Unrelentlessly Fashionable

A boutique hotel pioneer in the heart of London, One Aldwych proves that less is more than meets the eye.

LOOK

Housed in t he former headquarters of t he Morning Post, boutique hotel One Aldwych pays homage to its Edwardian ancestry. The external elevations are beautifully restored to t heir Louis Seize grandeur, giving t he building a stately presence as it reigns over t he hustle and bustle of Covent Garden. Inside, however, designer Mary Fox-Linton has applied a clean, crisp and modern aesthetic with, as she points out, “not an inch of chintz”. She adds, “One Aldwych is subtle because I was determined to avoid design clichés of the international deluxe style and to resist the temptation to be relentlessly fashionable. Nothing is so dull as standardisation and nothing dates so quickly as trendy.”

From the soaring lobby ceiling to the paired- down guest-rooms, the simple but luxurious look provides the perfect backdrop for the 350 pieces of artwork personally collected by the hotel’s erudite owner.

EAT

Axis is the hotel’s principal restaurant and, under the direction of Executive Chef Dominic Teague, serves f lavourful Modern British fair. Think traditional staples such as grilled asparagus with Parma ham and English lamb served with baby turnips and sweetbread.

Also at Axis, London finally has a place which does a proper weekend brunch with all the trimmings (read: unlimited Prosecco). The hotel’s second eatery, Indigo, offers a creative European menu with light alternatives and, in the evening, it is a big hit with theatre crowds.

“Nothing is so dull as standardisation and nothing dates so quickly as trendy.”

DRINK

The place to see (and be seen) is the Lobby Bar which, with its double-height ceilings, vast cocktail bar and plethora of attentive staff, is genuinely buzzing with activity. Given its location in the heart of the West End, this is the perfect place for a pre- (and post-) theatre tipple. Afternoon tea (how very British!) is carried out with panache here and currently with a Charlie And The Chocolate Factory theme – the mind boggles…

SLEEP

With only 105 guest rooms and suites, this boutique hotel is certainly on the cosy side. With charming staff and interiors that are, for lack of a better word, timeless, the property sets itself apart from the mass of 5-star chain hotels. Yes, it is luxurious and yes, the staff provides a top-notch service. However, with an air of individuality and effervescence throughout, One Aldwych is truly in a class of its own.

SPA

In addition to outstanding exercise facilities (by hotel gym standards), the health club also has treatment rooms with exclusive skin packages from Natura Bissé as well as an 18-metre, chlorine-free (it uses a mineral-based cleaning system), mood-lit swimming pool. What better antidote to a weekend of high-octane charged thespian activities?