Sloane Square Hotel

This independent, privately owned property has been a popular upscale hotel since 1900. During the 1960s and '70s, the Beatles even stayed here on several occasions. The look now is handsome and modern -- the hotel retains some traditional accents, but the vibe is chic and stylish. There are some charming personal touches, such as the painting of the owner's wife on display in the bar. There are many other interesting pieces of artwork throughout the property, such as a mural on the staircase by local artist John Brinklow. The hotel has a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. Lots of fresh flowers in the lobby create a nice welcome for guests, and there are plenty of places to sit next to the ornamental fireplace. Bookshelves, tufted leather couches, and a contrasting palette that includes bright aquas and reds alongside light hardwood and subtle gray tones keeps things fresh. The hotel is fairly basic in terms of facilities, but most of the couples and business travelers staying here are attracted by the area attractions and location. Families are welcomed and offered the use of babysitting services, cribs, high chairs, and interconnecting rooms. 

The Sloane Square Hotel is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It’s a fashionable and affluent area of London, and is ideal for high-end shopping. The square itself is fairly busy with traffic, but is attractive, as it has lots of trees and benches. The Duke of York Square is within a minute’s walk of the hotel and has boutique shops, pavement cafes and restaurants, and the world-famous Saatchi Gallery. Also just a minute’s walk away is the Peter Jones department store -- a favorite with the royal family, plus designer shops including Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Hermes, Prada, and Chanel. It’s easy to get around from here as there’s a taxi rank opposite the hotel, and Sloane Square Underground station is just a minute’s walk from the hotel. Heathrow Airport is around 35 minutes away by car, depending on traffic, or 45 minutes by public transport. Gatwick Airport takes over an hour to reach by car (again, depending on traffic), or 40 minutes by tube and train.

The 102 guest rooms at the Sloane Square Hotel are decorated in fresh, light colors and have a modern-vintage style. Expect to see crown molding, wainscoted walls, soft wallpaper in stylish patterns, and light wood furniture. Some rooms have sharp wall art, like the Standard Single and Club Room that we visited, and white duvets are standard on beds. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with DVD players, Nespresso machines, air-conditioning, minibars, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, work desks, and lovely views of Sloane Square or the Holy Trinity Church. Rooms are available as Single, Double, or Twin, though the smallest are compact and only offer 14 square meters of space (151 square feet). Larger Superior Rooms are available that provide bathrobes and slippers. Club Family Rooms sleep three and also include free minibar soft drinks, bluetooth Bose digital radio speakers, souvenir Sloane Square Hotel bags, and free newspapers. Turndown service is also offered in Club Rooms. Original sash windows mean that traffic noise can be a problem at night for some people. Earplugs are supplied in the rooms though. Bathrooms are slick and modern, with white metro tiles, contemporary fixtures, high-end toiletries, and rainfall shower heads. They are on the small side, though, and most do not have a bathtub. 

Despite having all of the style of an upscale hotel, this property is thin on features, even for central London. There is a cafe and bar which serves a continental breakfast, light snacks, drinks, and afternoon tea. Breakfast is not included in the room rate. It doesn’t have its own restaurant, but uses the French brasserie next door. Hotel guests can use a private entrance from the lobby and there’s a sectioned off area for guests only. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and prepares classic French dishes. Room service is available, as are laundry and dry cleaning services. There are two meeting rooms on-site, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.