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Treehouses don’t seem to be as popular among young ’uns as they used to be, but the idea of a treehouse is as vivid as ever. A place of independence, adventure, exclusivity, cosiness and getting away from it all – it’s a clever inspiration for a hotel. Well, assuming you leave the splinters, leaks and critters behind, of course.
Treehouse Hotels is a mini-chain founded on the ‘ideas that inspire a child to build a treehouse’. With a heavy focus on local sourcing, handmade goods, found objects and general eco-friendliness, it’s a cousin of American boutique brand 1 Hotels (and shares the same parent company, SH Hotels & Resorts). Treehouse Hotel London opened in 2019 and was the first in a chain that has since expanded to Manchester and Silicon Valley (and has plans for future locations in Miami, Adelaide and more).
Treehouse Hotel London is viewable from Oxford Circus, though it doesn’t stick out. It occupies floors nine to 16 of an old office block that is remarkable simply for how unremarkable it is: a great big hulk of dreary grey. Up close, however, a grand sculpture of a robin at ground level is a teaser of the character within.
What are the rooms like at Treehouse Hotel London?
A ‘treehouse’ doesn’t have to be at canopy height, but this one is – and that’s very much part of the appeal. I stayed in a ‘lookout king’ on the 12th floor (the Treehouse’s rooms are on levels nine to 14) and the views were among the finest of any London hotel. Boosted by the lack of skyscrapers to the west, the vista sprawled from Battersea Power Station’s cream chimneys right across to Harrow’s hills and beyond. The room made full use of that view, too, with a full-width window and reading nooks. Not enough hotels make time for the feet-up, book-out crowd, but Treehouse Hotel London does.
The view was far from the room’s only charm. The aforementioned eco-friendliness, handmade goods, reused objects and local touches all make for natural charisma, and Treehouse Hotel London has all that in spades. Countless shades of wood softened the old office building’s brutal concrete beams, while the commitment to the ‘treehouse’ and ‘childhood nostalgia’ themes goes far beyond naming (perch, lookout, fort, nest etc). A tree ‘growing’ through the loo, bird details on the bed throw and cushions, a mustard cuckoo clock, Magic 8 Ball and Toy Story piggy bank, camping-style enamel mugs… I couldn’t help but be endeared by the commitment to the bit.
The basics were done well, too. As vast as the window was, an immense blackout blind covered every inch of it. The storage was neatly designed and practical, the bed and pillows were suitably smothering, the shower was drenching and it was spotlessly clean in a way IRL treehouses could never be. The in-room amenities were limited – mini fridge, coffee machine, ironing board, safe – but useful. Despite being open since 2019, nothing was shabby or scuffed (I’ve stayed in newer places that haven’t been cared for nearly so well).
What are the facilities like at Treehouse Hotel London?
The Treehouse’s rooms are pretty much the only draw. Aside from its dining options (more on those below), there’s precious little else here – not even a gym. Do in-house filtered water and a delightfully diffused woody smell throughout count as amenities? Not really, but they’re nice touches.
The staff sort of contribute to the sense of childlike abandon. They were, well, a bit stiff, not unlike grumpy parents. All the more reason to retreat to your lookout.
What is the food and drink like at Treehouse Hotel London?
The top two floors of Treehouse Hotel London are taken up by on-site eating and drinking spots: Madera on 15 and The Nest on 16.
Cali-Mexican restaurant Madera serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and afternoon tea. It was undergoing a refurb on my visit, but the à la carte breakfast still dished up a formidably tasty take on classic English breakfasts with patatas bravas, chilli-flaked poached eggs and peppery black beans. Add in fresh juice, decent coffee and 15th-floor views, it’s an extraordinary start to a day.
Rooftop bar The Nest isn’t such a must-visit. Popular with hen/stag crowds (or at least packed with them when I was there), it has a menu of sharing plates, cocktails, beer and wine, with the sort of high prices that are typical of London rooftops. The capital has no shortage of better sky-high venues.
What’s the area like around Treehouse Hotel London?
Treehouse Hotel London is conveniently located for Oxford Circus but just far enough away from Europe’s busiest shopping street that you’ll get a good night’s sleep. And there’s much more to the local area than shops: Fitzrovia and Marylebone are both on your doorstep, with Soho and Mayfair within easy reach on foot. In other words, it’s ideally located for exploring pretty much the entire West End (and well-connected to the entire city).
DETAILS
Address: 14-15 Langham Place, W1B 2QS.
Price per night: From £269 per night.
Closest transport link: Oxford Circus London Underground (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines) is a five-minute walk.