Mr & Mrs Smith

Rough Luxe

London, United Kingdom

There's, quite simply, no place like Rough Luxe. This is the antithesis of a conventional luxury hotel: an unprepossessing Georgian building in King's Cross where cracked, peeling paintwork and shreds of faded wallpaper sit alongside attention-grabbing artworks both ancient and modern and weathered retro areas give way to sumptuous designer comforts. From the moment you step inside, you're really not in Kansas anymore.

Need to know

• Rooms Nine, three of which are en-suite.
• Rates Double rooms from $285.34 (£183), excluding tax at 20 per cent.
  The price shown represents the lowest nightly rate for a double room available at this hotel over the next 21 days. Any price conversions from the hotel's local currency (£183) have been conducted using today's exchange rates from xe.com.
• More details Rates include Continental breakfast.
• Facilities Small spa treatment room, in-room beauty and massage treatments, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: free bottled water, hand-made toiletries. Some rooms have TVs – the sets come straight from circa 1983. Skype phones are available if you ask in advance
• Check-out 11am, but this can be flexible; check-in: 1pm.
• Children Baby cots can be provided. Rooms 2 and 3, 6 and 7, and 9 and 10 can all be combined if you have young ones with you.
• Also Parking is at a premium in this part of London; the hotel has a few free spaces, but most cars will have to be stashed in the local NCP (£6 an hour). Pets are allowed by arrangement.

Food and drink at Rough Luxe

• Hotel restaurant

  There’s no restaurant, but an afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones and cakes (£30 a person) is served Monday to Saturday in the outdoor café or in the dining room – book in advance. Make sure to try something with honey: the hotel get their own from the bee hives on the roof. Rough Luxe's manager, Leo, can get you into any number of nearby eateries, but if you’re stuck for somewhere, you can always dine with the owners – Leo's quite a cook.

   

• Dress code The clue's in the name. Anything goes, but if you're anywhere near Helena Bonham Carter in Fight Club, you've got a winning ensemble.
• Top table There's a communal table in the Dining Room for afternoon tea.
• Room service Teas, coffees, and light snacks are available throughout the day.
• Hotel bar

  Leo opens up his liquor cabinet on an honesty bar basis, and is happy to provide tea, coffee and alcohol at any time. He usually serves wine in the evening before guests go out for the night.

Rough Luxe 1 Birkenhead Street, London, WC1H 8BA