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
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM
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.