The Bloomsbury

We checked into the Bloomsbury on a hot and sticky Friday afternoon after work. The hotel is tucked down a quiet pedestrian side street and decorated in suitably effervescent style for its Bloomsbury setting: a colour palette of bright florals, mustard yellow, and forest green velvets contrasted with contemporary marble bathrooms and parquet wooden floors. There’s a definite spotlight on the lighting, too – from tiered tasselled ceiling lights to glass art deco frames, each room features a characterful selection.

The soothing interiors have the en vogue style of architect Edwin Lutyens in evidence everywhere – the swooping backs of wooden chairs, the curves of the wrought-iron bannisters. The living room even sports some eye-catching custom wallpaper by House of Hackney. 

The bedrooms are comfortable, colourful, cosy and feel a world away from the bustle of central London. Our staycation really begins, though, once Mr Smith and I settle in for a sizable breakfast the next morning – the buffet includes all manner of buttered sourdough breads, hot eggs, grilled tomatoes and miniature pastries, but you can also order fresh juices, smoothies and a host of favourites from the menu. 

After a leisurely refreshing shower, we made our way to Lamb’s Conduit Street, well known for its independent coffee and food shops, and niche fashion stores such as Universal Works, Folk and cult skincare brand Aesop (top tip: this particular outpost also offers 30-minute facials but be sure to book in advance). The Italian restaurant Ciao Bella is also a London insider’s go-to for delicious late-night pasta.

We then walked to the iconic Sir John Soane’s Museum. For those who are not familiar with the museum and house, it’s one of London’s most beautiful homes full of treasures, ancient and historical artefacts and paintings – and it’s free! If you time your visit well you can also gain access to see the additional hidden cabinets behind secret panels in the painting room. The gift shop has a well-informed selection of books on the house itself, as well as novelties and other books on design, architecture and wallpaper.

From here we made the pilgrimage to Dover Street Market – located towards the end of Haymarket and a must for anyone interested in fashion, stocking brands from the hyped Palace and Gosha, to Gucci, Celine and Comme des Garcons. The store also has one of the best jewellery selections in London, I opted for some beautiful Simone Rocha crystal hair slides and matching drop earrings. 

We’d booked in for an early dinner in the hotel’s highly Instagrammable Dalloway Restaurant. Its walls and ceilings have been decorated opulently with flowers and scene-setting lighting. The tiger prawns with harissa mayonnaise were a standout as was the grilled salmon with truffle and parmesan chips. An extensive wine list includes many organic British sparkling wines, as well as a delicious array of cocktails. The hotel’s high-ceilinged Coral Bar, where we retire for drinks, is beautifully decorated in vivid pinks, reds and oranges and dotted with large potted palms. 

For after-dinner entertainment, I recommend either going to the theatre or one of the area’s independent cinemas. A walk back through Soho is exhilarating but noisy – so when we reached our room, we ran a hot bubble bath and then flopped exhausted into bed. Full disclosure: we didn’t have to use any public transport or taxis over the entire course of the day and clocked up an impressive step count.

As for the beds, well, they’re incredibly comfortable with ample pillows and soft downy duvets. The room is lightly air conditioned so despite the heatwave outside we felt more than slightly smug. Our Sunday morning was spent reading the papers in bed and making use of the room’s well stocked coffee bar. 

Checking out and heading back to the reality of our home in East London, we felt that we’d managed to re-explore some of the area’s hidden treasures and learnt more about the incredible backstory of the building itself (each bedroom provides handy booklets on the history of the hotel and its origins of being a YWCA club). 

The Bloomsbury itself is – much like your own check-in here – a welcome arrival in a storied corner of London.