A Hidden Hotel Worth Knowing About | The Arch, London.
It’s no secret that I live in London, but I’m always on the hunt for fancy hotels in my city for work or play. I like being able to work from a new space or just feel like I’m creatively free from my usual office, because there’s nothing more inspiring to me than a change of scenery. But its also nice to relax and rejuvenate in a new space. You know feel a bit like Serena Van Der Woodsen living out of a hotel room.. without the New York streets.
And what better place to start than a beautiful Georgian hotel in central London?! The Arch hotel is located in the heart of Marlybone, perfectly quiet but a stones throw away from Oxford Street for shopping or getting around the city. The hotel is a perfectly old London style with a touch of modern, thanks to the owners interior flair. The lounge and bar areas feel like a traditional British space to enjoy a whisky surrounded by dark furnishings and well considered bookshelves, while some of the bedrooms have a little modern upgrade and each one echos a different vibe - ours being a little oriental with bright wallpaper and furnishings, but a typical Instagram bathroom.. because it wouldn’t be a bloggers stay at a hotel without instagramming the tv in the bathtub would it?!
The rooms range from a standard double (or twin), executive and various one bedroom suites. We stayed in one of the Executive rooms with a king sized bed, desk area and a two seater table for coffee. It was one of the newly refurbished bedrooms with a bright oriental feel and perfectly comfortable for our stay. We arrived to check in at 3pm and spent our afternoon working away on various projects, taking away the formality of an office but leaving the comfort of our home distractions.
For the evening, we decided to head into the bar and have a quick G&T before walking to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The drinks were reasonably priced with a great range of wines, spirits and cocktails depending on your preference. The bar staff were as friendly as you can imagine and they talked us through the cocktail list, recommending drinks and offering to teach us about the cocktails being poured - the raspberry belini being a personal fave! I actually loved the atmosphere because it was calm and private despite being a little busy at the time. We annoyingly didn’t notice the lovely Martini bar down the hallway until the next morning or I’d definitely have gone to relax in there. The following morning, we opted for breakfast in bed. Our order was put on the door in the evening and we were woken at our chosen time to a delicious tray of goodies. I ordered an omlete and fruit while Adrian had a full English with pastries on the side. Honestly? It was one of the best wake ups that I’ve ever had.
The one thing that I loved about The Arch is the little touches. The fruit bowl to welcome us, the accommodating staff ensuring everything was okay, the ease of ordering breakfast and even the talkative nature of the waiters. Overall we had a lovely stay at The Arch hotel and it was a great way to leave our comfort for a new kind of relaxation. Nothing beats getting cosy in a hotel and letting yourself live in a home away from home temporarily..
