The Private Traveller

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Indulgence Personified: A Luxurious Escape at One Aldwych - A Leading Hotels of the World Review

The Private Traveller

Overview

After a period of almost a decade since our last visit to One Aldwych, we felt it was time for a return visit, albeit we’ve had lots and lots of trips to London since and stayed elsewhere. I’ll write a full hotel review focussing on all aspects, from location and accommodation to food & drink and service. Visiting at Christmas is also such a special time in London, and the decorations in the hotel really started to put us in the festive spirit.

Booking through Leading Hotels of the World is often my first port of call and while some other landmark hotels are no longer part of this group, One Aldwych remains. The hotel had a full refurbishment back in 2019 and we were really interested to see what had changed. On this trip, we were planning to see Tina Turner the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, so this hotel was only a very short distance away. We also had afternoon tea booked at the Grand Saloon of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, again very close, but wasn’t really a highlight of our weekend. As part of the same trip, where we visit Oxford next then Bath, we also have afternoon tea planned at the Pump House of the old Roman Baths in Bath. I will post a separate blog focussing on the difference between the two experiences, but we would, I think, have been better off choosing another afternoon tea location for London as we were underwhelmed by the Theatre Royal.


Hotel website: https://www.onealdwych.com

Would I stay here again?   After a long break from visiting, this is definitely now on the ‘must return’ list for London. It’s a PERFECT location right in the heart of Covent Garden and I’d love to come back and experience other rooms/suites and more of the hotel in general. The Health Club & Spa is wonderful.

One Aldwych - Luxury Hotel in London, Covent Garden

Location

There is the saying “Location, location, location” that I often use in hotel reviews or blog posts, and I think One Aldwych has to be one of the best examples of why that phrase can be so important. The hotel is so easily accessible, this trip we took the train and it was a very short taxi ride from King’s Cross station, and would equally be very easy by underground (the Tube) too had there not been a strike on the day we arrived. It’s direct on the Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden tube station, and then from there just a 5 minute walk; or an equal walk to Charing Cross tube too which is also nearby along the Strand.

As well as the hotel having lots on site that you might want - normally a choice of two restaurants and bars, health club, spa, screening room and more; there is so much on the doorstep in Covent Garden within easy walking distance. Whenever we’re in London, we like to walk around and especially at Christmas One Aldwych is a perfect location - only a couple of minutes to Somerset House and their Christmas extravaganza there (Skate, the ice rink, food stalls, etc.) and easy access to museums, restaurants, bars, theatres and the Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and down to the Embankment on the River Thames and the Southbank Centre on the other side (and National Theatre, London Eye, I really could go on and on).

One Aldwych's building has an illustrious past as the home of The Morning Post newspaper. From the position at the west end of Fleet Street, the daily paper was written, edited and printed in this distinctive Edwardian building until 1927. Until 1998 when the hotel opened, Inveresk House as it became known had several alterations including some extra floors and internal reconfiguration, and was occupied by various bodies like the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Defence, the Prudential Assurance Company and Lloyds Bank. A diverse and intriguing past that, for me, only adds to the interest of it being repurposed into a luxury hotel.

Accommodation

At One Aldwych there are 101 rooms and suites in total, spread across 6 floors of a uniquely shaped (triangle) historic hotel - it was built in 1905 originally for the Morning Post newspaper. There are 85 bedrooms in three room types (Classic, Superior & Deluxe) and then Studio Suites, Suites and Signature Suites (16 suites in total). As I do by choice, where possible, I booked through Leading Hotels of the World. Initially I had booked a Superior room, but with their pre-arrival upgrade program for members, this was upgraded (in advance) to a Deluxe Room, the biggest room type before the suites, and my request for a high floor was honoured. We were initially in room 605 (6th, top floor) and were there for one night, before having to be moved on the same floor to room 603. When we came back on day 2 after breakfast and the room having been serviced, we found chunks of plaster lying in the shower after a shelf support had fallen off. 

