London

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in London, independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

Mantis Draycott Hotel, Kensington London

22/10/2021 by .
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Andy Mossack enjoys the bespoke hospitality of the Mantis Draycott Hotel, one of Kensington’s bijou luxury hotels.

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The Stafford London, Mayfair

27/08/2021This entry was posted in England, Europe and Middle East, Hotel Reviews, London, Newsletter, United Kingdom and tagged on by .

Kings Arms Hampton Court, Richmond

20/08/2021 by .
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It would be hard to find a bed closer to Hampton Court than the Kings Arms; you could leap straight into the famous Maze out of the landing window.

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Hyatt Place London City East

19/08/2021This entry was posted in England, Europe and Middle East, Hotel Reviews, London, Newsletter, United Kingdom and tagged on by .
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Anthea Gerrie reviews Hyatt Place London City East, an upmarket hostelry in East London.

It was only a matter of time before Whitechapel got its own upmarket hostelry once hip hotel brands Ace and Nobu had helped gentrify neighbouring Shoreditch.

Now Hyatt Place London City East aims to show Whitechapel can offer something more – a world-class art museum on its doorstep and thrilling City skyline views

Those views are what will draw the crowds through the unprepossessing entrance of a former high street office building whose conversion to a 280-room hotel has used a multi-million-pound three-storey addition to build 13 which boast expansive balconies or terraces, not to mention a delightful indoor-outdoor rooftop bar, Pocketsquare, designed to become an East London drink and dine destination.

Hyatt Place London City East external view

Your visit to central London’s first Hyatt Place starts in the basement, however; with a ground floor not wide enough for a reception desk, bright colours and graphics draw the eye down to a buzzy subterranean lobby where a warm welcome is assured.  Lifts make descent easy for those bearing luggage, keys are coded at reception to ensure only residents can ascend to room floors and from the get-go, visitors are greeted by murals paying homage to the street art for which East London is famous.

There’s good reason why a balcony doubles the highly affordable rate for a bedroom in such a central location. The generous outdoor space overlooking iconic buildings including the Gherkin instantly converted my 8th-floor bedroom to a suite – the step-up terrace with its outdoor sofa-bench, frosted glass privacy walls and superb skyline vistas made an outdoor living room I could have spent hours enjoying with my demi-tasse of Nespresso.

Hyatt Place London City East Bedroom

However, even standard rooms are provided with living space by a chain that believes every guest deserves proper furniture to sit on while reading or watching one of their large-screen TVs.   Beds are super-comfortable with high-quality linens, and bath towels must be the largest and fluffiest ever seen in a four, rather than five-star, hotel, although rooms of this calibre call for rainfall shower-heads they don’t yet have.

The quality of food and cooking in the pared-down, slightly rudimentary-feeling Zoom restaurant in the basement way exceeded expectations.   Perfect eggs Florentine, complete with super-fresh spinach, excellent Hollandaise and the runny yolks requested, were on offer for breakfast, and an excellent ribeye steak came with very good chips and properly made Bearnaise sauce.

Hyatt Place London City East views from Pocketsquare Skyline Bar and Terrace

Vegetarian alternatives included Halloumi burgers and roast cauliflower, but residents may well prefer the buzz, sounds and comfortable lounge seating of Pocketsquare on the roof.   Here, locally-themed signature cocktails will be served alongside small sharing plates, but in advance of the opening menu being available I was served an authentic margarita 5,000 miles from Mexico and enough excellent salted almonds and Nocellara olives to make a meal of.

Hyatt Place London City East lobby updated

There’s a 24-hour gym and weights, but there’s so much to see and do outside.   Culture vultures will love London’s iconic Whitechapel Gallery, a five-minute stroll away, and even closer is Brick Lane, an equally iconic thoroughfare of East London coolth.  Walk the whole length to enjoy world-class street art, alternative designer boutiques, a plethora of Indian restaurants and more eclectic gourmet treats like the Dark Sugars chocolate emporium and Beigel Bake, offering bagels, cheesecake, strudel and salt beef sandwiches to die for 24/7.  From here it’s only a 10-minute walk back to Whitechapel and the hotel which offers the best overnight value in London E1.

Tell Me More About Hyatt Place London City East

Hyatt Place London City East, 45 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DU

T: 020 8159 1234

From £82 for a standard room and from £170.50 for rooms with a balcony.

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The Dilly, London

20/07/2021 by .
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Andy Mossack stays at the Dilly Hotel on London’s iconic Piccadilly and goes all ballroom with a salsa lesson.

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Middle Eight Hotel hits all the right notes

16/07/2021This entry was posted in England, Europe and Middle East, Hotel Reviews, London, Newsletter, United Kingdom and tagged , on by .
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Andy Mossack finds the newly opened Middle Eight hotel striking a major chord with him when he went to visit.

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The Guardsman Hotel is in step with luxury

15/07/2021This entry was posted in England, Europe and Middle East, Hotel Reviews, London, Newsletter, United Kingdom and tagged , on by .
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Andy Mossack stays at the brand-new Guardsman Hotel just a few metres from Buckingham Palace.

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The Apartments by 11 Cadogan Gardens Opening in April

18/03/2021 by .
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The Apartments by 11 Cadogan Gardens will be the first apartment suites managed by Iconic Luxury Hotels UK, the brand behind countryside icons Cliveden House, Chewton Glen, The Lygon Arms and The Mayfair Townhouse which launched December 2020.

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The Cavendish London, St James’s

14/10/2020 by .
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Michael Edwards visits one of London’s finest districts to stay at The Cavendish London Hotel.

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Roseate House London. Uncover Kensington’s Hidden Gem

06/10/2020 by .
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Michael Edwards ventures into the leafy lanes of Kensington to experience a night at Roseate House London.

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