The Heart of it All

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One Aldwych in London offers high style and a memorable stay

The One Aldwych spa offers treatments from Spanish skincare experts, Natura Bissé and the leading British skincare brand, Oskia.
Photos courtesy of One Aldwych.

Located in the heart of Covent Garden—one of London’s most vibrant neighborhoods—is the One Aldwych hotel. Originally built in 1905, The Morning Post newspaper commissioned iconic architects Mewès & Davis—who are known for designing other historic buildings, including the Ritz in London and in Paris and the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall—to dream up a fantastic structure that would stand out among the rest.

Unique to London, the hotel features a 59-foot lap pool that is chlorine free. Photos courtesy of One Aldwych.

For this steel-framed building the pair blended Edwardian grandeur with Parisian elegance—a combination that was revolutionary for the time. “Ambitious in its day, it seemed only right that the interior design continued to be forward thinking and prestigious,” says Robert Angell, who was enlisted in 2019 to rethink the existing hotel design that originated in 1998.

The goal for Angell and his team, who design hotels around the world, was to curate an updated, timeless look that would usher the hotel into a new era while making guests feel at home. The final result is layers of refined furniture, lush yet durable fabrics and a mix of ambient and natural lighting set against a historic architectural backdrop. The guest bedroom suites are washed in neutral-toned, picture-frame-molded walls and grounded with warm moments of blush upholstery and brass trimming, while the living spaces are brightened with charming layers of jewel-toned greens.

The guest suite seating areas feature chevron floors, jewel-tone furniture and ample natural light. Photos courtesy of One Aldwych.

Angell worked with a number of British craftspeople to produce custom furniture he designed including floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, curvaceous upholstery pieces and subtle lighting features. “The sculptural library with lacquered shelves, which are dotted with quirky objects and fascinating books, instantly makes the room feel more like an apartment than a hotel guest room,” he says. “So much so, you may never want to leave.” The hotel hired London-based Fabled Studio to redesign the restaurant Indigo, helmed by chef Dominic Teague, and the Lobby Bar, which is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

Robert Angell and his team designed custom marble bookshelves in the bedrooms that add layers of character.
Photos courtesy of One Aldwych.

A truly unique offering at One Aldwych is The Curators, a program which focuses on designing adventures both in and outside of hotel walls. From coffee house or medieval wine walking tours to booking a seat at the hotel’s iconic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea, the team makes exploration of the city and its culture easy. To complete the experience guests can walk just steps outside the hotel doors to see a show at one of the West End theaters or at the Royal Opera House after dining at one of many surrounding restaurants, which offer fine European fare. If fashion is your thing, the neighborhood boasts some of London’s best vintage shopping, including Picknweight and Rokit, where some of the world’s top stylists flock.