Checking In at the Rosewood London

  • The site of the Rosewood London was formerly an insurance office.

    The site of the Rosewood London was formerly an insurance office.

  • The opulent marble-clad bathrooms of the Manor House Suite.

    The opulent marble-clad bathrooms of the Manor House Suite.

  • A wrought iron fence leads to the courtyard of the Rosewood.

    A wrought iron fence leads to the courtyard of the Rosewood.

  • The living area of the Manor House Suite.

    The living area of the Manor House Suite.

  • The art-infused lobby of the Rosewood.

    The art-infused lobby of the Rosewood.

  • The Rose Bronze Gallery corridor.

    The Rose Bronze Gallery corridor.

  • Rooms are like cozy yet modern London homes.

    Rooms are like cozy yet modern London homes.

  • Hundreds of mirrors are uniquely angled to reflect light in the Mirror Room.

    Hundreds of mirrors are uniquely angled to reflect light in the Mirror Room.

  • The stately hotel by night.

    The stately hotel by night.

  • Gerald Scarfe's works adorn the wood-paneled walls of the eponymous bar.

    Gerald Scarfe's works adorn the wood-paneled walls of the eponymous bar.

  • An executive room at the Rosewood London.

    An executive room at the Rosewood London.

  • Have a bite at the casual brasserie Holborn Dining Room.

    Have a bite at the casual brasserie Holborn Dining Room.

Click image to view full size

Following an extensive renovation of a 100-year-old Edwardian Belle Époque building, the first Rosewood property in Europe opened its doors last October

By Jonny Clark

Behind a grandiose archway and an ornate wrought iron fence on High Holborn lies the Rosewood London. Its entry opens upon a cobbled courtyard with a blazing fire pit, fleet of Jaguars, and manicured topiary trees. Footmen flank the courtyard dressed in shooting jackets and flatcaps, and doormen wear traditional British crombie coats, all designed by British couturier Nicholas Oakwell. Enter through a glass-paned corridor set in gleaming rose bronze—just one of the hotel’s opulent features—made with more than US$1.5 million of the polished metal. At the reception desk, the sounds of finches in ornate Chinese birdcages announce your arrival.

A wrought iron fence leads to the courtyard of the Rosewood.

A grandiose archway leads to the courtyard of the Rosewood.

The Look: Housed in a stately heritage-listed building, the 100-year-old Edwardian Belle Époque structure was once the headquarters for an insurance company. Following a three-year renovation process, warm Cuban mahogany and seven types of marble bedeck formerly austere interiors. Lauded designer Tony Chi makes the Rosewood feel akin to a modern London home—and a very chic one at that—with stunning oak armoires and a parchment reception desk that effortlessly complement the hotel’s modern confines. Common spaces feature eclectic artworks like a one-off painting by Chilean artist Eduardo Hoffmann displaying the rolling countryside surrounding an English country estate alongside playful English bulldog statues that guard the elevators. The Mirror Room, a main dining space, features hundreds of fragmented mirror pieces, each uniquely angled. The space comes to life at night when candles reflect shimmering light upon the ceiling.

The art-infused lobby of the Rosewood.

The art-infused lobby of the Rosewood.

The Rooms: Chi continues his interior curatorial talents in each of the 262 rooms and 44 suites. Dressed in timeless muted tones, rooms contain rich striped carpets, tartan curtains, and buttery leather armchairs. Custom oak furniture and black lacquered woods are repeated throughout, paired with gray marble accents and mirrored dressers. Even basic rooms that face the rear of the property offer views of the London Eye, Holborn, and Lincoln’s Inn Fields, with higher-level rooms offering rooftop views and distant sightings of South London. In the bathrooms, polished metal showers and sinks display aromatic amenities by Czech and Speake. All suites have dedicated butlers, who pay close attention to personal details. During a recent stay, a butler presented a freshly grilled plate of chicken for our dog, prepared specially by the chef.

Rooms are like cozy yet modern London homes.

Rooms are akin to chic London homes.

Spread across two levels, the distinctive Dome Suite’s giant circular window offers views onto High Holborn itself. Moreover, The Manor House Wing is a self-contained residence when a presidential suite simply won’t do. With its very own postcode and private entry staffed by a personal doorman, its six bedrooms and communal spaces are spread over 585 square meters filled with artful Phaidon and Taschen books. Objets d’art referencing London are tucked around the residence, and freshly cut flowers come from the posh McQueens florist, a local favorite among fashion designers and wedding planners. Even with a nightly rate of US$30,000, occupancy hovers around 70 percent.

The opulent marble-clad bathrooms of the Manor House Suite.

The opulent marble-clad bathrooms of the Manor House Suite.

The Appeal: Scarfes Bar is a welcome addition to the city’s drinking scene, replete with a roaring fireplace surrounded by cozy Chesterfield sofas. Bow-tied mixologists concoct custom cocktails from a selection of 60-odd gins. Playful artworks by the eponymous British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe adorn the wood-paneled walls featuring the likeness of the royal family, the Rolling Stones, and an illustration of Pink Floyd’s The Wall album cover. If the drinks at Scarfes whet your palette, finish the evening at The Holborn Dining Room, a casual brasserie serving traditional English fare. The hotel’s well-appointed Sense Spa, situated in the basement, has seven bamboo-walled treatment rooms with individual steam showers. Not to be missed is the Sodashi Samadara facial, an indulgent 105-minute anti-aging treatment.

Gerald Scarfe's works adorn the wood-paneled walls of the eponymous bar.

Gerald Scarfe’s works adorn the wood-paneled walls of the eponymous bar.

 The Surrounds: Though the opulent hotel warrants the prestige of an old-money West London postcode, the Rosewood is squarely situated in the city’s white-collar neighborhood of Holborn. The once-quiet district has tourist thrills like Covent Garden as well as a new tide of exotic restaurants—from Korean to Spanish—thanks to a budding neighborhood renewal. For stylish jaunts around town, the hotel offers a fleet of sparkling Jaguars, perfect for getting you from A to Bond Street.

Have a bite at the casual brasserie Holborn Dining Room.

Have a bite at the casual brasserie Holborn Dining Room.

For those in the know… The hotel boasts three uniquely outfitted bars, but the best place to toss one back is in the privacy of one’s own chambers. Every suite includes a complimentary cut-glass flask of whiskey.

252 High Holborn, London; 44-20/7781-8888; Rosewood London; doubles from US$515

Share this Article

Related Posts

Six Senses is Planning a Resort Down Under

Slated to debut in mid-2025, the eco-luxe property will be centered on a heritage-listed country hom...

Mandarin Oriental to Debut Second Beach Resort in Vietnam

There will be just 72 suites and villas on site, alongside a cliff-top spa and three restaurants and...

The Ritz-Carlton Teams Up with Diptyque

One of Marriott’s top-tier brands has chosen the Paris-based company as its exclusive bath amenity...

Opening Soon: Meliá Chiang Mai

Leisure travelers can look forward to plenty of Spanish cuisine and the highest rooftop bar in town.

Four Seasons Sets Its Sights on Taiwan

An ultra-luxe retreat will soon rise just across the avenue from Taipei’s landmark supertall skysc...

Hyatt Launches New Inclusive Collection

The hospitality giant’s latest global grouping comprises nine all-inclusive luxury resort brands.