LONDON STAYCATION: THE ROOKERY HOTEL
We received a complimentary overnight stay at The Rookery Hotel– but as always all content & opinions are our own.
On the first day in Autumn we were invited by The Rookery to celebrate our upcoming wedding anniversary with a Sunday staycation in their boutique hotel. Having lived in Clerkenwell previously we already knew a little bit about The Rookery, in fact, we’d often wander past with intrigue at what was beyond the historic facade. So when the opportunity came up to peek “behind the curtain” we were thrilled.
ABOUT THE HOTEL
You’ll find this Georgian-gem hidden down a narrow alley just around the corner from Faringdon station. Opened in 1998 the hotel is housed inside a jumble of old buildings built at the end of the 1700s. The word “Rookery” actually means slum, and refers to the previous colourful history of this district in London. But don’t let that put you off! for this neighbourhood has certainly shaken off its disreputable reputation and is now a hub for artists and creatives with an enviable location in central London.
Inside this quirky but comfortable hotel you’ll find oodles of period charm, working fireplaces, wood paneling and luxurious fabrics. The details have all been lovingly chosen to reflect the period of the building but with enough modern conveniences to make for a luxe stay.
OUR ROOM
The hotel has rooms 33 unique rooms although the layout is quite the warren and everything was so quiet that we felt as if we had the place to ourselves.
We stayed in the 'Horace Jones' room'; a dusty-pink delight tucked away on the second floor and named after the architect of nearby Smithfield Market. The wooden four-poster bed was sinfully comfortable and the roll top bath was a welcome treat after a rainy afternoon exploring Clerkenwell. If it weren’t for the phone and TV (hidden away in the wardrobe) you could almost imagine you’d slipped back in time.
HOTEL FACILITIES
If you do manage to venture from your room, downstairs you’ll find yourself torn between which cosy corner to plant yourself in. There’s a guest library, a dining room and two sitting rooms; one that is warmed by an open fire and frequented by the resident cat. There’s also an honesty bar here where you can mix your own cocktails and truly unwind. Part of what we enjoyed most about our stay was the attention to detail and relaxing ‘feel-at-home’ vibe, on the day we arrived there was even a delicious looking cake sitting out to temp guests with an afternoon sugar rush.
After dinner at a nearby pub, and a relaxing bubble bath #itwouldberudenotto, we took advantage of the in-room service and ordered ourselves a tray of tea and coffee (with biscuits!) before we settled in for a movie night. Even though we called close to 11pm the staff were all so kind and accommodating, it was a pleasure to have experienced some good old fashioned service!
In the morning breakfast was served in bed at a time of our choosing and a midday checkout meant we could be a little lazy and really enjoy our slice of romance before heading back into the real world. Talk about bliss.
SURROUNDING AREA
The streets immediately surrounding the hotel are blissfully car free, but stroll just a few hundred metres and you’ll find yourself in the bustle of Smithfield market, and not too far further, the beautiful areas around St Pauls and The Bank of England. Or head north for the young buzz of Exmouth Market and our favourite London suburb: Angel.
Although the hotel doesn’t have an onsite restaurant, it sits in the middle of some really great local spots and you won’t have to wander too far for a great meal.
We’ve included below a few ideas of whats around to visit for Lunch, Brunch, Dinner or drinks:
Lunch/ Dinner -
Polpo
The Coach
Modern pantry
Brunch -
Ask for Janice
Granger & co
Caravan
Bourne and Hollingsworth
Brill (cafe with great bagels)
Drinks/Pubs -
Zetter Townhouse
The fox and anchor
Coin laundry
Exmouth Arms
The Sekforde
Jen’s travel sketch
The best part of a staycation? No airports or train stations, no faffing with foreign currency and visas. And as we sat cross legged in the four-poster indulging in our Brick Lane breakfast bagels we talked about how we ought to make time for more such stays.
Thank you to The Rookery for having us for the night! This really is a wonderful secret spot that feels like its in a world of its own and we heartily recommend it to anyone visiting London, or anyone already living in the city and craving a relaxing staycation in a central spot.
- Simon and Jen