First, a little geography, because London is huge (really huge): this quirky little hotel is in Pimlico, close to Victoria Station. The Thames is just a few minutes away, and even Buckingham Palace is more or less around the corner. Just be aware that the hip neighborhoods of East London (Hackney, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green) are elsewhere – though only about 20 minutes away on the Tube.
The Philosophy
The minds behind Artist Residence are Justin and Charlotte Salisbury. As a recent university graduate, Justin began renovating his family’s bed-and-breakfast on the seafront in Brighton and, with the help of local artists, turned it into a small sanctuary – on a modest budget but with plenty of creativity. He then expanded, and today he and his wife, Charlotte, own and run five Artist Residence hotels: in Brighton, London, Oxfordshire, Bristol and Penzance, Cornwall. The London hotel is an official Pretty Hôtels member.
The Restaurant
The heart of the London hotel is its all-day restaurant, which is busy from morning to night with locals in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The food is modern, healthy and hip, served amid creative walls, chairs and benches. And there is a cool, candlelit speakeasy-style bar in the basement, where you can discover some very unusual cocktails.
The Rooms
There are only ten rooms in this boutique hotel, all reached by the creaky stairs and hallways of a typical Victorian townhouse. The style of the rooms is something else: small Smeg fridges, beds by Anthropologie, wood-paneled walls, Victorian bathroom fittings and lots of beautiful art everywhere. The upshot: it is unbelievably cozy.
Ideal for
Young and young-at-heart visitors to London who want to stay a little farther south and like having a restaurant in-house, day and night. Breakfast is served in the restaurant, too, with everything a hungry traveler could want.
Prices
Doubles from about 215 euros (around 180 pounds) per night, breakfast not included.
Booking & Contact
Artist Residence
52 Cambridge Street
Pimlico, London SW1V 4QQ
Great Britain