Both rooms were similar in style, think light creams, art-deco inspired furniture marble bathrooms; but the second room had a bigger bathroom but smaller bedroom. Both had twin sinks which I love and a really decent sized vanity area, the second bedroom also had a bath too, though still a large walk-in shower. There was a great heated towel rail as well as underfloor heating in the bathroom, to warm up the fabulous Frette towels. Not only was the luxurious Egyptian cotton bedding by Frette too (crisp white with a light grey contrast piping), but when the bathroom was serviced for the first time, matching Frette cotton mats were placed appropriately under products.

On arrival there were welcome salted caramel chocolates; these were seriously good and it’s a shame they weren’t replaced. When moving to the second room, a bottle of red wine was there (I assume the LHW gift which you’re meant to receive on every stay), but unfortunately we’re not big wine drinkers really (other than some fizz now and again) and never red because of the tannins. The large green pitted olives were however utterly delicious, though ‘Mrs’ ThePrivateTraveller is far from being an olive fan.

As I said, both rooms were beautifully appointed and designed, both had great views out across the London skyline, with the bigger bedroom area in the first room (albeit there was a support pillar between the seating and bedroom area) there were two windows as opposed to one for more natural light. The absolute best combination would have been the bedroom and sitting of the first, combined with the bathroom of the second (which also had a window for light). There were the most amazing pillows from Sleep, the Best Bedding in the World. I’m sure from our last visit which must now be more than 10 years or so, I ended up buying the same pillows having found the source. I think though having contacted that same company recently to try and source matching bed linen for a set, I was advised this brand had been discontinued. I have reached out to One Aldwych to try and find if there is a current supplier, the pillows were just so comfortable. The Frette linens are incredible too, but they do come at a very luxurious price.

There was a large flat-panel TV on the wall, very high tech and it crashed (software-wise) on the first night, and we found it impossible to reset/switch off as there was apparently no way to disconnect it or switch it off and on. However, after having to call for an engineer to help, we then discovered there was a very well hidden reset button. There was also a B&O Bluetooth speaker, which connected ok once we knew to only press for 2 seconds and release as soon as there was a confirmatory beep (had to Google this as there didn’t seem to be any hotel guidance for it).

Although I’ve been left with no sense of smell after a Covid infection (now four months ago) the toiletries by Mitchell and Peach (English Growers, English Leaf range) I’m sure smelt lovely, albeit I just couldn’t detect any scent (that is just me though).

What an amazing (two) room(s) - loved being on the top floor, always a request with great views towards the Shard and the OXO London building - what a great night skyline view. They were serviced twice daily and were literally shining, sparkling, spotlessly clean.

Food & Drink

Although we didn’t have dinner in the hotel (so many other great choices in London and around and about in Covent Garden)  we did have breakfast in the mezzanine Indigo restaurant. I must say the restaurant service was one of lasting (poor) memories from our last stay (albeit such a long time ago) and whenever we book to stay in London and I perhaps consider the LHW choice of One Aldwych, our breakfast memory has always persuaded us in favour of another property. Having been back though this time, I think it’s more than fair to say that the hotel has been reinstated as a favourite, and we will definitely return; such a fantastic location.

We had great service on both the Saturday & Monday mornings (quicker and multiple top ups of juice, more toast etc.), it was much busier on Sunday morning and service was far less attentive. There were great choices of breakfast options and it’s a fab location overlooking either the lobby bar from the mezzanine level restaurant or out to the side street so you can people-watch.

We tended to alternate between the full English breakfast (vegetarian for me, full meat for ‘Mrs’ ThePrivateTraveller) and the healthy breakfast. This had a choice of yoghurt type (opted for Greek) with a selection of condiments to add like berries, granola and seeds; as well as some fine English honey to taste. This was followed by sourdough seeded bread with avocado and a poached egg (always perfectly prepared) and I also have this with some chilli flakes to top it off. Also served with a choice of teas and coffees and juices, a great benefit of booking through Leading Hotels of the World having the complimentary breakfast, as well as the pre-arrival upgrade.

