impeccable boutique style in seafaring Lymington
FOUR POSTER BEDS hung with velvet drapes, plump pillows, a half-sipped glass of champagne to one side... the bedrooms of Stanwell House – a little Georgian boutique hotel in seafaring Lymington – tell their own tales of stolen weekends.
The rich colours of indulgence mark out this appealing – and highly affordable – hotel set between Lymington’s yacht harbour and the New Forest. With its bare board and York stone floors, antique and bric-a-brac laden shelves and candlelit dining room, Stanwell House has all you need for a seaside adventure à deux. There’s even an old walled garden and a couple of suites with private terraces for late-night trysts.
Centrepiece of the hotel is the airy, glass roofed conservatory lounge, with its bare brick walls and relaxed rattan chairs – just the place to sip a cappuccino or glass of wine. Yachties and their wives are regulars here, and many not surprisingly decide to forgo a berth on the ocean waves for a night or two in one of Stanwell House’s bedrooms.
STANWELL HOUSE
THE ROOKERY
Georgian townhouse treat next to London’s Square Mile.
HIDDEN AMID A WARREN of tiny streets that was once home to London’s notorious rogues and roués (it takes its name from a gang of thieves who once ruled this area) The Rookery stands just a stone’s throw from The Square Mile, London’s financial epicentre.
This row of beautifully restored Georgian houses at the end of a narrow Dickensian lane feels rather like a throwback to storybook London. The 18th century meets the 21st with a splash of theatrical Gothic as you step inside.
The Rookery echoes with Clerkenwell’s colourful history, and interiors in this enticing boutique hotel are brimming with period charm without being try-hard. Mellow wood panelling, flagstone floors, oil paintings, antiques and cosy open fires in winter lend an at-home warmth that makes it feel more like a private club than a hotel. The owners have filled the place with some of their own quirky artworks and antiques, and it all works a treat.
TWENTY NEVERN SQUARE
Budget West London townhouse with a Euro-Asian flavour.
SET ON A LEAFY Earl's Court square, Twenty Nevern Square is done out in fetching Euro-Asian style. A private home converted into a smart but budget-conscious hotel in west London, it's designed to be easy on the eye.
Bedrooms with polished wood floors, Indonesian furniture and silk cushions have a definite touch of Raffles about them. While rooms are not large, bathrooms are marbled and there's clever use of space, with a wide-screen TV and CD player concealed in the armoire.
Twenty Nevern Square's bigger signature rooms make the perfect big-city escape. The Terrace room is a private sanctuary in teal and rust tones with mahogany sleigh beds and a private terrace for breakfast à deux. The Rococo room revels in excess, while the Pasha suite rustles in acres of silk and boasts its own intimate terrace overlooking the square. Four poster bedrooms blend luxe with a laid-back Orient feel.
HAZLITT'S
Characterful Georgian townhouse in the heart of literary Soho.
WITH THE DRINKING DENS OF SOHO right on your doorstep, Hazlitt’s is the perfect place for foodies, clubbers and night owls. Occupying three handsome Georgian houses in the heart of happening Soho, it simply oozes history.
Once the home of essayist William Hazlitt, Hazlitt’s a big favourite among writers, actors and media types. This cosy and characterful address is a throwback to old Soho, before the advent of wall-to-wall clubs and bars. Fortunately the plumbing has been updated since it was built in 1718 – and most of the candles replaced with electricity – but there are still no lifts, lots of stairs and a wonderful timewarp vibe.
Hazlitt’s is just the place for lazy, loved-up (and literary) liaisons. Tucked away off Soho Square, it’s an oasis of civility and old-fashioned hospitality. And while stout glazing ensures you won’t be disturbed by any late-night carousing, you’re just steps from London’s Theatreland, Chinatown and Soho’s galaxy of nightlife.
