If you're looking for a plush ye olde festive staycation - think stepping into a Charles Dickens film adaptation combined with a splash of the 1998 rom-com Shakespeare In Love - then look no further than Batty Langley's. This jewel box of a place is tucked away on a quiet side street just a short stroll from the bustle of Liverpool Street, and even people who are well versed in the area are often unaware of its presence. I invite you to explore the peaceful cobbles of Folgate Street and dip into this boutique hotel for a night's stay that promises to leave a lasting impression. As soon as y...
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The Rookery, nestled in the heart of Clerkenwell, remains my favourite place to staycate in London. It is discreet, beautifully-appointed and oozing with charm. On stepping into the 18th century property, you're transported to a world of silks, brocade and finely polished wood. To enter the building, you must press a doorbell to enter the homely reception area. I checked in on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and as ever, the staff were personable yet professional. I was shown to a room on the first floor. All of the chambers are named after historic figures in the area, and I was shown to on...
Read more →If you’re looking for a spot to stay with the city on your doorstep then pack your bags and head for The Trafalgar St. James. This hotel boats a top location, with rooms and a magnificent rooftop looking out over Trafalgar Square. From the National Gallery to the West End, there’s a wealth of options to keep visitors busy. I checked into the hotel on a Friday before Christmas and the small lobby area was a hive of activity with people wheeling cases through. The check in process was swift and I was directed to room 506 on the 5th floor (in total there are 131 rooms at the hotel). I liked ...
Read more →The joy of London being such a rambling beast of a city is that there's always something new to discover, as my latest outing in the Big Smoke proved. On a nippy Sunday afternoon, I checked into The Stafford London, which is tucked away in the heart of Mayfair. In much need of some rest and recuperation, my friend Mary Lou and I decided it was time for a girls' night. After a swift check-in at the dark wood panelled reception we were shown to our room by Ned, who told us the majority of the guests at the hotel tend to hail from America and Europe. In total there are 107 rooms spread across...
Read more →A night at The Rookery was definitely my top London staycation experience to date. A four-poster bed, an honesty bar, a secret patio, a copper free standing bathtub... need I say more. This elegant, discreet homestay is tucked away in the historical neighbourhood of Clerkenwell. Adding to its allure is its convenient location next Farringdon tube station, the Barbican and St. Paul's Cathedral. Perched on a quiet street corner, The Rookery is terribly unassuming from the outside. But once inside, the place quickly casts its magic and transports you back in time. The building dates back to ...
Read more →I'd always wanted to be a spy when I was little and I would spend summers crafting code wheels and solving pretty unmysterious mysteries. So when I heard I could stay at a former MI6 headquarters in the heart of London, I jumped at the chance. The Royal Horseguards Hotel - located right next to the Embankment tube stop - is set within a grand government-style building on the banks of the River Thames. On walking into the place you're certainly made to feel like a special agent with a doorman in a top hat greeting you and a giant glistening chandelier hanging in the lobby. It was a Tuesday ...
Read more →I felt a bit like a princess as I clambered into the grand bed at Batty Langley’s. Given its regal height, the big wooden structure required a small to jump before I hit the plush duvet and got lost among the spread of snug pillows. Adding to the fairytale-like feeling was a shaft of golden light streaming through the window, illuminating a menagerie of fine breakfast treats perched on the end of the bed. I’d decided to do a city staycation, showing a visitor to town some of the capital’s more secret spots. I’d always walked by Batty Langley’s, peeking in at the hotel's romanticall...
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