**When was the last time you checked yourself in to a hotel for no other reason than to kick off your weekend in style? Yup, us neither. Grazia’s Chrissy Amer bucked the trend and took up residence at one of the capital’s most **luxurious hotels, Rosewood London. Well, just because…
I don’t know about you but if I’m staying somewhere vaguely nice, there’s a certain amount of psyching myself up and prep that needs to take place. Will my outfits of choice fit in? Will I look like I belong? Will people think I’m a 5*charlatan living above my means? We’ve all seen those people in hotels, please God, don’t let me be one of them. My reading-up before arrival tells me that £85million was spent on its renovation in October 2013 before re-opening and that the Grand Manor House Wing, accessed by private elevator (obvs) is the only hotel suite in the world with its own postcode. Cue a crisis.
The hotel, a flamboyant Belle Epoque Edwardian building is located in Holborn, minutes from Covent Garden, and guests enter via a grand carriageway which leads to a beautiful courtyard surrounded by flame torches, shiny Bentleys and handsomely dressed concierge staff (donned in Nicholas Oakwell couture-designed uniforms, no less). It normally takes a good couple of hours (and glasses of vin) to unwind after a week at work but the office desk I was sat at fifteen minutes ago seems a lifetime away already.
The 262 rooms and 44 suites were designed by Tony Chi and Associates to create a homely, stylish feel with textured woods, prismatic mirrors, light grey fabrics and create the feeling of space and peace. We were lucky enough to stay in a Grand Premier Suite which even came with its very own butler. My zen-like state was briefly interrupted when an unpacking service was kindly offered and the horror of having someone else unload my jim-jams and pants that have frankly seen better days dawned on me. Butler politely dismissed, we explored the room, agog at the level of luxury around us. See the 60 second tour here:
This place has no shortage of options for eating and drinking; head to Scarfes bar with roaring fire and intimate nooks for cocktails, rare whiskies, comfort food and live jazz. The Holborn Dining Room is a fun and bustling brasserie serving simple but delicious British fare. Or opt for the stunning Mirror Room, a social all-day dining and afternoon tea stop adorned with mirrors and the most spectacular flower displays you’ve ever seen. Gym bunnies will be happy with a state-of-the-art Fitness Suite (I may have accidently forgotten my kit) or indulge in carefully curated treatments at the Sense® Spa.
The Rosewood is off-the-scale exquisite and not a world myself or most folk I know would treat themselves to normally. It should be snooty and sneer at lowly imposters pretending to live the high life but that’s what makes this place so magical. It’s a space that makes it easy for you to love, wander round and coo at and celebrate its gorgeousness which in turn rubs off on guests and staff alike.
I implore you to just go and treat yourself in some small way at this incredible hotel for absolutely no reason at all. Have a sneaky cocktail or two after work, tuck into afternoon tea with the girls or rock up to their new farmers market on Sunday. Or why not go the whole hog and stay overnight? Just make sure you pack your best pants.
Chrissy Rosewood Hotel Review
Stepping off busy High Holborn, you are instantly transported into an oasis of calm
Rosewood London Hotel
The beautiful copper coloured walkway through to Reception
Rosewood London Hotel
Head to Scarfes Bar for cocktails, rare whiskies, comfort food and live jazz
Rosewood London Hotel
The Holborn Dining Room is a fun and bustling brasserie serving simple, delicious British fare
Rosewood London Hotel
The plush lounge area of one the Grand Premier Suites
Rosewood London Hotel
The Grand Premier Suite with the most beautiful marble bathroom
Rosewood London Hotel
Quirky interior of hotel. Spot the dog
Rosewood London Hotel
Tucking in to Afternoon Tea in the Mirror Room
Rosewood London Hotel
Every Sunday the 'Slow Food & Living Market' sets up shop in the serenity of the hotel's grand inner courtyard
Rosewood London Hotel
Gorgeous organic fare at the 'Slow Food & Living Market' held every Sunday
Rosewood London Hotel
Ciao Rosewood - I'll be back!
Rosewood London Hotel
Grand Premier Suite shot of cloud-like bed
Rosewood London Hotel
*Deluxe rooms from £380 per night and deluxe suites from £950 per night, including wifi, mini-bar & breakfast rosewoodhotels.com/London *
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