High Road House

London, United Kingdom [view map]

Style

Cool members’ club outpost

Setting

Boulevard in the ’burbs

High Road House, the West London outpost of Nick Jones' oh-so-cool Soho House members' club combines relaxed hangout and city retreat with buzzy bar and brilliant brasserie, all decked out in über-designer Ilse Crawford's trademark comfy but modern colour-accented interiors schemes.

Local restaurants

Combine a stroll along the Thames with lunch or dinner at Pissaro, close to Chiswick Pier (+44 (0)20 8994 3111) – ask for a river view and a plate of oysters. Other good evening-meal venues in Chiswick include Parisian‑style bistro Le Vacherin (+44 (0)20 8742 2121), seafood‑fan magnet FishWorks (+44 (0)20 8994 0086) and luxe French restaurant La Trompette (+44 (0)20 8747 1836). In the Barley Mow Centre, Sam’s (+44 (0)20 8987 0555) is an excellent but unpretentious modern brasserie with imaginative brunch and dinner menus, and a smart bar: pop in for a glass of wine and nibbles, or linger over a delicious meal. Spice things up over in W6 with a tastebud‑tantalising thali at Indian Zing on King Street (+44 (0)20 8748 8989).

Local cafes

For coffee or a quick lunch, Shackology on Chiswick High Road (+44 (0)20 8995 2607) is spacious and relaxed, with a pared‑down Greenwich Village vibe; we love the rotisserie chicken.

Worth getting out of bed for

Stroll up Chiswick High Road and pick up a ready‑to‑go picnic box for two from big‑hitting Italian deli and diner Carluccio’s (+44 (0)20 8995 9387). Lazybones can potter across to Turnham Green, just opposite; alternatively, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (www.kew.org) is only two stops away on the District Line (or a short cab ride). Richmond-upon-Thames, with its riverside bars, restaurants and shopping, is also only a couple of Tube stops away. Central London is easily accessible by public transport: see our London destination guide for more information.

Diary

Late March Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (www.theboatrace.org). Late May Chelsea Flower Show (www.rhs.org.uk). Late June Wimbledon tennis championships (www.wimbledon.org). July–September The BBC Proms concerts (www.bbc.co.uk/proms). September Open House Weekend sees 600 buildings, old and new, open to the public, free of charge (www.londonopenhouse.org).

Recommended rooms

Most rooms are big enough for another bed or a cot, at no extra charge. The best room for families is Room 6. It has an extra single bed in an alcove beneath the window.

Crèche/day care

There's no crèche at this child-friendly London hotel, but the Playground area in the basement is filled with toys and supervised at weekends from 10am to 5pm (parents must stay in the hotel, and can only leave children for a short period, depending on how many children are around). The Playground becomes an adults-only lounge after 6pm.

Activities

Older children can use the pool table, table football table and board games in High Road House's Playroom during the day.

Meals

A children's menu is available in the Brasserie; two courses and an apple juice costs £5. Dishes include home-made burgers and fish fingers, plenty of organic vegetables, and puddings such as ice-cream sundaes with strawberries, kiwi fruit with hundreds & thousands. The Brasserie serves children from 12am to 7pm. Children can also eat in the Playground Monday to Friday, and in the main Upstairs restaurant till 6pm at weekends.

Babysitting

High Road House can organise babysitting, from about £9 to £12 an hour, plus the cost of the sitter's taxi home. Please give a minimum of 24 hours' notice.

Baby-listening

Baby monitors work in all rooms. Bring your own, or borrow one from reception (subject to availability). Monitors can be left at reception while you dine.

No need to pack

There are lots of high chairs in the restaurant, and masses of toys in the Playground, particularly at weekends. Cowshed toiletries are naturally gentle on young skin.

Also

There is a DVD player in each room, and you can request a selection of child-friendly DVDs to borrow.