.
St James’ Court is a rather swish hotel set in a beautiful red brick Victorian building just down the road from Buckingham Palace. The rooms are pretty luxurious with massive beds and walk-in showers and baths. And with a secluded sunny courtyard perfect for breakfast and drinks, St James’ Court ticks all the boxes.
The Tommyfield has long been one of Kennington’s best gastro pubs, with a great menu of homemade pies, fish and chips and steaks. And with six boutique hotel bedrooms on the upper floors and rates starting at £99, it’s also a great shout for a budget stay in London. The rooms are not a massive size but nicely designed and feel really cosy, with designer light fixtures, king size beds and modern artwork.
The May Fair hotel used to be THE hotel to be seen in; it was the place Miss Moss chose to host a three-day party for her birthday and Lady Gaga has also been known to shack up there when in town, but as competition has increased the celebs have fled the nest. But that doesn’t mean that the hotel with 404 beds is any less busy, oh no. It still boasts a prime location and with a collection of rooms and suites, each a little different in style there’s a room for everyone. And where better to rest your head after a dinner at Sexy Fish?!
The Culpeper in Spitalfields is already one of our fave pubs in town and their bedrooms on the second floor, make us love it even more. The rooms are simple in design and decor, with distressed walls, but fear not, all of the technology and soft furnishings are modern and well-sourced – yes Netflix is built into the TV. But the best thing about the rooms? Well, it’s that you get the chance to completely indulge below and stumble upstairs to bed.
The Halkin was one of the first luxury boutique hotels to open in London, and it’s still one of the best. Located in an old Georgian townhouse in Belgravia, the property only has 41 rooms that are filled with natural light and have a simple, relaxed aesthetic. The marble-covered ensuite bathroom is pretty dreamy too and includes a deep bath with a separate shower. The Halkin has understated charm and luxury in spades – if we didn’t already live here, we’d be happy to make The Halkin our London home from home.
Not in the mood for a hotel? Cuckooz Serviced Apartments are a ‘home away from home’ and perfect if you want your own space. Offering short term lets of between three days and three months, the apartments don’t just look bloody cool but include a FREE class at BLOK London, beers from London Fields Brewery, Kennedy City Bicycles and access to a co-working space if you’re in town for business.
Home to Jason Atherton’s restaurant Berners Tavern, The London Edition is much more than just a hotel. The 170 rooms and pretty swishy penthouse have a Swedish feel to them with wood panelled walls, parquet floors and faux fur brown throws on the beds. Expect rain showers, Le Labo products and all the latest tech too. With a cocktail bar, basement club and pool table in the lobby, you’ll never want to leave.
The La Clef Louvre, is an “apart’hotel” in Paris which promises all the convenience and amenities of a hotel mixed with the practicalities and home comforts of something like Airbnb. Our room was decorated traditionally to a five star standard but with one key difference you wouldn’t normally find in a hotel room – a fully functioning modern kitchen. While we must confess we didn’t actually use the kitchen, we can imagine for families this could be a great plus.
First it was the Refuge Assurance HQ, then it was The Palace hotel, now it’s The Principal Manchester. The Grade II-listed building has had a pretty significant revamp since being taken over by Principal and now has spacious rooms and vast all-day space The Refuge, run by the team behind Didsbury’s successful Volta restaurant. This really is the main attraction…it’s a bar, restaurant, workspace, cocktail garden and billiards room all rolled into one, and it’s a nice throwback to the original incarnation of this landmark building.
The Great John Street Hotel was a Victorian school in another life and thankfully that character has not been lost. All five styles of rooms have original period features mixed with rich design, creating a real sense of luxury. With deep sofas and a fire burning stove, both the Oyster Bar and the Library both scream comfort and cosiness, so you might find it tough to get yourself outside, but the hotel also has a whopping great roof terrace for you to take in the city.
If you want a little old-school luxury, The Midland is the place for you. The hotel has been around for over 100 years, and has played host to all manner of rock stars and royalty…it’s even where Mr Rolls met Mr Royce. As well as the building itself being iconic, it’s got both Mr Cooper’s House & Garden and Adam Reid at The French under its roof, plus 312 bedrooms and suites, a spa and the famous Octagon lounge.
Hotel Gotham, not to be confused with the home where a retired Batman decided to spend the rest of his days, is a glorious bit of architecture set over seven floors, with some pretty special views of the city. The former bank is home to 60 rooms and is art deco all the way.. dark polished woods, luxurious leather, velvet, faux fur and geometric carpets. The in-house restaurant Honey turns out a modern menu and the top-floor Club Brass is a member’s (and guests) only Prohibition-style speakeasy. Hotel Gotham is housed in one of the city’s grandest properties and is without doubt one of the best boutique hotels in Manchester.
The Standard in Downtown LA, is the second property in The Standard Hotels family, it was originally used as the corporate headquarters of Superior Oil when it was built in 1956. Today it’s an uber cool, chic M.F that embodies everything about the sunshine state of California that you could imagine…yes this is innovative hospitality.
The 207 room hotel has a variety spaces, including two penthouses and the aptly named ‘Wow Rooms’ which is where we laid our heads. The rooms are Instagram heaven, from the giant black foot plonked on the bathroom floor to the in-room tub which could qualify as a swimming pool. There’s even a whole other room just for the shower. Decor wise it’s inspired by the 60’s and 70’s with a huge platform bed that sits next to a bright orange corner sofa – big enough to sit the entire LA Lakers. Rooms are pet friendly and have everything you could need from sweets to reading material.
Outside of the rooms the hotel has plenty to boast about too with a rooftop pool, waterbed cabanas, 24/7 restaurant, shop, photo booth, Rudy’s Barbershop and even a Ping-Pong club. The Standard, is anything but standard, so raise your game and enjoy the panoramic views of LA in one of their cool hotel rooms.
Nestled in between the NoHo Arts District, Griffith Park and the studios, The Garland is away from the madness of Hollywood but still central enough to make travelling around the city easy. With tons of outdoor space and plenty of tree cover, it definitely has that ‘urban oasis’ vibe.
The retro-inspired rooms are spacious and super comfy; the Front Yard restaurant serves up grub that showcases LA’s diverse food scene; the pool has a large sun deck and bar; and they even sell locally-sourced Cali products in their on-site store…all in all, it’s a mellow and relaxing environment. And with hotel activities happening every day of the week, from complimentary wine tastings to poolside movies to tai chi yoga, The Garland is a place to hang out as well as sleep.
If hotels aren’t your thing, there is a luxury seaside apartment on Airbnb that shows off high ceilings, white walls, exposed brick and beautiful wooden floor boards throughout…it’s pretty snazzy.