Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Zetter Hotel & Townhouse
86-88 Clerkenwell
Rd, EC1
T
020 7324 4444,
W
thezetter.com;
!
Farringdon; map p.150.
The sixty-room hotel, in a
warehouse converted with style and a dash of 1960s
glamour, is a fixture on Clerkenwell's hipster scene. Rooms
are simple, modern and bold, with colourful panache and
lots of eco touches; because of its popular bar and bistro,
some rooms suffer from noise at night. The Georgian
Townhouse
, across the square, is if anything even more
whimsical, with thirteen colourful, boudoirish rooms and a
fabulous, cosy bar. Free
wi-fi, a
nd free conti
nental
breakfast
if you book online. Hotel
£160
, Townhouse
£180
COVENT GARDEN AND THE STRAND
Covent Garden Hotel
10 Monmouth St, WC2
T
020 7806
1000,
W
firmdale.com;
!
Covent Garden or Leicester
Square; map p.132.
Another gorgeous and luxurious
boutique hotel from the
Firmdale
group (see p.356), housed
in an old French hospital in a characterful location. This one
feels clubbier and cosier than the others, without losing the
designer details; there's a cool in-house cinem
a and
an
upmarket brasserie. Unusually, they offer free wi-fi.
£396
The Fielding
4 Broad Court, Bow St, WC2
T
020 7836
8305,
W
www.thefieldinghotel.co.uk;
!
Covent Garden;
map p.132.
On a pedestrianized court opposite the Royal
Opera House, this hotel is delightfully quiet for central
London. Its en-suite rooms are simple, but clean - the
refurbished ones are more stylish than others - and a firm
favourite with visiting performers.
No lift
and no breakfast
(tea and coffee in room). Free wi-fi.
£140
The Savoy
Strand, WC2
T
020 7836 4343,
W
fairmont
.com/savoy-london/;
!
Covent Garden or Charing
Cross; map p.132.
This iconic Art Deco hotel, dripping with
history, is glamorous and a little flashy, with classic bars
and gorgeously comfortable rooms. Even if you can't afford
to stay, yo
u mig
ht splash out on a classic afternoon tea (a
cool £48).
£350
Seven Dials Hotel
7 Monmouth St, WC2
T
020 7681
0791,
W
sevendialshotellondon.com;
!
Covent Garden;
map p.132.
A friendly, family-run B&B brilliantly located
on one of Covent Garden's nicest streets. It's in no way
fancy: the staircase is narrow and steep (no lift) and the
en-suite rooms (from singles to quads) are small, but all are
clean, well equip
ped a
nd comfy, and you're made to feel at
home. Free wi-fi.
£105
THE CITY
Andaz
40 Liverpool St, EC2
T
020 7961 1234,
W
london.liverpoolstreet.andaz.hyatt.com;
!
Liverpool
Street; map pp.156-157.
The venerable 1884
Great
Eastern Hotel
by Liverpool Street Station had a complete
makeover in 2000 to become the first in
Hyatt
's stylish
worldwide
Andaz
hotel group. Rooms are unfussy and
minimal, with a complimentary (non-alcoholic) minibar
and free wi-fi, and service is so fashion-forward that
there's not even a reception desk - you relax on a plush
sofa while check-in staff, brandishing iPads, come to you.
The six restaurants
and b
ars keep the place buzzing, and
service is excellent.
£240
Apex City of London Hotel
1 Seething Lane, EC3
T
020 7977 9593,
W
apexhotels.co.uk;
!
Tower Hill;
map pp.156-157.
A swish, comfortable and nicely
appointed modern hotel on a secluded City street near the
Tower of London. It's geared towards a corporate clientele,
but has a good variety of rooms - the priciest have great
views - and service is superb. Rates vary according to
availability so book early. Free wi-fi. There are two other
branches nearby -
Apex London Wall
(7-9 Copthall Ave,
EC2;
!
Moorgate) and
Apex Temple Court
, near Fleet St
(1 Serjeants' Inn,
EC4;
!
Temple) - whose prices tend to
be a little higher.
£130
Doubletree by Hilton London - Tower of London
7 Pepys St, EC3
T
020 7709 1000,
W
doubletree3
.hilton.com;
!
Tower Hill; map pp.156-157.
Though
it's geared towards business travellers, this large, modern
and bright hotel is a good option for all. Rooms - nearly
600 of them - are clean, airy and comfortable, all with
iMacs. The rooftop bar,
Skylounge
, offers amazing
view
s.
Online promotions bring good discounts. Free wi-fi.
£220
The King's Wardrobe
6 Wardrobe Place, Carter Lane,
EC4
T
020 7792 2222,
W
bridgestreet.com;
!
St Paul's;
map pp.156-157.
In a quiet courtyard just behind St
Paul's Cathedral, these serviced studios and apartments
prove exceptionally good value. It's a favourite with
business visitors - fully equipped kitchens, workstations,
concierge service and housekeeping are standard, and
23
CLERKENWELL
Ì
The Rookery
12 Peter's Lane, Cowcross St, EC1
T
020 7336 0931,
W
rookeryhotel.com;
!
Farringdon;
map p.150.
This rambling Georgian townhouse, all
panelled walls, flagstoned floors and creaky timeworn
floorboards, makes a charming bolthole in trendy
Clerkenwell. Rooms, some of which are a little dark, offer
faded Baroque glam, with antique fittings and super
bathrooms. Breakfast, not included in the price, is served in
your room, though there's
a com
fy lounge with honesty
bar. There's even a hotel cat.
£210
TOP 5 HIDEAWAYS
40 Winks
East London. See p.360
The Fielding
Covent Garden. See above
Hazlitt's
Soho. See p.357
The King's Wardrobe
The City. See
opposite
The Rookery
Clerkenwell. See above
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
40 WINKS
P.360
; BEAUFORT BAR, SAVOY
ABOVE
; THE FIELDING
ABOVE
; THE ZETTER
ABOVE
>
