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.