MILLER'S RESIDENCE
Bohemian boutique extravaganza in trendy Notting Hill
HOW MANY CURIOS, pictures, trinkets and objets trouvés can you cram into a square foot? If you’re Martin Miller, the man behind the famous antiques bible, it’s hundreds. Climb the narrow stairs (walls muralled Chinoiserie-style by his wife Ioana and strewn with Old Curiosity shop pieces), push past the sedan chair and enter the magnificently quirky first floor drawing room, glittering under dozens of candles at dusk. Welcome to Miller's.
This feast of Georgian and Victoriana could almost be a film set – which is probably why it's a big hit with fashion photographers and their models. There's so much to look at (over 200 oil paintings and almost as many candlesticks) that it could take you all afternoon to even reach your room. So pour yourself a glass of Miller's gin (it's their own brand) at the complimentary guest bar, sink into one of the William Morris sofas by the fire (shades of shabby chic here) and bliss out before bedtime.
There's nothing quite like this place in the whole of London, so give in to your inner bohemian and trawl a cornucopia of objets d'art without even leaving your seat. You'll lose track of the lashings of porcelain, sculptures, books and bric a brac adorning every surface.
THE DRAYCOTT HOTEL
Luxury hotel glowing with Edwardian charisma near Sloane Square
ARRIVING ON A RAIN-SOAKED winter's night proved the perfect time to get to The Draycott. Stepping inside to a world of warm fires, glowing lamps and solicitous staff was like manna from heaven. As we burst inside from the elements, our bags were whisked upstairs and two glasses of chilled champagne apppeared as if by divine telepathy.
Guests can't help but love The Draycott. Three grand, redbrick Edwardian townhouses have been knocked together to create this quintessentially British hotel that feels rather like the home of a splendidly wealthy uncle. Its entrance marked by an ever-so-discreet brass plaque, this is an intimate luxury hotel tucked in a corner of Chelsea that mixes old-style charm with fullsome creature comforts.
Inside, you're into The Draycott's comfort zone of sink-into-me sofas, antique prints and cosy fireplaces. The drawing room looks out onto leafy Cadogan Gardens – perfect for summer wanders, while an informal lobby lounge invites you to kick back.
TWENTY NEVERN SQUARE
Budget West London townhouse with a Euro-Asian flavour.
SET ON A LEAFY Earl's Court square, Twenty Nevern Square is done out in fetching Euro-Asian style. A private home converted into a smart but budget-conscious hotel in west London, it's designed to be easy on the eye.
Bedrooms with polished wood floors, Indonesian furniture and silk cushions have a definite touch of Raffles about them. While rooms are not large, bathrooms are marbled and there's clever use of space, with a wide-screen TV and CD player concealed in the armoire.
Twenty Nevern Square's bigger signature rooms make the perfect big-city escape. The Terrace room is a private sanctuary in teal and rust tones with mahogany sleigh beds and a private terrace for breakfast à deux. The Rococo room revels in excess, while the Pasha suite rustles in acres of silk and boasts its own intimate terrace overlooking the square. Four poster bedrooms blend luxe with a laid-back Orient feel.
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
We have some great boutique hotels to choose from in the top destinations across Europe. You'll find bohemian boutique hotels in Prague, luxury hotel town houses in Paris and even an art deco palazzo in Venice perfect for a romantic break.
Looking for Boutique on a Budget? No worries – you'll get the best available rates through us. We can also arrange a special welcome, so if you want to book a luxury hotel for your honeymoon, we'll ensure there is a bottle of chilled champagne waiting on arrival. We can also offer a range of personalised packages for most luxury hotels.
Whether you want to stay in Brighton or Barcelona, Scotland or Seville, we have a selection of superb hand-picked boutique hotels to suit every budget.
Escape Boutique B and B – Wales
Cool boutique B&B in vintage Victorian Llandudno
This brilliant boutique B&B has brought a dash of élan to seaside Llandudno in North Wales. Step inside this grand Victorian villa and say hello to leather sleigh beds, suede chairs and Conran love seats.
ON BUDGET: Doubles from GBP 75
