LONDON - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 192

30 Barkston Gardens, London SW5 0EN. www.henleyhousehotel.com. & 020/7370-4111. Fax
020/7370-0026. 21 units. £75-£125 double. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Tube:
Earl's Court. In room: TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
The City, Shoreditch & Clerkenwell
VERY EXPENSIVE
Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel The Andaz really has the best of both
worlds—tradition and modernity coming together beautifully under its elegant Victo-
rian roof. The original hotel, designed in 1884 by Charles Barry, known for his work
on the Houses of Parliament, is an opulent gem with grand public areas featuring a
stained-glass dome, and a 2007 refit brought it bang up to date without losing the
period charm. The hotel's exterior is abloom in all its Victorian glory, complete with a
stained-glass dome. Bedrooms are contemporary and comfortable, with state-of-the-
art bathrooms and color schemes of dark red and white.
40 Liverpool St., London EC2M 7QN. www.andaz.com. & 020/7961-1234 or 800/228-9000 in the U.S.
Fax [phone] units. £150-£410 double. AE, DC, MC, V. Tube: Liverpool St. Amenities: 5 res-
taurants; 5 bars; health club; room service. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, hair dryer, minibar, MP3 docking
station, Wi-Fi (free).
Mint Hotel Mint's Westminster sister hotel (p. 187) has long been a favorite
of Frommer's readers, so we were expecting something special from their Tower
Bridge 2011 opening. Initial reports say it doesn't disappoint. Views from the rooftop
bar (and many of the rooms) are like an I-Spy of London sights: Tower Bridge, the
City, and the Tower are all laid out before you. Rooms are similarly top-notch, with a
clean-lined, Modernist feel and iMac TV/entertainment centers. Although it's early
days, we've also heard good things about the friendly and knowledgable staff.
7 Pepys St., London EC3N 4AF. www.minthotel.com. & 020/7709-1000. Fax [phone]
units. £144-£438 double. AE, DC, MC, V. Tube: Tower Hill. Amenities: Restaurant; 2 bars; concierge;
room service. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, CD player, Internet (free).
The Zetter It was only a matter of time before a hotel blended the edgy
Shoreditch scene with the creature comforts demanded by City types. This converted
Victorian warehouse features seven rooftop studios with patios and panoramic views
of the London skyline, among other lures, including a sky-lit atrium flooding its core
with natural light. Many of the features of the original structure were retained, as
tradition was blended with a chic, urban modernity. Bedrooms, ranging from small to
midsize, are spread across five floors, and open onto balconies that circle the atrium.
The whole refurbishment was done with real concern for the environment—recycled
timber and bricks in the construction, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems,
and “smart” rooms that turn off heating and lighting when not in use, all contribute
to the Zetter's low carbon footprint. Ask for a room at the back of the hotel—they
back onto a quiet square.
St. John's Sq., 86-88 Clerkenwell Rd., London EC1M 5RJ. www.thezetter.com. & 020/7324-4444. Fax
020/7324-4445. 59 units. Mon-Thurs £180-£360 double; Fri-Sun £153-£360 double. AE, DC, MC, V.
Tube: Farringdon. Amenities: Restaurant (see review, p. 142); bar; concierge; room service. In room:
A/C, TV/DVD, CD player, MP3 docking station, Internet (free).
EXPENSIVE
The Rookery Quirky, eccentric, and laden with a sense of the antique, The
Rookery is a great choice for travelers who want a hotel with the atmosphere of Dick-
ens' or Dr. Johnson's London. Opening in the late 1990s, it salvaged three of the few

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