The Beaumont is one of the finest 5-star hotels in London’s West End. It occupies a Grade II listed art deco building with a huge modern sculptural addition that looks like a seated person hugging their knees.
The artistic spectacle continues inside. The hotel was lovingly and meticulously designed by London’s restaurant moguls Chris Corbin and Jeremy King (The Wolseley, The Delauney, etc.).
The moment you step up to the tucked-away entrance on Brown Hart Gardens, the hotel transports you back to the golden age of film in the 20s and 30s with plenty of Titanic glamour.
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What makes The Beaumont a rejuvenating retreat in the heart of busy London
1. Room
Inside the huge architectural sculpture by Antony Gormley is London’s most exceptional suite. The bedroom is actually inside the body of the sculpture, and it has no windows. It sounds odd, but trust me, ROOM is a majestic, moving space to be in.
Being inside feels like you’ve entered a kind of monastic sanctuary. The blocky interior is clad in warm, dark wood reaching high up to a small skylight, and the only thing in there is a king-sized bed. It’s dimly lit, silent, and smells of the forest.
If there’s anywhere to come and completely tune out the frenzy of London, it’s here. Right in the middle of it all you can come and escape.
2. The spa
The Beaumont has one of London’s best hotel spas. One of my favorite features is actually how small it is.
It feels intimate and cozy, clad in white marble in contrast to the hotel’s dark wood aesthetic. One of the highlights is the hammam treatments, best combined with a massage. They also have a mani-pedi area, a hair salon, and a 24-hour gym.
Massage therapist Nicole takes her job seriously: she tailors each massage individually according to how she assesses your needs. “You’ll be sore the next day, but you’ll sleep like a baby,” she says. She sees many repeat clients.
3. In-room amenities
If you need a little pampering, the hotel’s gorgeous bathrooms are the place to unwind.
Bath amenities come from DR Harris & Co, London’s oldest pharmacy (established in 1790) and they are by appointment to the Queen. Enjoy a rain shower, or spoon some aromatic bath salts into your bath and pick your favorite relaxing soundtrack on the TV above the tub.
Corbin & King don’t like it when you stay at a hotel and get hit with a plethora of additional charges at the end of your stay, so they’ve made all non-alcoholic bevvies and food in the room’s mini bars complimentary.
So I heartily tucked into jars of nuts and packets of sweet treats without worrying about the typically astronomical mini bar fees. Likewise, tipping the hotel staff isn’t expected here, it’s built into the price of your stay.
4. Design details
Every little detail of the interior design has been carefully considered at The Beaumont. The hotel paints the perfect picture of classic elegance from top to bottom. Twenties-style furnishings are brought to life with museum-worthy collections of artwork and photographs featuring film stars and famous personalities of old.
The rooms (I stayed in one of their spacious Mayfair suites) feel homey and welcoming with curiosity-provoking touches like a stack of black-and-white postcards with film era caricatures, and an addictive bedside tome: Letters of Note: Correspondance Deserving of a Wider Audience.
Have at least one bourbon or whiskey in the hotel’s American Bar or a meal in the Colony Grill Room where absolutely nothing is new-fangled. It’s an old-fashioned haven for those who are tired of passing fads, that is to say, it’s perfect.
5. A vintage Daimler at your service
As if things couldn’t get any lovelier here, you can ask about a ride to your Mayfair destination in the hotel’s vintage Daimler. This perk (also complimentary) fully completes the step back in time to a golden age of glamour. Who doesn’t want to get dropped off in style by a gentleman with a top hat??
Around town
If you’re heading to SoHo (and you really should – this is one of the coolest neighborhoods in London), pop into Detox Kitchen for lunch. You can build your own bowl from a healthy bar of salads and proteins, plus smoothies and juices (try the Bright and Beautiful). At their flagship location in Fitzrovia, they even have a boutique fitness studio on the lower ground floor.
Need a solution for your frazzled travel-damaged hair? Aveda Salon & Spa has a botanical hair therapy you need to try (hair treatment + blow-dry: 60 mins for £50). It’s perfect for dry, damaged hair like mine and it’s all plant-derived. The salon is also incredibly central. It’s the perfect starting point for an exploration of Covent Garden and its world-famous market.