As well as the Indigo Restaurant which was open, the hotel also has another (Eneko Basque Kitchen & Bar) on a lower level of the hotel which wasn’t open during our stay. What did catch my eye (even if we’re not using a facility I always like to try and check everything out so I have a complete picture of a hotel and can write about it all) when we were having a look into the Screening (cinema) room was their Film & Fizz package. When looking into the 30-seat luxurious private, one of the staff members was getting it set up for a film showing (Spencer that day) with popcorn. In conjunction with the cinema chain Curzon, for £75 you get a three-course meal in Indigo, sparkling wine and popcorn as well as the film screening. Dates and times vary, but there seemed to be options of either a 12:30pm lunch on Sundays and 6/6:30pm dinners on certain weekdays, before the film. We will definitely want to return here, and it would be a luxurious way in winter (film dependent) to spend a Sunday staying in the hotel for this, probably following a spa morning or day.

Facilities & Service

We had great service from the concierge welcome to the front desk and the necessary change of room was accommodated well when we were out at the theatre. Although it wasn’t highlighted by the front desk on arrival, we did wonder afterwards why there had been no request taken for a daily newspaper. In with the room cards however was a note on Pressreader, which did also have a voucher for two complimentary glasses of champagne in the Library, a guest-only lounge located on the ground floor at the entrance, which is open from 9am daily until late. I must say on seeing this on the morning after our arrival, as beautifully designed and furnished as it is, I couldn’t quite see the point of it. 

That said, when we tried to get into the Monkey 47 pop-up gin bar nearby for pre-theatre cocktails but not getting in, and coming back to the hotel instead the Library came into its own then because it is ring-fenced for guests. It was a great space for a drink because it was quieter, despite the main lobby bar and bars elsewhere (because of the location being the heart of theatre-land) being so busy with non-guests. Although we ran out of time before going to see Tina Turner the Musical, the Lobby Bar (which is the same menu for the guest Library) is featuring a special cocktail menu (a sensory journey of scent) in partnership with Floral Street. There were 9 cocktails (ranging from £14 to £18), three featuring my favourite spirit (gin) and all sounding so wonderful - I don’t think though at the moment I would have had the full experience without a sense of smell. In terms of newspapers, which is what I was explaining before heading off down the Library explanation, is that there was also a card explaining about the hotel’s Press Reader service. We did make use of this but there is something about Sunday newspapers being better in real form, especially as I think the online versions don’t usually have the complete array of supplements. I therefore went out before breakfast to pick up a Sunday Times from a shop just across the road and to get some air. On coming back (very attentive service) one of the concierge staff ran after me to make sure that I knew we could have ordered through the hotel anyway.

There are so many good aspects of this hotel, but one of my favourite things is the Health Club & Spa on the first lower level. On entry, is the welcoming reception desk and a waiting area for you to complete any necessary consultation forms (for treatments only). There is also a very decent sized and extremely well-equipped gym and a number of beautiful treatments designed, muted in style with comforting/relaxing browns and greys. A spiral staircase then takes you down to another lower level where you’ll find the breathtaking bright blue pool (with underwater music allegedly), a number of relaxing loungers and a pool-side sauna and steam room. I’ll write a much more detailed review of my treatment here and more on the Health Club & Spa generally as part of a This Man’s Journal blog.

ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):

  • Really hard to comment on anything negative here, maybe again such a light comment about the inconsistency of breakfast service - fab on two days, but less so when busy

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

  • As I often say - Location, location, location

  • Health Club & Spa - so wonderful to have this standard of facility in such a central location

  • Pillows and bed linens - pure luxury and comfort (not to mention all other design aspects and style of the bedrooms)

  • Salted caramel chocolates on arrival

  • Did I mention the location?

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