Henrietta Experimental

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about the Henrietta Experimental? Walking up to number 14 on Henrietta Street, you’d almost miss it if you weren’t looking – there’s this understated elegance that doesn’t scream “look at me” like so many London hotels do. I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from Covent Garden’s chaos, but somehow this little pocket feels completely removed from all that tourist madness.

The whole “experimental” thing isn’t just marketing fluff, honestly. They’ve got this quirky approach to hospitality that actually works – the lobby doubles as a wine bar where locals genuinely hang out (not just hotel guests pretending to be sophisticated), and the design feels like someone’s ridiculously well-traveled friend decorated their flat. I stayed there during a particularly dreary February, and the warm lighting and vintage furniture made those long winter evenings actually pleasant. The rooms are compact but clever – very London in that way where every inch serves a purpose. What really got me was the attention to small details: proper coffee setup, bathroom products that don’t smell like generic hotel soap, and blackout curtains that actually block out the streetlights from Henrietta Street.

Location-wise, you’re golden here. Sure, everyone talks about being near Covent Garden, but what they don’t mention is how easy it is to duck down to the Strand for proper transport links, or how you can cut through those little side streets to avoid the crowds entirely. I found myself walking to the British Museum most mornings – takes about fifteen minutes if you know the route through Bloomsbury’s quieter squares. The area gets lively in the evenings (you’re surrounded by theaters, after all), but the hotel’s positioned just far enough from the main drag that you won’t hear drunk theater-goers stumbling home at midnight. Actually, the sound insulation is surprisingly good for a building that’s clearly got some history to it. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too – no lengthy explanations of amenities I’ll never use, just genuine recommendations about where to grab breakfast (there’s a brilliant little place around the corner on Bedford Street) and which tube stations to avoid during rush hour.

With an 8.9 rating, you’d expect something special, and it delivers without being pretentious about it. It’s the sort of place that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something rather than just booked another room for the night.

Rooms

• Junior Suite with City View with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Standard King Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior Double or Twin Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior King Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Junior Suite with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe Double or Twin Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe Double or Twin Room with City View with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior Double or Twin Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe Double or Twin Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Family Room with 2 large double beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• 2 Adjacent Superior Rooms with 2 large double beds for 2 adults, 1 child

Facilities