Where to get the best private view of London’s skyline | The Soho Hotel’s Terrace Suite
Stepping into The Soho Hotel is like unwrapping a surprise gift from your closest friend who’s given you a present simply to delight you. When it’s your turn, you’ll find the hotel quietly tucked away on Richmond Mews, just a few hundred feet from busy Tottenham Court underground station. The Soho Hotel is surrounded by some the best offerings in London (the British Museum, Covent Garden, Picadilly Circus, and the Royal Opera House, for example). If arriving on foot, as I prefer to do, spotting the hotel’s unassuming red-brick façade at the end of a side street will spark curiosity. Stepping over the threshold will transport you entirely.
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Delights inside
Somewhere after the moment the porter ushered me into the lobby with a friendly welcome and before my tour of the sprawling Terrace Suite where we’d stay, I knew I’d found the one. In romcoms, “the one” is a modern Prince Charming type who is devastatingly handsome with kindness to match. Similarly, designer and co-owner Kit Kemp created something more than the sum of its parts by mingling the best of all things wonderful — romantic cottage fabrics, whimsical themes, cheery colours, fresh flowers, and the keenest attention to comfort, all wrapped up in a spick-and-span, impeccably maintained package. I doubled my joy by sharing it; my husband joined me in the lobby, followed by our grown son and his little dog who spent a rejuvenating evening with us. Along the way, each pointed out features that caught their fancy.
Playing favourites | Refuel restaurant
My husband, David, connected with the spirit of Refuel, the hotel’s onsite restaurant. The wall mural behind the bar is a stylised collage of car-racing imagery, giving Refuel’s name a clever dual meaning. As a former motorcycle racer and current car enthusiast, it’s no wonder the restaurant’s exciting retro theme was the clear winner in David’s estimation. His affinity for Refuel tripled after experiencing London’s best breakfast, perfectly prepared eggs Florentine alongside turkey bacon. My porridge with milk had just the right consistency and came topped with uber-fresh berries, banana, mango, and pineapple. I can think of no better start to a day.
A love of dogs
In the drawing room just off the lobby, La Balle Mauve, a thoroughly engaging painting by François Bard, communicates the special place dogs occupy in hearts and in the hotel to all who see it. In fact, even though Ellie wasn’t staying the night, the manager sent up an overstuffed dog bed and dishes to make her time with us extra comfortable. Dogs aren’t just welcome at The Soho Hotel, they’re celebrated.
The breathtaking view
The Terrace Suite can be reserved with one or two bedrooms. Whichever you choose, you’ll be treated to an expansive view of London for miles in three directions. The room has a wrap-around private balcony unlike any I’ve seen in over a decade of travel writing. This treat topped our son’s list and had all of us taking it all in again and again throughout the day and long into the night.
Once we tore ourselves away, we stumbled upon a mini bar hidden inside fabric-covered wall panels. Kit Kemp designed each of the 96 rooms at The Soho Hotel to be completely unique, even from each other, and offer features you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.
My recommendation
Now that I’ve stayed in one of the seven Firmdale Hotels, I must collect them all. You too? Begin by browsing photo galleries and booking a room on The Soho Hotel London’s website. FOMO in this case is utterly justified, so don’t wait! Until then, shop Kit Kemp’s signature style online to bring the wonder home.
Appreciation
My gratitude to Jenny, head of Firmdale Hotels’ PR, who so competently and speedily arranged the details of my stay. Thank you to Jason, general manager and fabulous host, for providing me with instant, thorough answers to my rather Socratic questions, plus fascinating stories of The Soho Hotel. We must do it again sometime!
