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Review: One Aldwych

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One Aldwych is a beautiful Edwardian building in Covent Garden, striking in its architecture as a three-sided structure and designed by the same architects who designed The Ritz. The hotel is clad in grey Norwegian granite, with a slate and copper roof, which now creates a pop of green, accenting the building’s stature. Until 1937 it was the headquarters of the Morning Post newspaper, and it was restored, retaining its Edwardian style, in 1998.

Review: One Aldwych

The hotel is independently owned and has been recently redesigned with touches of Britishness around every corner.

Our arrival

The concierge welcomed us with a huge floral display with tennis balls hanging off it by in-house florist Mark Siredzuk – a gorgeous celebration of the Wimbledon tournament taking place. As we made our way to our room, we peeked into the Lobby Bar, seeing the ‘The Oarsman’ striking bronze sculpture. We also ran into Beano, the papier-mache dog covered in Beano comics. The hotel has an extensive collection of contemporary art, housing 400 paintings and sculptures.

Alexandra gave us a tour of all the signature suites. Designed by Robert Angell, they are understated and elegant. Bright, airy and very modern, they are gorgeous, with plush furnishings and light décor. All suites are so spacious; they’d be perfect for a bride to get ready in. I loved the British touches – they woollen blankets made from Isle of Skye yarn and handcrafted Mitchell and Peach toiletries in the bathroom. I was struck with the design and quality of the furniture as well – beautiful pieces that begged to be looked at, touched, and sank into.

Our suite

The stunning Terrace Suite is one of the largest suites I’ve ever stayed in. So light and airy, it has two bedrooms, a kitchenette dining area and seating area, all elegantly decorated in muted shades of green with a gorgeous light grey herringbone floor, two beautiful serene grey ensuites and WC, feather and down duvets, and, of course, a private terrace with views over London.

We were welcomed with homemade honeycomb, champagne and fresh cherries and were treated to a cocktail from our private cocktail bar. We enjoyed sipping our drinks as we relaxed on the soft blue velvet sofa before heading out to the terrace. It’s so quiet high above the street, and a table and chairs were perfectly positioned, with plants decorating the space. It would be a gorgeous place for a proposal and an ideal honeymoon suite; it’s so romantic. You can also hire a suite for a truly intimate wedding.

Facilities at One Aldwych

We visited the swimming pool for a quick dip. The pool is chlorine-free, using a mineral-based cleaning system with no harsh chemicals, in line with the hotel’s focus on responsibility and sustainability. The pool has soft mood lighting and an underwater music system and is incredibly relaxing. It’s set in the Health Club, where there are gym and spa treatments on offer.

Eating at One Aldwych

After a gorgeous swim, we headed back to the room for a cocktail on the terrace before changing for dinner. The hotel has two restaurants; Indigo, serving modern dairy and gluten-free British cuisine, and Eneko Basque, serving chef Eneko’s interpretation of Basque country cuisine. With the restaurants closed, we ate at the Lobby Bar, where a ‘Whispering Gallery’ cocktail and a Strawberry and Basil Mojito came highly recommended.

Another incredible floral display filled the room, and we thoroughly enjoyed a selection of starters, followed by fish in beer batter and triple cooked chips and a vanilla panna cotta. The food was delicious, and the bar had a lovely buzz. With candles and high ceilings setting the ambience, we could definitely understand how the Lobby Bar was a popular drinking destination.

Turndown

Turndown was lovely, with a book placed next to the bed, in case a relaxing read was required. You can purchase these books, with the proceeds going to charity. The suite was so homely, with ornaments and books in a shelving unit behind the tv – little touches that made the suite unique. After a wonderful night’s sleep and a lovely breakfast the next morning, it was time to check out of one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in.

Weddings at One Aldwych

The Terrace Suite can provide an intimate wedding space, and One Aldwych also has a dedicated events team to help you plan your day. Private rooms can accommodate your guests for your reception, with beautiful flowers designed by the in-house florist and a menu featuring the finest seasonal ingredients.

In addition to weddings, One Aldwych can also host your hen or stag celebrations. An afternoon tea inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sounds like so much fun, with lemon sherbet tea, sumptuous sandwiches and delicious cakes and sweets. You can even watch the film first in a private screening room, which would also be an ideal place for a stag party, with a ‘Film and Fizz’ event, complete with popcorn and a movie of your choice. Cocktail masterclasses, a spa day and private dining are also on offer; there’s something for everyone!

  • Read about One Aldwych Hybrid Events

Sustainability at One Aldwych

Since opening in 1998, One Aldwych has built its hotel around the core belief in creating a sustainable hotel. With energy-saving features, a chlorine-free pool, energy-efficient lightbulbs, a recycling policy, onsite water filtration, natural bathroom products, and biodegradable packaging, the hotel’s focus is on reducing its impact on the planet. They also have a sustainable sourcing and purchasing policy, ensuring food and other products are low-energy, low-air-miles, free-range, organic and sustainable. Their food waste is composted on the very same farm that grows their produce! We also loved the beehives and bee-friendly rooftop garden, assisting the bee population in London.

One Aldwych was one of the best hotels we’ve stayed in, with strong sustainability credentials, wonderful atmosphere and independence at their heart. We were so well looked after.

Here are our highlights:

  • The suite – beautifully designed, spacious and so relaxing
  • Cocktails – The Lobby Bar is definitely one to add to your list
  • Swimming pool – perfect atmosphere and no nasty chemicals

One Aldwych

1 Aldwych

London

WC2B 4BZ

+44 (0)2073001000

[email protected]

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Review: One Aldwych

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