Summer is over yet that doesn’t mean the holiday has to end! We’ve rounded up the best London hotels for an autumn escape so you can feel rested and relaxed before the busy Christmas period begins!
1. The Royal Garden Hotel
A hotel experience truly fit for a royal. Planted in the heart of Kensington and conveniently located between Hyde Park and Kensington High Street, the Royal Garden Hotel had everything you could need at your doorstep.
Venturing further into the hotel, you’ll first be greeted by the extremely accommodating staff that bare the guest’s experience in-mind. Upon entering the newly renovated rooms, you’ll be amazed by the chic, pristine design whilst overlooking the beautiful view of Hyde Park.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find a little treat from the staff. Presented with organic, Royal Gala apples, grown in Kent Farms; the delicious, healthy treats started my stay in good taste!
Though the hotel was filled with useful amenities such as great lobby space, and a gym of it’s own, I chose to take advantage of what the local area had to offer, and made my way to a reformer pilates class which was within a 10 minute walk from the hotel. After, I got myself a coffee at a lovely nearby, cozy cafe and made by way back to the hotel to prepare for my evening dinner at the hotel’s top-floor Asian restaurant and bar, Min Jiang.
The Royal Garden Hotel was truly an amazing stay, and my experience at Min Jiang was the topping on the cake. I ordered The Dim Sum Variety, Corn and Crab soup, and finished with The Black Cod. The flavors and textures of each dish were phenomenal and my eyes were far bigger than my stomach as I attempted to finish my meal. I later learned, that these dishes were best suited for sharing, so will certainly be making my way back with a group of friends.
The service, views and meals at the Royal Garden Hotel were certainly worth raving about. I would highly recommend the hotel to those looking for a high-end and inviting experience away from home where some of the best sites of London are a short walk away.
2. The Glass House Retreat
The Glass House Retreat was an experience unlike any other located on the outskirts of London. This amazing retreat is a 5 minutes from Upminster Station and was filled with everything you could need to completed a detoxifying break away.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by the lovely staff that showed us around the property where we got to view the weekly class schedule full of exercises classes and mindfulness workshop. We were also brought into the restaurant where we could see the latest vegan food demo taking place. We were then taken to our room which was extremely spacious and clean. On the beds we were delighted to receive a reusable water bottle, tote bag and lavender oil which were all very useful on our retreat journey.
We started our day with a warm dip in the indoor pool and continued to the Himalayan sea salt sauna where we had a chance to peacefully unwind after our car journey.
After being informed of the great benefits of cold water exposure to our bodies, we ventured out to the Natural Outdoor swimming pool and decided to take the plunge into the freezing water. It certainly wasn’t something I could stay in for very long, but I did feel energized and rejuvenated after hopping in!
Later in the day we took full advantage of the ongoing classes and were pleasantly surprised at how relaxed we began to feel after each experience.
The vegan dinner and breakfast was wonderful as it was packed with flavour and served in perfect portions. We finished our waffles and avocado toast before heading to the Cryotherapy room for a deep freeze!
The experience was something I was dreading slightly, as I’m not a huge fan of the cold, though once the therapist began to play a song of your choice, and you entered the pod for a few short minutes, the session was already done, and you were left feeling fresh and energized.
My only regret was not staying at the retreat longer! My friend and I had a wonderful experience at the retreat and wish were were able to take full advantage of all of the classes and amenities available such as the on-site bikes, gym and listening room. Though, it gives us a great excuse to return again for another amazing stay.
3. 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel
Located in South Kensington, this stunning hotel draws attention from its beautiful exterior and even more beautiful and fascinating interior. The hotel started out as former home of Explorer, William Alexander who left behind eclectic pieces from his journeys, including some unique art from his collection.
The alluring atmosphere of the hotel is full of wonder, as the design changes during your journey throughout the building. I was fortunate enough to get to stay in one of the enchanting suites at the property which contained two floors. The first floor was designed as a living room space, complete with glamorous oddities and intriguing design. It was completed with a large, comfy sofa placed in front of a fireplace, bringing the phrase “home away from home” to a whole new level.
On the second, spacious floor, you could find your bathroom, bedroom and substantial amount of closet space for those who don’t pack light! I took full advantage of the cozy robes provided, along with the luxury Sage Molton Brown products.
In the evening, I was escorted to the ESQ Bar where live music on the grand piano filled the room. Mr. Alexander’s roots continued through the decor provided in the luxurious space. Greeted by the wonderful staff, we were served a variety of tapas-styled asian cuisine that was hand-selected by the staff. The variety of flavour and dish presentation was very fitting to the them of the hotel and did not disappoint. The food was well presented and served in portions perfect for a group setting.
