Detailed Review
Enter London's most exciting contemporary luxury hotel. With its sleek, comfortable interiors, two fabulous restaurants and the happening Lobby Bar, One Aldwych is much more than a hotel. The ethos that it's all about service, plus the original art collection and cutting edge technology make this a very special destination. With a great location bang in the middle of London in Covent Garden, nothing is very far away. Just some of the many reasons to stay at the award-winning One Aldwych.
Press Quotes
"High-style surroundings, celebrity spottings (particularly during London Fashion Week) and a gorgeous indoor pool, along with one of the best hotel gyms in London, are the hallmarks of One Aldwych" New York Times 06
Independent Reviews
-
"A trendy conversion of former media headquarters, this design hotel is well-located in Theatreland for West End nightlife.”
One Aldwych
By Vanessa Kaoukji
Most Londoner’s will have noticed the gigantic oars of the ’Boatman’ sculpture as they walk past the triangular building on the north side of Waterloo bridge. Some of them may know that this is not the centre piece of a gallery but a feature that dominates a bar. But not everyone will know that this is also the ground floor of One Aldwych and that the reception desk lurks rather demurely around the corner and out of sight. Built in 1907 for The Morning Post, the grand high-ceilinged open bar and lobby area was once the advertisement hall for the newspaper. The rest of the hotel, from the rooms, to the sports centre, are all similarly spacious. It was transformed into a sleek, modern hotel by Gordon Campbell Gray in 1998 and like his other properties the main theme is understatement. Nothing glitzy or flash but plenty of little touches to make you feel welcome: fruit, fresh flowers everyday, a personal note. The turn-down service shuns chocolates on your pillow and instead you are given bottles of mineral water and tomorrows weather forecast. Nothing about the hotel is cluttered or cosy. The Do Not Disturb sign has been replaced with a switch in your room, internet connection in every room is wireless, and there is even a built in box outside your room for your morning paper to be kept - its easy to see why this hotel caters primarily to business clientele. Some rooms at the front of the hotel have good views of Waterloo Bridge. The studio suites are large circular rooms and the Dome suite has its own private dining room. All bathrooms have a small televisions and the beds are enormous (but for all the attention to detail it was a surprise to find the king bed was two queens pushed together). The hotel has a fitness centre with treatment rooms and the 18m pool has underwater music. Two restaurants - Axis and Indigo - as well as an espresso bar. Within easy walking distance of Covent Garden and Kingsway, the bar at the hotel often fills up with the pre-theatre crowds.
© Travel Intelligence. All rights reserved
Condé Nast Traveller 2008 Gold List
