Staycation | Agency A

5UNMISSABLE 2021 STAYCATION SPOTS IN LONDON

In a year where passports gathered dust, travel-sized toiletries lay untouched and the sound of a flight cancellation announcement a distant memory, playing tourist in your own town has become the only OOO option.

If you’re planning an at home getaway in 2021, here’s our pick of London’s best boutique hotels offering unique city centre experiences - ideal for when restrictions have eased.

Read on for our #LockedInLondon recommendations!

THE

PILGRIM

"A rabbit warren of carefully curated art, furnishings and curiosities"

F O R T H E I N S T A G R A M M A B L E I N T E R I O R S

This place oozes coolness. It glides over playfully mismatched furnishings, spills down restored staircases and flows effortlessly through the appropriately named, Lounge - where brunch runs until a leisurely 3pm everyday. Despite The Pilgrm’s laid back approach to interiors, it’s clear each element of design has been diligently deliberated over. Spread across seemingly endless floors and wings of Victorian buildings, the hotel is a rabbit warren of carefully curated art, furnishings and curiosities.

Much like a museum, the artwork hung throughout The Pilgrm is switched out and replaced every three months, as an ongoing tribute to London’s creatives. The furniture is reclaimed, as is the lighting - providing a glimpse into the hotel’s conscious sustainable efforts. In the rooms, expect antique timber and views across W2 rooftops. The hotel, with all the convenience of being moments from Paddington Station, thankfully cancels out the cacophony of commuters with its easygoing atmosphere and the welcome sounds of a well-used coffee machine.

The price? Small rooms from £79, medium from £89 and large rooms from £99.

Check them out here.

THE

GRAZING

GOAT

"you’d be forgiven for expecting
Cotswold-esque scenery out of the panelled windows, not Marylebone

mews"

F O R T H E C O M F O R T

Great British pub come cosy Alpine chalet, The Grazing Goat ticks all the boxes when it comes to comfort. Welcoming guests through the pub entrance, the atmosphere is openly inviting and warm, aided by the crackling log fire in the corner. Upstairs, interiors balance rustic wooden furnishings with muted red and grey textiles. Authentically rural in it’s approach, you’d be forgiven for expecting Cotswold esque scenery out of the panelled windows, not Marylebone mews. The rooms are generous and the beds even more so - ideal for extensive snoozing and hot chocolate sipping.

Our advice? Stay for food.

The downstairs kitchen offers upmarket,

sustainably sourced pub grub. Guaranteed to satisfy even the rumbliest of stomachs, the Celeriac & Mushroom Pithivier is a stand out. Pair it with a bottle of artisan wine - you’re spoilt with choice as their selection includes 70 bottles. Currently offering a limited edition two person winter

staycation package, The Grazing Goat’s two night stay with breakfast, plus a three course meal is, in our opinion, a no-brainer.

The price? Standard rooms from £219 per night.

Check them out here.

GOOD

HOTEL

"there is a clear thoughtfulness to every nook and cranny of the place"

F O R T H E E T H O S

Good by name, good by nature. A stay at the Good Hotel on London’s Royal Docks is as much about the ethos as it is the experience. As a social business, 100% of profits go towards helping those in need. Their Good Global Foundation supports social causes all over the world and their effective training program provides an opportunity for the unemployed to build a career in hospitality.

There is a clear thoughtfulness to every nook and cranny of the space. The structure itself actually floats. Renovated and built in the Netherlands, the hotel took a trip across the North Sea to continue its work in Blighty. Since arriving, Good Hotel has welcomed 114 local people onto their Good Training programme with over 70% going on into further employment.

Inside, the interiors are bright, airy and minimalist. The entire ground floor opens up into a communal living/working/eating space, where guests can transition easily from one activity to the other. The rooms are practical yet stylish, with wide windows opening up onto the most impressive feature - the view. Overlooking the calm waters of Royal Victoria Dock, we’d recommend taking a trip upstairs to the roof terrace for unparalleled panoramas of the city skyline. But before you settle down for the night, make sure to whisper to the worry doll placed on your pillow, guaranteeing a Good night’s sleep.

The price? Rooms from £69 per night.

Check them out here.

GREAT

SCOTLAND YARD HOTEL

"the design is luxuriously quirky and the attention to detail unmatched"

F O R T H E H I S T O R Y

Great Scotland Yard Hotel is where the very first police officers, or ‘Peelers’ as they were first known, resided. It’s where some of the most high profile detective cases were discussed and where some of the equally high profile prisoners were held. One of London’s most infamous crimes - the ‘Whitechapel Murders’ - was investigated within their walls. Despite the shadowy past, the GSY of today is worlds apart from it’s Victorian roots - although you will find nods to it’s history in amongst it’s interior details.

The design is luxuriously quirky and the attention to detail unmatched. In partnership with the Koestler Trust, GSY have selected a number of unique artworks created by incarcerated men and women across the UK. Another reference to peelers and prisoners gone by. The service here is perhaps what sets GSY apart. The staff are incredibly clued up on the hotel's history and design. Not to mention when it comes to cocktail suggestions, they have impeccable taste. Don’t forget to ask the team for recommendations on local attractions. With GSY’s central Westminster location, there’s plenty to see and do right around the corner.

The price? Rooms from £232 per night

Check them out here.

THE

GYLE

"a contemporary steampunk wonderland"

F O R T H E D R A M A

An emerald city hidden amongst traditional townhouses, The Gyle is a hotel that does not hold back on extravagance. From its wide whisky selection (161 to be precise) to neon moss coated walls, nothing here is done by halves. The dimly lit entrance leads guests into a contemporary steampunk wonderland - with the main lounge and bar space a cabinet of curiosity in itself. To soak it up, take a seat on the hanging swing sofa, glass of bourbon in hand.

Rooms vary in size, but the most unique of the 33 available are the featured spaces. The Feature Twin boasts a private courtyard - a sliver of oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross. Whereas the Feature King houses a sunken tub within a vaulted bathroom. Designed, we reckon, for soaking almost exclusively with a glass or two of fizz. An ideal base to explore the equally colourful Camden.

The price? Rooms from £169 per night

Check them out here.