T H E L O N D O N E D I T I O N
Primely situated on the edge of Soho and just a seven-minute walk from Oxford Circus, The London EDITION is a faultless blend of edgy elegance. The brainchild of American entrepreneur Ian Schrager, the once co-founder of Studio 54, it’s a bucket list London stay that doesn’t disappoint. Upon stepping inside, one is left somewhat open-mouthed at the splendour of the lobby. Swiftly captured by the sheer opulence, it’s a room within itself, doubling as a meeting space come day or night with it’s statement, low-lit bar and stylish seating area. A destination of sorts, the hotel conquers the quintessential magnificence of London with it’s social hub spirit. Rooms at The Edition are a minimalist affair; one that lovers of contemporary interiors will really appreciate. Cosy in a chalet way, the rooms are a true escape.
The London Edition is a new generation of luxury with an attainable feel at the heart of exactly what makes London have that London feel.
Rooms from £288 per night // Reserve at editionhotels.com
T H E S T A N D A R D
If you know, you know and knowing starts and ends at the Standard’s latest addition in London. With existing locations in New York, California and, now, the Maldives, The Standard’s British outpost was it’s first outside the the US, opening in 2019. It has quickly and undoubtedly become thee place to wake up to and party at till the lights go down for those who know.
Founded by hotelier André Balazs - who’s other properties include Chiltern Firehouse in London, The Mercer in New York City, and Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles - the Standard is located directly across from King’s Cross Station, towering above Euston Road. Housed in the former Camden Town Hall Annex the building boasts a very distinct Brutalist architecture of the 1970’s. Inside too plays homage to those 70’s vibes. Designed by Shawn Hausman, with the aim to be in complete contrast to the greyness of London, visitors are treated to bright red ceilings met with striped wooden walls in the ground-level offerings and can treat themselves to any of the many themed areas specifically designed to lounge around in.
The lobby lounge with its library setting plays homage to the buildings original use where the Sounds studio (yes the hotel’s VERY own recording studio) holds weekly talks and live music. Next door to the lounge is the now infamous Double Standard bar, headed up by executive chef Adam Rawson where guests can expect a casual - yet always cool - drinks and dining experience. Also part of the hotel’s restaurant offerings is Isla, also headed up by Rawson and the recently launched Decimo by Michelin-starred Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias who merges the Spanish cuisine of his family with his deep love of Mexico, created for his first ever London restaurant.
The rooms are witty, in a sense playfully lighthearted - they are bright (AF) and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. From the typical London small to suite size, there’s something common to all and it’s the outlandish swanky kitsch vibes - think curved walls, retro style lighting, bold Wallace Sewell geometric-patterned bedspreads, deep blue carpets and the bathrooms which are adorned with pink-and-black tiled walls. It’s V seventies without fail.
Whether you’re there to stay or just to play, The Standard London is the absolute chic!
Rooms from £198 per night // Reserve at standardhotels.com
T H E N E D
This 11-floor hotel and member’s club bares some family resemblance to it’s founders now infamous ability to create a vibe with each new Soho House opening.. however, The Ned is really it’s own thing. Mature and more decidedly grown-up than it’s younger, party-lover counterparts, it’s Edwardian grandeur plays into a more opulent clientele looking for London glamour at it’s absolute best!
The £200 million creation took four years to complete and was worth the wait.. and every penny it seems. It’s a vibe-seekers haven with everything apart from the rooftop and underground Vault Bar open to non-members. The rooms themselves ooze opulence and elegance and are adorned with magnificent intricacies. There are armchairs and big luxurious sofas in lavishly appointed colours like rose and chartreuse and the four-poster beds come in mahogany, while the light situation is rather on point - think palm-tree shaped chandeliers and uniquely shaped lamps bringing the mood to another level. It’s luxury chic, in the true sense of the meaning.
It’s got plenty to see and do, with 252 bedrooms to chose from, nine restaurants, 15 bars, a spa, a barber shop, a boxing gym, two pools and as one would rightly expect at The Ned, a vintage cabinet is situated at the door to the old Tapestry Room, with specifically designed compartments to ensure the highly secured storage of one’s bowler hat. I mean.. what else could one want, right? It would seem The Ned has it all.
Rooms from £208 per night // Reserve at thened.com
A C E H O T E L
Whether you’re a trendy traveller or simply on the lookout for somewhere to ‘co-work’ with the too-cool-for-school Shoreditch crew, the Shoreditch outpost of the Ace Hotel is definitely your first stop in London. Located on Shoreditch High Street and just a 10 minute stroll north of Liverpool Street Station, the hotel is a hotspot for the cities achingly cool crowd. Upon entering through the main entrance, you’re met with a fetching first impression: the lobby with it’s concrete walls, dark wood floors and chipboard ceilings set the tone around the main feature of the lobby which is the endless array of hipsters holding meetings and working away on their laptops in the hotel’s, a space that has infamously become that of a co-workers heaven.
From NYC to LA, Chicago to Palm Springs and Seattle to Pennsylvania, staying the night is always a treat at the Ace. Upstairs, with seven different categories, rooms are in complete contrast with the lobby’s dark characteristics and are enveloped in the freshness of stark white walls and industrial style lighting, all adorned with Ace appropriate mid-century modern furniture. It’s innately and authentically Ace at it’s core, yet very East London in it’s detailed eccentricities - there are acoustic guitars on the walls with each room hosting it’s own quirky elements, think fun amenities like record players and vinyls.
Hoi Polloi is the hotel’s independently popular brasserie style restaurant and is typically buzzing with a vibe-y atmosphere. The menu is extensive, serving everything from oysters to burgers. For coffee lovers too there’s Bulldog Edition which serves (delicious) coffee and on-the-go pastries, small bites and juices.
Rooms from £151 per night // Reserve at ACEHOTEL.COM
T H E H O X T O N
With three locations in London - Shoreditch, Holborn and Southwark - The Hoxton has quickly become a favourite of trend seeking travellers in appreciation of a quality hotel stay at reasonable price points. No matter which of the groups London settings you decide to frequent, you’re sure to fall in love with each destinations ability to fit right in with it’s selected surroundings. From Shoreditch to Holborn to Southwark, each Hoxton has it’s own interesting finishings while collectively boasting a combination of old-fashioned elegance alongside elements of bold playfulness.
Like The Ace, it’s very London. Each lobby is full of creatives hosting power breakfast meetings and click-click-clicking away on their Macs. Sitting for a morning coffee makes for very good people-watching. On the food front, each hotel has it’s own in-house restaurant, the Hoxton Grill in Shoreditch, Hubbard + Bell and Chicken Shop in Holborn and Albie and Seabird in Southwark.
In Shoreditch, the rooms come in four different sizes, from smallest to biggest, the ‘shoebox’, ‘cosy’, ‘roomy’, and the nine ‘concept’ rooms, each of which have been designed by a local artist. The nine ‘concept’ rooms cannot be booked however, only requested upon reservation, so fingers crossed you’ll be luck out when booking. In Holborn and Southwark, the room sizes are a similar system with one or two more sized rooms available.
All-in-all the group attracts a loyal repeat customer for it’s atmosphere and attractive prices.
Rooms from £155 per night // Reserve at THEHOXTON.COM
