Fodor's Expert Review Rosewood London
252 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EN, England, London, England See on Map
Sited behind one of the most spectacular hotel facades in the city, the Rosewood London is a luxury hideaway amidst the hustle and bustle of High Holborn. A Grade II listed building, the grand Edwardian monument is all pillars, arches and towering turrets, a stately palace set right by one of London’s busiest central locations. Only turned into a hotel as late as the beginning of the new millennium, the Rosewood is now a stylish choice for guests who want a smart, luxury abode in the West End without paying quite the level of similarly luxe properties with more storied reputations.
room
In the spacious rooms, overly fussy decoration is kept to a minimum. Instead, the hotel opts for classy white walls, puffy neutral bed linen and stylish stripes. Some might find the look a little austere but we appreciate the serenity of the parred back look.
YOU SHOULD KNOW Guests staying with children are provided for with the hotel's Executive Family Room, a spacious base that is a money-saving alternative to a suite.
bathroom
If you thought the rooms could do with a little pimping, the stunning mirrored marble bathrooms add the touch of luxury you’re after. Bathrooms come with sunken bathtubs with showers and luxe D.R. Harris bath products.
lobby
Spacious and open, the monochrome lobby at the Rosewood is pure luxury. Expect mirrors, polished striped floors, glass tanks featuring an array of artistic curiosities and comfortable leather armchairs. Perhaps more impressive than the lobby is the courtyard entrance to the hotel. Located behind thick black gates, the sight of cobblestones, weighty stone pillars and manicured hedges give the impression of a country estate rather than a West End hotel.
spa
The wellness spa consists of a gorgeous collection of rooms located in a zen-like oasis of serenity—see the sweet wooden bridges suspended above slow trickling water that lead to the spa area. In addition to treatments and massage, the wellness suite is home to a high-end salon.
gym
While most gyms are banished to the basement, the Rosewood allows its workout suite to breathe, with large arched windows letting in floods of daylight while guests sweat it out. High-tech equipment is standard and most machines come hooked up to TVs. Along with the cardio machines, the well-appointed gym has a free weights space.
dining
With a quaint, typically English lounge restaurant and a classic brasserie bar complete with oak details, brass rails and red banquettes, plus a soon-to-open space dedicated exclusively to pies, the dining options at the Rosewood are plentiful. The vibrant Holborn Dining Room is particularly popular with guests and non-guests alike.
On top of the dining options, the hotel serves afternoon tea daily. Inspired by the world of art and artists the contemporary twist on the classic pastime features pastries styled in the vein of artists like Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Jackson Pollack.
LOCATION
Getting Around
While the area directly outside the hotel is a continuous hive of activity, take a walk for a block or two and you’ll happen upon Bloomsbury and its quiet streets. In particular, check out the vibrant Lamb’s Conduit Street and its array of independent boutiques, focusing primarily on men’s fashion. In the other direction, Covent Garden is a five-minute walk with Theatreland and Soho close by. For public transport Holborn Station is right around the corner from where the Central Line runs all the way from the east to the west of the city. Taxis can conveniently pick you up from the hotel’s regal courtyard.
Restaurants
Eat contemporary cuisine with an Asian twist at chef Tom Dixon’s uber-stylish restaurant Bronte (12-minute drive). For something a little less overtly cool, try the equally chic Jar Kitchen (8-minute walk) where the finest British ingredients are utilised in the modern European dishes. For fish, there’s nowhere better—or more iconic—in central London than J Sheekey (15-minute walk).
WHY WE LIKE IT
An almost incongruously huge hotel to find nestled in the heart of Holborn, there’s something calming knowing that however much the city can hustle you, there’s always the grand courtyard and country estate escape of the Rosewood available to you at its center. Cheaper than most five-star luxury hotels and in a livelier location than the status-heavy strip of Park Lane, it feels as if the Rosewood Hotel strives to make up for its lack of history and renown. This is a good thing for the guest in that we found a hotel with great drinking and dining options, one of the most impressive facades you’ll ever see and keen service. A great choice should you want luxury close to the sights and spectacle of Central London.
QUICK FACTS
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