One Aldwych

Hotel Description

You know what? I’ve walked past One Aldwych probably a hundred times over the years – it sits right there on that curved corner where the Strand meets Aldwych, and I always wondered what it was like inside. Well, I finally found out, and honestly, it’s one of those places that just gets everything right without trying too hard.

The building itself is this gorgeous Edwardian beauty that used to house the Morning Post newspaper back in the day, and they’ve kept all that character while making it feel completely modern. The lobby has this amazing contemporary art collection – there’s actually a swimming pool on the health club level with these incredible glass panels showing underwater films, which sounds weird but is actually mesmerizing. I mean, where else are you going to see that? The rooms are what I’d call understated luxury – think clean lines and really good fabrics rather than all that gold-leaf nonsense you get at some London hotels. The bathrooms are particularly nice, with these deep tubs that actually fit a normal-sized human being.

Location-wise, you’re basically in the sweet spot of central London. Covent Garden is literally around the corner (perfect for that pre-dinner drink at Rules or grabbing coffee at Monmouth), and you can walk to the British Museum in about ten minutes if you cut through those little side streets behind Holborn. The theatre district is right there too – I walked to three different shows during my stay without breaking a sweat. Temple tube station is closest, but honestly, you’ll probably end up walking everywhere because you’re so central. The staff actually seem to know London properly, not just the tourist bits – they pointed me toward this little wine bar on Drury Lane that I never would have found otherwise. Parking is what you’d expect in central London (expensive and complicated), but the doormen are brilliant at sorting out taxis, and there’s something to be said for a hotel where the concierge doesn’t immediately try to upsell you on everything. The Axis restaurant downstairs does really solid modern European food, though I’d skip breakfast there and head to the covered market in Covent Garden instead – better atmosphere and half the price. That 9.4 rating makes perfect sense once you’ve been there; it’s the kind of place that handles all the little details so well that you don’t really think about them until you’re somewhere else that doesn’t.

Rooms

• Deluxe Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Executive Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior King Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults

Facilities