The Hammock Lodge, Holborn, by the Design Traveller

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard the name “The Hammock Lodge,” I was expecting something beachy or tropical, not a sleek boutique spot tucked away on Grays Inn Road. But you know what? The Design Traveller people actually nailed something here that most hotels completely miss. Walking in, there’s this immediate sense that someone who actually travels designed this place, not some corporate committee. The lobby feels more like a well-curated friend’s living room – those deep leather chairs aren’t just for show, they’re actually comfortable enough that I saw people working on laptops there at 10 PM, and the lighting is warm enough that you don’t feel like you’re in a sterile waiting room.

The location is honestly pretty brilliant if you know London at all. Sure, Grays Inn Road isn’t exactly Covent Garden, but that’s actually the point – you’re a five-minute walk from King’s Cross (which, let’s face it, has become incredibly useful with all those new restaurants and that whole Coal Drops Yard development), and Russell Square is right there when you need some green space. I mean, you can walk to the British Museum in about ten minutes, but you’re not dealing with the tourist chaos that comes with staying in Bloomsbury proper. The neighborhood has this great mix of barristers heading to the nearby Inns of Court during the day and locals who’ve figured out that this little pocket of Camden is actually quite livable.

What really gets me about this place is the attention to details that matter when you’re actually living out of a suitcase. The rooms have proper hanging space (not those flimsy hotel rods that collapse if you hang more than two shirts), and the lighting – God, the lighting is actually functional. You can read in bed without straining your eyes, and there are enough outlets that you’re not doing hotel room Tetris with your chargers. The wifi is solid, which honestly shouldn’t be noteworthy in 2024 but you’d be surprised how many places still get this wrong. I stayed during a particularly busy week in October and never had any issues with connectivity, even during what I assume were peak hours. The soundproofing is decent too – you’ll hear the occasional bus on Grays Inn Road, but it’s more of a gentle London hum than anything disruptive. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward, no upselling or forced conversation about breakfast packages, just efficient and friendly. At this price point and with an 8.5 rating, it feels like they’ve found that sweet spot between boutique charm and practical comfort that’s surprisingly hard to find in central London.

Rooms

• One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for 4 adults

Facilities