Hotel Review: The W hotel, London

My twitter followers will know that I’m quite smitten with The W hotel. Even before the Starwood Hotel Group opened The W chain’s first UK sanctuary in early 2011, I was dying to go there. Over a year on, I’m still enamoured with the landmark Leicester Square hotel, and for good reason. The bar is still one of my favourite drinking dens, if I’m within a half a mile radius, I will end up there. The cool atmosphere, attentive staff and the concise but precise cocktail list make it a firm favourite.

Great cocktails aside, The W is actually a great hotel. Beneath the glitz and glamour (believe me, there’s a lot) its actually one of the best hotels I’ve visited. The all glass exterior, black lobby and sprinkling of glitterballs set the tone for a very luxe space. The ‘W’ must stand for wow as the rooms are so slick they kind of take your breath away. The concept of space is very important, so to make the rooms feel more open and spacious, only the shower and toilet are in their own cubicles while the rest of the bathroom is in the room. It sounds strange but stay with me. With the sink and worktop in the room, the enclosed bathroom area is tiny and the room benefits from the extra, open space. The rest of the room is bold and futuristic, with a monochrome colour palette and playful textures including white leather, a padded wall and soft curtains. 

Looks aside, let’s talk about what’s important: sleep. The bed was so deliciously comfortable I was loathed to leave it and the shower was incredible – the way hotel showers should be. The location couldn’t be more perfect, right in the middle of Leicester Square and a stone’s throw from Covent Garden, Soho, Mayfair and Oxford Street. The W shows that sometimes, all that glitters is gold and sometimes style doesn’t have to compromise substance. No wonder The W London has become the go-to destination for celebrities and creatives alike. Just last week, I popped by for the Push PR press day and global superstars Nicki Minaj and the Black Eyed Peas were in residence. If you’re visiting London, make sure you stay at The W, you won’t be disappointed.