• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 1301 0

au courant, which comes at a price—but here lies one of London’s best-kept hotel secrets. A single room at the Dean Street Townhouse, the teeny-weeny Broom Cupboard, costs £95 a night. You have to book and pay for it in advance, and you won’t be without competition—but if you can snag it, this is truly one of the hottest places to stay in town. Pros: über-cool; an amazing bargain if you can get the one cheap room. Cons: at full rate you’re paying more for the address than what you get; rooms at the front can be noisy, especially on weekends. TripAdvisor: “very quiet,” “wonderfully comfortable,” “great location.” | 69–71 Dean St., Soho | W1D 3SE | 020/7434–1775 | www.deanstreettownhouse.com | In-room: a/c, DVD, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, bar | AE, MC, V | Leicester Sq., Tottenham Court Rd.

Hazlitt’s.

££££–£££££ | Three connected early-18th-century houses, one of which was the last home of essayist William Hazlitt (1778–1830), make up this charming Soho hotel. The sister hotel to the Rookery, it’s a disarmingly friendly place, full of personality but devoid of certain modern amenities (as the owners say, “In 1718 there were no elevators, and there still aren’t”). Robust antiques are everywhere, most beds are four-posters, and every bathroom has a Victorian claw-foot tub. There are tiny sitting rooms, wooden staircases, and more restaurants nearby than you could visit in a year. Pros: great for art and antiques lovers; historic atmosphere; truly beautiful and relaxed. Cons: no in-house restaurant; breakfast is extra; no elevators. TripAdvisor: “staff were very friendly,” “beautifully decorated,” “modern facilities.” | 6 Frith St., Soho | W1D 3JA | 020/7434–1771 | www.hazlittshotel.com | 20 rooms, 3 suites | In-room: a/c, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: room service, laundry service, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, DC, MC, V | Tottenham Court Rd.

TheSoho Hotel.

£££££ | This redbrick, loftlike boutique hotel’s public rooms are boldly designed with bright colors and big artworks, but the large bedrooms are calmer, most with neutral, beige-and-cream tones, or subtle, sophisticated pinstripes, all offset by modern furniture. The bar and restaurant, Refuel, is one of the city’s hot spots, and there are movie-screening rooms downstairs, in case the wide-screen TVs in the rooms aren’t big enough. Pros: small and sophisticated; comfortable beds, in-house restaurant hot spot. Cons: bar can be crowded and noisy on weeknights. TripAdvisor: “quiet setting,” “had everything necessary,” “rooms feel welcoming.” | 4 Richmond Mews, off Dean St., Soho | W1D 3DH | 020/7559–3000 | www.sohohotel.com | 85 rooms, 6 apartments | In-room: a/c, DVD, Internet. In-hotel: room service, gym | AE, MC, V | Tottenham Court Rd.

COVENT GARDEN

Covent Garden Hotel.

££££–£££££ | In the midst of boisterous Covent Garden, this hotel is now the London home-away-from-home for a mélange of off-duty celebrities, actors, and style mavens. With painted silks, style anglais ottomans, and 19th-century Romantic oils, the public salons are perfect places to decompress over a glass of sherry from the bar. Guest rooms are World of Interiors stylish, each showcasing matching-but-mixed couture fabrics to stunning effect. For £35, the popular Saturday-night film club includes dinner in the brasserie and a film in the deluxe in-house cinema. Pros: great for star-spotting, and movie buffs. Cons: you can feel you don’t matter if you’re not a film star. TripAdvisor: “staff was mostly friendly and helpful,” “room service never gets the order right.,” “quite refreshing for London.” | 10 Monmouth St., Covent Garden | WC2H 9HB | 020/7806–1000, 800/553–6674 in U.S. | www.firmdale.com | 55 rooms, 3 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, DVD, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, gym, spa, laundry service | AE, MC, V | Covent Garden

Fodor’s Choice | One Aldwych.

£££££ | Flawlessly designed inside an Edwardian building, One Aldwych is coolly eclectic, with an artsy lobby, feather duvets, Italian linen sheets, and ample elegance; it’s an understated blend of contemporary and classic, resulting