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What 99 Pounds Buys in London
The exchange rate means that if you want to stay someplace with style, you're going to spend at least $200 a night. Here's how to do it without hating yourself in the morning.
February 2007 issue
Tuesday, January 16, 2007;
20 NEVERN SQUARE
'Hood: Earls Court, an area full of inexpensive hotels and ethnic restaurants--and yet not far from the posh shops of Kensington High Street.
First impression: A Victorian town house with a distinctly Asian flavor--from the lounge's porcelain vases and ornate birdcages (home to chirping lovebirds) to the heavy silk curtains that dress the windows.
The rooms: Each of the 23 rooms is a variation on the Eastern theme. All have king-size beds; several also feature private terraces. The marble bathrooms are nicely accessorized with handcrafted wooden boxes containing Gilchrist & Soames toiletries.
Plus: The dining room has an unusual stained-glass ceiling, making the space seem bright and airy even on the dreariest of days. There's also a full bar, perfect for cocktails.
Minus: Small rooms are made to feel even smaller by the heavy furniture, most of which was bought in Indonesia by the owner.
Details: 20 Nevern Sq., 011-44/20-7565-9555, twentynevernsquare.co.uk, from £99 ($190), includes breakfast.
B+B BELGRAVIA
'Hood: Belgravia, one of the grandest postal codes in London. The hotel's neighbors include the homes of Margaret Thatcher and Joan Collins.
First impression: In the entryway, classic Georgian Details such as the black-and-white tile floor are offset with a contemporary black-lacquer table and a funky orange swan chandelier. The sitting and breakfast rooms are linked by a glass bridge.
The rooms: The 17 rooms have white quilted duvets, soft gray carpet, and celadon tiled bathrooms (half have tubs and showers, the other half just showers). Rooms 1, 3, and 4 face the hotel's small garden, planted with fragrant passion-flower vines. It's a lovely place to enjoy a glass of wine on warm nights.
Plus: In the sitting room, guests chat about the day's sightseeing on low-slung leather sofas next to the fireplace.
Minus: Like most small London hotels, the five-story B+B Belgravia doesn't have an elevator. (There is one handicapped-accessible room on the ground floor.)
Details: 64-66 Ebury St., 011-44/20-7259-8570, bb-belgravia.com, from £99 ($190), includes breakfast.
BASE2STAY
'Hood: South Kensington/Earls Court, within easy walking distance of the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Harrods, and Hyde Park.
First impression: Base2Stay was opened last April by Robert Nadler, a developer tired of paying for amenities he never used, like gyms and restaurants. What's left are central A/C, flat-screen TVs, and soft linens. (The concept is similar to that of another London hotel, the Hoxton.)
The rooms: Each of the 67 rooms has a kitchenette tucked neatly behind a pair of doors. Food can be ordered from nearby restaurants through the free in-room TV Internet service. Large bathrooms and great light also make the hotel good for long stays.
Plus: Rooms have handmade Italian armchairs that fold out to sleep one or two additional people, at no extra charge.
Minus: While guests praise the beds' comfort, standard doubles have beds that are only five feet wide. Higher classes of rooms have six-foot beds.
Details: 25 Courtfield Gardens, 011-44/20-7244-2255, base2stay.com, from £99 ($190).
MONTAGU PLACE
'Hood: Marylebone, home to a Saturday outdoor food and fashion market, Cabbages & Frocks.
First impression: Montagu Place costs more than the others, but you get more. Its striking light fixtures, custom artwork, and walnut furnishings were orchestrated by a Glasgow design firm called in after a fire three years ago.
The rooms: The 16 rooms vary in size and are labeled Cozy, Fancy, or Swanky. They're all furnished with dark-wood wardrobes and desks, and suede or leather easy chairs. A soothing palette of browns, tans, and creams shows up everywhere, from upholstered headboards to velour throws.
Plus: The lounge and dining areas are civilized spots to have a drink. Or you can get cocktails delivered to your room.
Minus: Breakfast isn't included in the price. Eat elsewhere--the hotel charges an absurd £12.95 ($25) for a cold buffet of baked goods.
Details: 2 Montagu Pl., 011-44/20-7467-2777, montagu-place.co.uk, from £149 ($287).
HARLINGFORD
'Hood: Bloomsbury, the neighborhood that gave its name to a group of 20th-century artists and writers that included Virginia Woolf. The British Museum and the Russell Square gardens are nearby.
First impression: Although word-of-mouth referrals have kept the hotel busy for 40 years, the owners decided it needed a new look. Renovations completed in 2006 replaced the frumpy floral wallpaper and dingy burgundy carpets with brightly painted walls and modern furnishings.
The rooms: All 43 rooms have built-in blond-wood desks and wardrobes. Some period touches (ornamental fireplaces and moldings) were saved. Bath-rooms, done in jade tile, got thoroughly updated.
Plus: There are four tennis courts in Cartwright Gardens, across the street (borrow a racket at the hotel's reception desk). Guests are given keys to the front door, so they can come and go as they please.
Minus: The three-story hotel has no elevator (there are four ground-level rooms), and the bathrooms are miniscule.
Details: 61-63 Cartwright Gardens, 011-44/20-7387-1551, harlingfordhotel.com, from £99 ($190), includes breakfast.
THE HOXTON HOTEL
'Hood: Hoxton, a hip and gentrifying area near the East End and the Financial District. The bars of Shoreditch and the shops and restaurants of Spitalfields Market are within a short walk.
First Impression: The high-ceilinged, exposed-brick lobby has a minimalist, shabby-chic feel, and the focus is on useful amenities (no gym, no overpriced minibar). "I don't like being ripped off," says owner Sinclair Beecham, cofounder of the British sandwich-shop chain Pret A Manger.
The rooms: The 205 rooms are identical, with wood paneling, flat-screen TVs, and down duvets and pillows. Fridges stock free mineral water and milk.
Plus: Pret Lite Breakfasts (a pot of yogurt, a banana, and fresh orange juice) are left on a hook outside each door. Local calls are 6¢ a minute, calls to the U.S. are 10¢, and the Internet and Wi-Fi are free.
Minus: Great Eastern Street is a heavily trafficked (and rather seedy) strip, so it can be noisy. Request a room overlooking the courtyard or quieter Willow Street.
Details: 81 Great Eastern St., 011-44/20-7550-1000, hoxtonhotels.com. Note that the hotel's pricing structure is modeled on those of budget airlines; rates fluctuate wildly depending on the demand and how far in advance you book. From £59 ($119), includes breakfast.