This hotel was truly exciting to explore. I cannot wait to return for both the phenomenal dishes and further exploration of Mr. Alexander’s previous grand estate, as you simply can’t get through all of the exciting rooms throughout the building in one day!
4. Room 2 Chiswick
Tucked away in west London, this hometel brings a cozy, yet chic vibe to the area.
Walking through the door, I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff who helped me to my room. Along the way, our host Christian made us aware that the very carpet we were walking on through the lobby was made from recycled fishnets. Talk about a cool way to recycle! This place is all about sustainability. The rooms hold recycling & compost bins, and the building operates on a “less-water” strategy along with powering their properties through solar panels and heatpumps. Their initiative to take on change toward a sustainable hotel approach drew my attention.
Stepping into room felt like stepping into a cool, modern apartment. It had everything you needed for your “home away from home” experience. The room was filled with little extras like a market basket for shopping, kitchen supplies, card games, and even a few ciders in the fridge.
After dinner, I was delighted to head to the cocktail bar in the lounge that served some delicious pre-mixed cocktails. I went for the classic old-fashioned and was in for a delight!
The following morning, I started my day in the boutique-like gym on-site which had a good range of equipment for all types of gym-goers (yoga mats, weights, rowing machines and peloton bikes).
I finished my stay with a freshly brewed coffee in Room2’s welcoming lounge containing biophilic designs that actually clean the air and improve creativity. I can certainly say I left the property feeling refreshed and recharged and will be making an appearance again.
5. Mama Shelter London Shoreditch
This hotel is made for those looking to add a flare to their trip! Filled with not only the basic essential amenities like a great gym for those who like to start their morning or end their evening with a workout, and a great lobby/restaurant space for both those looking for a formal dining experience as well as remote workers looking for a communal desktop space to finish their remote work while enjoying some nibbles and drinks; it also has some fun, quirks that make it a stand-out from your average hotel, like a unique global-inspired menu and Karaoke room, inclusive to those that sing like Adele, and the… not so in-tune casual vocalists.
Mama Shelter had a fun, bold atmosphere that felt extremely welcoming and also productive during the day for remote workers in the lounge.
In the evening, the creative energy from Shoreditch trickled in, giving a great, youthful energy to the hotel that filled the experience with a good balance of work and play.
The next morning was followed with a fabulous breakfast that had a broad selection of food for meat-eaters and veggies alike.
Mama Shelter was a particularly great spot for freelancers working away from home, while also getting to explore the creatively inspired, east side of London.
6. Citadines Islington London
Looking for all of the comforts of a home away from home, with the added bonus of staying in a clean, spacious, and perfectly located serviced apartment? This is your perfect space.
Citadines Islington is placed just a skip away from all of the major train stations (Euston & Kings Cross) whilst also being surrounded by an unlimited amount of local eateries and shops when you step outside of the building.
In the mood for fitness? The building itself contained a fully-equipped gym with yoga mats, which you can also choose to bring to the comfort of your room while playing Yoga tutorials through Chrome-cast available to guests. The nearby park, Highbury Fields, also hosts a free 5K park run every Saturday morning.
Those simply looking to take in nature without a sweat can head to the award-winning Culpeper Community Garden. With its organic garden, vegetable plots, flowerbeds, ponds and a wildlife area, it is one of Islington’s most relaxing hidden gems.
The Apart-hotel conveniently offers a space for your fluffy friend along with offering guests a weekly housekeeping service and laundry facilities, as well as providing a Business Corner and Resident’s Lounge. The vast lounge space, coffee and tea machine, along with communal printer makes for the perfect space for remote workers looking to complete tasks and meetings in a quiet area during their stay. Citadines Islington was the perfect, minimalist yet spacious spot for a short (or long-term) escape.
7. The Corner London City
This modern, quirky hotel operates on convenience and green-ness. Check-in was a piece of cake through their systems that allow you to enter your details on one of their check-in screens and viola! you’re given a key card and on your way. As for green-ness, the hotel stands boldly with its urge to help the planet. The Corner prides itself on being the greenest hotel in London, having achieved 41% less water consumption than other UK hotels, and 67% less CO2 emissions, which is pretty impactful!
As you make your way to your room, you’ll find communal tea and coffee machines where you can enjoy a warm beverage before settling in. I loved this little feature as it allow you more space in your room without the hassle of additional appliances whilst also creating less waste.
In your unique room, you’ll find cool, quirky, artistic furniture created from re-purposed pieces such as reclaimed wooden desks and lamps created from old hosepipes. There was also a reused bottle of filtered water placed in the room for environmental and guest convince.
I absolutely loved The Corner London City’s mission to be a leader to all hotels on a journey to a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future by taking initiative to use organic supplies and products along with reducing water and energy consumption whilst still providing quality and comfort to guests during their stay.
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