Lime Tree Hotel
"First impression Quirky, like stepping into a vintage store crammed full of covetable curios.Staff Go above and beyond.Food and drink Well-executed classics.Bed and bath Diminutive but cosy, with interesting details making up for a lack of space.The crowd In-the-know overseas visitors.Sustainable credentials Full-size toiletries rather than dinky but hard-to-recycle minis.Prices Doubles from £135 (singles from £110).In a nutshell A beautifully individual, affordable stay in Belgravia. Set the sceneJust around the corner from Elizabeth Street – often described as London’s prettiest road, with an almost unreal film-set feel to it – the hotel is understatedly elegant from the outside. Inside, the two converted Georgian townhouses are filled with carefully selected objects that create an eclectic country-cottage feel with whimsical touches including paper butterflies and sculptures teetering on stacks of poetry books alongside retro film posters, framed Penguin Classic covers, fruit prints and wooden games. What's the story?Enthusiastic non-hotelier owners Matt and Charlotte Goodsall took over the property in 2008, turning it into something that sounds simple but is incredibly hard to get right: an inexpensive place to stay, in a prime location, that does not scrimp on details or lure guests in with deceptive pricing; where you can simply feel at home in thoughtfully designed rooms. Relying mainly on word of mouth, it quickly became Belgravia’s loveliest bargain boutique hotel. When the first lockdown hit in 2020, the couple decided to overhaul the interiors with the help of Fraher & Findlay Architects (who contributed to a retail unit at Coal Drops Yard), and also add a new café. What can we expect from our room?From the truly minuscule to the moderately small, there’s no getting around the fact that space is limited here, but even the tiniest bedroom is an optimised retreat with an armchair to curl up in (reading material provided – ours included Aesop’s Fables and Around the World in 80 Days), posters of owl and fish species, vintage-style dial phones, Ikat pillows and teal velvet. Triple and single rooms are also available, the latter at an even keener price. Bathrooms – white-tiled, no-fuss elegance – are stocked with Bramley toiletries that come in full-size, easier-to-recycle bottles, with a ‘please don’t take me home’ sticker. And just when you thought that affordability must mean some not-essential corners are cut, you spot a small leather tray for your jewellery. How about the food and drink?On entering the Buttery café, a delicious strong smell of freshly ground beans, sourced from The Gentlemen Baristas, hits you immediately, heralding a good start to the day. The snug space is decked out in fern-print cushions, animal oil paintings and little vases filled with bright gerbera, and currently offers an assured take on classic brunch staples, including just-right avocado on sourdough with Clarence Court poached eggs and a full English. There’s also burrata on toast and bacon butties, plus a sweet-tooth option of French-toast brioche with layers of Nutella and berries. Pastries from Paul Rhodes Bakery, to go with your inevitable second flat white, are crispy without being too sweet. (Breakfast is not included so guests can order as much or as little as they like.) The hotel is planning to expand the menu – at the moment, there are light salads and an intriguing-sounding aubergine sabih for lunch – which no doubt will attract more of a local crowd, and we think this could be a future afternoon-tea destination. Anything to say about the service?Extremely friendly and happy to explain about the interiors and provenance of ingredients for dishes served in the Buttery. What sort of person comes here?International visitors who want to be somewhere central (it’s less than a mile to Buckingham Palace and other big box-tickers), while also being able to call a fancy postcode home for a couple of days. What's the neighbourhood scene like?There’s an almost Parisian vibe to the patisseries, hat shops, children’s fashion and bespoke-accessory boutiques set along the pavement outside. Walk to the end of the road, past the lantern-lit pub, Italian osteria and picture-book church, turn left and within minutes you’re on Sloane Square, with endless shopping and dining opportunities on King’s Road – book a table for small plates at Vardo or a decadent Indian feast at Kutir. Anything you'd change?It’s possible that some guests might miss having their own kettle for a late-night cup of tea but it’s hardly worth mentioning. Anything else?The charming back garden, with a handful of chairs facing a small lawn; we imagine it’s magical in summer and were even tempted to take our coffee outside on a chilly winter morning. A pocket of quiet that – just like the rest of the house – is a sweet miniature that still has all the elements needed to make it all work beautifully. Is it worth it?Absolutely – impossible to think of another place that’s as smartly unique as well as great value for its location. Foreign guests geared up for sight-seeing know they can easily reach the centre (Victoria station is a 10-minute walk away) or just wander the surrounding jewel-box streets and stop for a treat at Baker & Spice." - Katharine Sohn
