Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of five-star places in London, but At Sloane feels different from the moment you walk up to that gorgeous Georgian townhouse on Sloane Gardens. The location is honestly perfect – you’re tucked away on this quiet garden square that most tourists never find, but you’re literally a two-minute walk from Sloane Square tube station. I mean, you can pop over to Harvey Nichols or Peter Jones without even thinking about it, but when you come back to the hotel, it’s like stepping into this peaceful bubble away from all the Knightsbridge chaos.
What really got me was how they’ve managed to keep that intimate boutique feel – there are only about 12 suites, so you’re not dealing with crowds in the lobby or waiting ages for lifts. The staff actually remember your name (and your coffee order, which honestly made my mornings). The building itself has this beautiful period charm – think original moldings and elegant proportions – but they’ve done the interiors with this really sophisticated modern touch. The suites are genuinely spacious by London standards, and I loved that mine had a proper sitting area where I could actually spread out and work. The bathroom was one of those marble affairs that makes you want to take longer showers than necessary.
Here’s what you should know practically speaking – the garden square is private, so it’s incredibly quiet at night, which is rare for central London. Street parking is basically impossible (this is Chelsea, after all), but they can sort out valet parking if you’re driving. The breakfast service is more intimate than your typical hotel dining room – they’ll pretty much customize whatever you want, and the coffee is actually good, not that generic hotel stuff. I was there in late spring when the garden square was blooming, and honestly, sitting by the window with morning coffee looking out at those perfectly manicured gardens felt like something out of a movie.
The area is brilliant for wandering – you’ve got the Royal Court Theatre just around the corner, and if you head down King’s Road, you’ll find some fantastic independent shops and cafes that locals actually use. Saatchi Gallery is a pleasant five-minute stroll if you’re into contemporary art. The whole Belgravia area is right there too, with those impossibly pristine white stucco terraces that make for great evening walks.
What I appreciated most was that At Sloane doesn’t try too hard – there’s no flashy lobby or over-the-top amenities. It’s just beautifully executed hospitality in one of London’s most desirable neighborhoods. The kind of place where you can imagine settling in for a proper London stay rather than just passing through. That 9.3 rating makes complete sense when you experience how seamlessly everything works together.