If you’d love to have been around for the Roaring Twenties, an era of art deco decadence and jazz music, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to recreate the period than The Beaumont Hotel. Residing in a quiet square, just a stone’s throw from Selfridges and Oxford Street, its location makes it perfect for shopping and gallery hopping amidst the bustle of London’s vibrant streets.
Overlooking Brown Hart Gardens, the neo-classical listed building was originally erected in 1926 to function as a parking and service station. As such, the façade is deceptively modest, though the addition of Antony Gormley’s crouched Lego-esque figure certainly hints at the opulence and drama that lies within.
Featuring an array of lavish period furniture, rare books and over 1,500 original pieces of art and design, your journey back 100 years is complete upon stepping into the chequered-floored lobby.
The hotel’s commitment to luxury is more than just skin deep, with each of its elegant 73 rooms featuring period bathrooms and décor that balances nostalgic vibes with effortless modern comfort. However, the best room in the house is undoubtedly the aptly-named Roosevelt Suite, which offers sprawling space across a whole floor and glorious rooftop views from the terrace.
Arty types may prefer to opt for the less spacious but delectably curious Gormley Room, which is housed in the belly of Gormley’s crouched cubist man. Clad in black forest oak and with a single shuttered window, the room is more akin to a Buddhist retreat and is the perfect place to hole up after a day of soaking up the London art scene.
Despite having a boutique hotel feel, The Beaumont is incredibly well equipped, with a compact and comfortable spa complete with hammam, plunge pool, warmed marble relaxation slab, sauna, barber and state-of-the-art 24-hour gym. Don’t worry, there are no comically oversized dumbbells on site.
For dinner, head to the hotel’s The Colony Grill Room, which offers up classic American dishes alongside unfussy stalwarts. The food is good, but it’s the space that steals the show. Lashings of leather cover comfortable boothed seats, with the walls covered in portraits of silver screen stars and enthralling art deco wall panelling. After hours, head for an Old Fashioned in the cosy Club Room – for guests only – which features more stunning period décor. As you flop down into your King-size bed contemplating the next day’s pursuits in the hotel’s very own chauffeur-driven house car, be thankful that prohibition never gripped London.
For more details and bookings visit The Beaument Hotel’s website.
