The Bloomsbury
"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?The Bloomsbury Hotel couldn’t be more central, yet somehow it manages to feel like a secret. The design is a brilliant combination of outlandish features—Art Deco curves, decadent velvet sofas, and elaborate wallpaper—and scholarly corners like the well-stocked library, a nod to the area’s literary history. What's the backstory?This elegant, redbrick Edwin Lutyens-designed building was once the Central Club of the Young Women’s Christian Association. Since being reimagined as a hotel in the 1990s, it’s undergone many renovations, most recently at the hand of Martin Brudnizki. The bright-pink Coral Room bar debuted during the newest reburb. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?The smaller rooms are subdued, with varying shades of taupe, while the suites are jazzier, with blood-red headboards, velvet armchairs, and TVs in the monochrome marble bathrooms. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? And how is the quality?Free and fast. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?In the summer, the Dalloway Terrace has a lovely, flower-filled outdoor area. The rest of the year, the Coral Room does decadent plates of truffle-laced carpaccio and more British sparkling wines than you’ll be able to taste. What type of travelers will you find here?Not here on business. These are in-the-know, arty types who have come to London for a gallery tour and decadent dinner. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?You’re near everything—the shops of Oxford Street, the theaters of the West End—but you’ll feel far enough away from it all. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?You can't argue with this location and gorgeous interior design—and especially so for these prices." - Laura Goulden
