Russell Square admittedly is a bit of an odd spot on the tube map. Running on the Piccadilly line between Holborn and King’s Cross it’s not somewhere I would necessarily stop. But the arrival of the Kimpton Fitzroy on London’s five-star hotel scene in 2018 changed all that for me. If you haven’t been, a trip to this jewel box of a place is highly recommended. From the outside, the frappe latte-hued Grade II-listed building, right on the leafy surrounds of Russell Square park and around the corner from the tube, makes for a fantastic site. It was originally built in 1898 by renowned archite...
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One of the best things about London is that there are always hidden gems to discover. Even after living in the city for more than 10 years, I’m often surprised by tucked away streets or venues I never knew existed. One of my latest discoveries is the Prince Akatoki hotel (the name name meaning 'dawn' or 'sunrise'), which is located around the corner from Portman Square and serves as a tranquil retreat blending Japanese and Scandinavian influences. Despite its historic guise from the outside, the cosy property has a cool contemporary feel once you step inside. I checked into the hotel on a...
Read more →One of our favourite London hangouts, the London EDITION in Fitzrovia is set to open from May 17. The jaw-dropping 173-room hotel will open its doors first, with its highly-acclaimed restaurant, Berners Tavern by Jason Atherton, welcoming guests the very next day. It's Rude To Stare stayed the night at the London EDITION the evening before it closed for the last lockdown and we were highly satisfied with the measures in place, from room cleanliness to table spacing. Here's what you can expect now the the great unlocking has started... The London EDITION hotel On walking into the London ...
Read more →I raised the blackout blinds in my room to one of the best hotel views I've seen in a good while.From my bed, I could survey the 900-year-old Tower of London's turrets and thick fortress walls.It was an overcast day, but the historic spot looks pretty epic on any given day.I had checked into the citizenM Tower of London. I like this hotel brand for being fun, funky and affordable with rooms starting from just £80.But the Tower of London location definitely boasts one of the best vistas of all the city spots.For those who aren't familiar with the Netherlands-based citizenM brand, it's motto is ...
Read more →'It doesn't even feel like we're in London!' my friend exclaimed, as I showed her around the jungle-like innards of The Mandrake Hotel in Fitzrovia. If you've never set foot in this salubrious lair then I encourage you to, especially if you're looking for a bit of escapism in these testing times! I ventured to the tucked-away spot on a Monday afternoon, a few weeks after it reopened. Before I could enter the building my temperature had to be checked and luckily I passed the test. On walking down the pitch-black entranceway and down the inky corridor, it's like meandering into another wor...
Read more →I hadn't stayed in a London hotel since February so I was unsure what to expect in the times of the coronavirus. But after checking out the reopened The Resident hotel in Covent Garden, I can say with all honesty that I feel confident to go hotelling again. This slick hideaway, which is one of five in the brand's portfolio, is located just a short walk from Charing Cross station and opposite one of my favourite bars, Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration on Bedford Street. Before my visit, I received an email informing that a mask should be worn for check-in and a temperature check would be take...
Read more →Scrap the humble pillow chocolate, it's all about tart at the new Page8 hotel in London. On walking into my spacious deluxe double corner room on the third floor of the centrally located hotel, I was surprised to find a slice of chocolate tart waiting for me. But this is just one of the ways, Page8 - which has 138 rooms spanning five floors - is looking to make its mark. Other quirky features include large windows to let in natural light, an artisanal coffee bar in the lobby instead of a stuffy breakfast room and Swedish-designed air purifiers to 'help guests breathe as nature intended'. ...
Read more →Did you know there’s a sprawling school building just by Tower Bridge with a pretty mind-blowing Indian restaurant lurking inside and plush rooms to crash in after? Well, I had no idea The LaLiT London existed until a friend tipped me off about it and went to investigate. This boutique hotel is part of an Indian owned luxury chain and the only one outside of India. It is an impressive venue, housed within a red brick Victorian school building built between 1894 and 1896. Think high ceilings, large windows, parquet flooring and period wood detailing. After I finally found the entrance (t...
Read more →I opened the plush velvet bedroom curtains to a view of a golden Willow tree blowing in the breeze, grassy banks twinkling with morning dew and the Thames trickling on by. It felt all very countrified but in fact I was just a short walk from a London tube station. Following a major refurb, I'd present the Bingham Riverhouse in Richmond as the ultimate London staycation spot. The interiors are chic yet cosy and with only 15 rooms, there is a certain intimacy about the place. I checked into the quaint redbrick townhouse (a former literary hub frequented by the likes of Ruskin and Yates) on...
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