On the hunt for the heights of convenience and cleanliness with a healthy helping of luxury and space? Look no further than the Henrietta. This sort-of boutique hotel (it’s a little bigger than most boutiques) sits steps away from the main Covent Garden piazza on Henrietta Street. It’s technically not one site but two; split between two townhouses that aren’t connected but aren’t more than a dozen feet or so from each other
As the townhouse location beckons glamour, so does the hotel’s inner chambers. Hidden behind an otherwise-unassuming door, you’ll find a place that reeks with design, from its loud wallpaper to the carefully placed Henry Moore, Man Ray and Roy Lichtenstein books in the lobby. The Henrietta was made with an eye for design and it wants you to know – but there’s nothing wrong with that.
In fact, it’s all an exhilarating change from the dime-a-dozen, copy-paste rooms of many of the West End’s ginormous multinational hotel brands. The rooms are also exceptionally design-y (this time taking from art-deco, from golden lamps to swishly round sofas, stools and coffee tables) but don’t skimp on the essentials. The beds are massive and plush, the windows and huge and airy, the lighting is controlled and tasteful. There’s a decent mini-bar and tea/coffee selection, effective air-con, plenty of cupboard space and a well-equipped bathroom. If you want the basics covered – and a little more – few do them better than the Henrietta.
Neighbourhood
When it comes to the West End, locations don’t get much better than Covent Garden. Closer to the pavilion itself than Covent Garden tube, you’re within spitting distance of the Royal Opera House, Savoy Hotel, London Transport Museum and Theatreland. Despite being sort of in a tourist site, it’s a marvel just how private and shut-off the Henrietta feels.
Nearby:
- Redemption Roasters: For some of central London’s finest fourth-wave coffee.
- Royal Opera House: For top-tier arts from a legendary London institution. Yes, it’s opera and ballet. No, it’s not as expensive as you think.
- The Courtauld Gallery: For one of London’s best smaller, more digestible art galleries. World-renowned for its Impressionist and Post-impressionist collections, expect Van Gogh, Monet, Manet. All the art legends!
Time Out tip: Ask for a room looking out over St Paul’s church gardens. The bells make for a particularly characterful, serene sort of alarm clock.
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