Feeling at home in my suite – shot with my Leica
The great thing about London is that its hotel scene is
as vibrant as the city itself: there are areas that will always offer something
new to discover and do, no matter how often you visit. During my last trip to
the capital city of the UK, I decided to spend some time in buzzing Covent
Garden, one of the areas that, to me, epitomizes London.
To explore the area, I stayed at the One Aldwych, a 5 star
hotel that I was anticipating to discover. Set in one of the most important
Edwardian buildings of London, the hotel is located within walking distance of
prestigious London galleries like the
Tate Modern and the National Gallery, as well as the edgy boutiques and trendy
restaurants of Covent Garden.
The lobby at One Aldwych – shot with my Leica
Also close to Soho and its crazy nightlife, the One
Aldwych offers just the perfect spot to start the evening if you are willing to
go out – especially if, like me, you are visiting over a week-end. Far from your
average hotel bar, the lobby bar at One Aldwych impresses by its size: a vast
room with stunning double height space… Yet, the comfortable bespoke furniture
gives it the perfect intimate feeling.
I sat at the bar and tried the « Valentino
Red », a champagne cocktail served with Italian bitters, molecular spheres
and a strawberry… So cool!
If you need more to be convinced, well, the lobby bar
at One Aldwych has simply been named one of the top five hotel bars in the
world by the Sunday Telegraph!
My Valentino Red in the making – shot with my Leica
Valentino Red… Shot with my Leica
If the lobby bar of One Aldwych already impressed me
when I walked in, discovering my suite for the week end was the best part! I
stayed in one of the most fantastic suites of the hotel – and the area I think!
What made it so extraordinary were the views: the spacious circular sitting
room was filled with daylight from three large windows, the main one offering a
breathtaking view over Waterloo Bridge.
What a spacious room ! Shot with my Leica
The gorgeous view over Waterloo Bridge – shot with my Leica
As for the suite itself, it spread over 72 square
metres (775 square feet), and even had… A private gym: a feature that deserves
to be highlighted… How often do you have a private gym in your room or suite
when traveling ?
The private gym – shot with my Leica
The dining area – shot with my Leica
A great room ! Shot with my Leica
The sitting area – shot with my Leica
There was enough space in the large sitting-room to
make you feel comfortable like at home, with a dining table and desk besides
the sitting area, along with several pieces of striking artwork and, of course,
all the latest technological equipments (there’s even a Wii console). Of
course, the suite also featured a double bedroom with a very nice bathroom.
The bedroom – shot with my Leica
The bedroom – shot with my Leica
Inside the bathroom – shot with my Leica
Inside the bathroom – shot with my Leica
Waking up on Sunday from a very long night out,
another highlight of the One Aldwych I was happy to enjoy was the pool. It was
the first time I stayed at a London hotel with a pool (I don’t know if there
are so many others), so I had to try it! The pool is located in the hotel’s
comprehensive health club, which also boasts steam
and sauna rooms… A hidden
gem a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of London!
So nice to take a dip in the 18 metro chlorine free swimming pool !
For information and booking, please visit: http://www.onealdwych.com/home
The One Aldwych
One Aldwych
London WC2B 4BZ
Tel. +44 (0)20 7300 1000