Workspaces by Hilton at the Trafalgar St James, London

BACKGROUND Like many hotel groups, Hilton has launched a programme to rent out rooms by the day for guests to work in. Workspaces by Hilton is available at most of Hilton’s properties across the UK, plus locations in the US and Canada. I tried it out at the Trafalgar St James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, when the city was in Tier 2. As we went to press, the hotel was temporarily closed, but when it reopens Workspaces will continue.

HOW TO BOOK Search by city at workspacesbyhilton.com then click through to your preferred property. The package is available on weekdays and weekends and prices vary by room category. The website states that rooms at the Trafalgar are available 9am-6pm, but on my visit I was told that checkout was at 5pm. Bookings can be cancelled for free until 11.59pm the night before. Hilton Honors members can check in online and go straight to the room using their digital key. They can also earn 10,000 bonus points the first time they try Workspaces if they visit by March 31, 2021.

W H AT ’ S IT LIKE? Rooms are contemporary in style and showcase British design, with artworks referencing the London music scene. My spacious Nelson Double Queen room had two double beds (should you want a siesta), Molton Brown toiletries, a monochrome shot of Mick Jagger and books on design icons such as Alexander McQueen and Tom Dixon.

The room had been rearranged as a workspace, with a large desk set up in an area normally occupied by armchairs and a small table, overlooking the Canadian embassy and Trafalgar Square. Wi-Fi was fast and there were plenty of sockets for charging devices. Natural light flooded in through three large windows, with floor and desk lamps for when the sun set.

The experience at the Trafalgar includes Nespresso coffee, tea from the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall, soft drinks and bottled water. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, guests can use the gym, while Hilton Honors Diamond members also get access to the executive lounge at select properties. In terms of hosting business meetings in rooms, the group states that this is subject to local guidance at any given time.

WHERE IS IT? Just off Trafalgar Square, close to Charing Cross station and ideally placed for a lunchtime walk in St James’s Park. Despite its central location, the hotel remains quiet and I was not distracted by noise from the busy road.

FOOD AND DRINK The package does not include food so depending on tier restrictions you can order room service or eat in the Rooftop, the partially outdoor seventh-floor restaurant (Rockwell, the ground-floor bar and restaurant, is closed until further notice). I ordered lunch via the in-room tablet, which advised that the waiting time was 30 minutes. There was plenty of choice, from cooked breakfasts (eggs benedict, pancakes, porridge) to pizzas, soups, paninis and Asian-inspired dishes. My salmon teriyaki with rice and a watercress salad arrived within 20 minutes – it was perfectly cooked and fuelled me for the remainder of the day. To organise the removal of the tray, you tap a button on the tablet and leave it outside the door for collection.

VERDICT A real treat if you are suffering from Groundhog Day syndrome in your home office set-up. The change of scenery helps and the hotel is a stressfree environment, free from interruptions by other members of your household. It can also give you the opportunity to retrieve your work-home life balance.

I left feeling far more positive and accomplished than when clocking off at home. Hannah Brandler

Workspaces by Hilton is available at most of the group’s UK hotels and allows you to rent a room for the day