The Rookery Hotel London

Tucked away, only a short distance from St Paul’s Cathedral, the Bank of England and the Old Bailey, the only remaining early houses in Peter’s Lane have been repaired and extended to create our delightful boutique hotel.

Inside, The Rookery Hotel London is all period charm. Polished wood panelling, stone flagged floors, open fires and genuine antique furniture give the place a warm, homely atmosphere – more private club than hotel.

THE ROOK’S NEST SUITE
The Rook’s Nest is a two-storey Penthouse Suite with views over St Paul’s and the Old Bailey. The bedroom is dominated by a hand painted, four poster bed. A huge Victorian bathing machine sits on a raised plinth in one corner of the room. A staircase leads you upstairs to an unforgettable sitting room under the 40ft spire.

The suite is fully air-conditioned with complimentary wi-fi internet access and flat screen LCD television both upstairs and downstairs. The sitting room has a dining table, antique lawyer’s desk, mini-bar and safe.

JUNIOR SUITE
Our so- called junior suites look pretty senior to us. Genuine antique furniture, ultra-comfortable beds and truly extraordinary bathrooms featuring vintage roll-top baths.

Dr Theophilus Garencières is a luxurious ground floor junior suite; the bedroom has a large four poster carved oak bed and a separate sitting area. Sir Walter De Manny, also on the ground floor, has a carved four poster bed and a beautiful panelled sitting room complete with small sofa and desk in a recess off the bedroom.

CLUB DOUBLE
We name all our rooms because we don’t believe in numbering our guests. In all of our Club Double rooms you will find the bed is 17th Century carved oak or a Georgian four poster. Windows are hung with heavy silk curtains or shutters.

The bathroom has restored Vintage fixtures and fittings, with either a free standing bath or shower. All rooms are air-conditioned and have complimentary Wi-Fi, flat screen television, mini bar, safe and land&water toiletries.

SUPERIOR DOUBLE
In all of our Superior Double rooms, the bed is either 17th Century carved oak or a Georgian four poster. Bathrooms have restored Vintage fittings, many with roll-top baths, overhead showers and high level cisterns. All rooms are air-conditioned and have complimentary Wi-Fi, flat screen television, mini bar, safe and land&water toiletries.

SERVICES
At The Rookery our philosophy is simple: We have set out to create the kind of accommodation we ourselves would love to find in the heart of one of the world’s great cities. Civilised surroundings; old fashioned hospitality; friendly efficient service; a location away from the roar of traffic, but within a very short walk of the most important attractions.

Whether it’s tickets to a top London show, a table at the most fashionable restaurant or admission to an exclusive London club, we are only too happy to pull a few strings and try and get you what you want. The Conservatory here has a working fireplace, comfortable furnishings and plenty to read. There is an honesty bar where you can relax or entertain friends.

We offer 24-hour room service, same-day dry cleaning and laundry service. We can arrange transport to pick you up from the airport. Should you wish to organise anything special – maybe Champagne, flowers, chocolates, theatre tickets – just let us know.

MEETINGS
Today, anyone looking for a private and discreet meeting facility need look no further than The Rookery. Our careful restoration of this picturesque row of period buildings has created a haven of calm, complemented by the highest levels of comfort and service.

Our Drawing Room is a delightful meeting place for gatherings of up to fourteen people. The Library is an oak panelled room hung with period portraits and furnished with antiques, including a table for up to six people.

THE DRAWING ROOM
The Drawing Room’s huge carved mahogany door opens into a sumptuous sitting area with Bath stone fireplace, antique statuary and rich pewter silk fabrics, ideal as a breakout or syndicate room. Double doors lead through to the Boardroom, dominated by a mahogany table which can sit 14. A 5ft presentation screen retracts behind cornicing.

The room comes with complimentary wi-fi access and additional equipment is available on request. The Drawing Room is air-conditioned and enjoys abundant natural daylight. By closing the Georgian shutters it can also be fully blacked out.

THE LIBRARY
The oak panelled Library provides a distinguished setting for meetings of up to 6 people seated around a mahogany boardroom table. The room comes with complimentary WiFi. Additional facilities include a projector and screen, television and DVD player.

FILM & PHOTOSHOOTS 
Filming and photoshoots are very much our thing. “Talking heads” through to high-end fashion: we cater for them all with a wide variety of richly furnished locations.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
Why The Rookery? From the middle ages Smithfield was a bustling cattle market outside the jurisdiction of the City Guilds. This convenient lack of law enforcement attracted all manner of villains including, reputedly, Charles Dickens’s immortal rascal, Fagin.

Such areas became known colloquially as stews or rookeries, which were universally understood to mean ‘criminal areas’. The nearest Underground station is the well connected Farringdon – though Chancery Lane is just a 10 minute walk. If you prefer, we will arrange for a car to meet you at the airport.

MUDLARKING
Pluck out remnants of centuries past on the banks of the Thames. ‘Mudlarking’ is the act of searching the riverbed for these historical treasures. Mudlarks comb the Thames foreshore, which is only accessible for a few hours a day at low tide, in their hunt for objects, untouched since they were lost hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Each artefact, whether ordinary or extraordinary, tells us something unique about London’s history.

THE GALLERY AT SKETCH
The Gallery, designed by French architect India Mahdavi, boasts 91 art works by British artist David Shrigley. It’s the perfect backdrop for your afternoon tea shots – though a bathroom selfie is an absolute must too!

COLUMBIA ROAD
With independent shops, galleries, delis, vintage clothes shops, lifestyle and antique stores, not to mention the famous Flower Market there are plenty of reasons to add Columbia Road to your Instagram feed. Get there early to catch the market at it’s most exciting.

COVENT GARDEN 
Any trip to London is incomplete without a wander round Covent Garden food and shopping emporium. From the stunning architectural features to the regularly changing interior displays — ranging from clusters of balloons to floral arrangements — you’ll be spoilt for choice for images for your grid.

BARBICAN
An icon of Brutalist architecture, the Barbican has always been controversial. Voted ‘London’s ugliest building’ in 2003, among design aficionados it’s one of the UK’s architectural treasures.

In 2001 the entire complex received Grade II listed status. Today you can explore the site freely, from the Centre’s many public spaces, cafes and restaurants to the highwalks and estate gardens.

Barbican has an innovative international programme that crosses art forms, collaborating with organisations from around the globe to give audiences opportunities to experience outstanding work by acclaimed international companies and artists.

SIR SOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM
A treasure trove of eclectic objects, collected by celebrated architect Sir John Soane, from his travels around the world. The house is preserved exactly how he left it after his death in 1833 and has to be seen to be believed. Fully plumbed and with flushing toilets, Soane’s house was luxurious for its time.

But he stipulated that the lid on his bathtub remain sealed up until 1896 (59 years after his death). When it was eventually lifted – with great ceremony – all that was found inside was junk, including papers and false teeth. Victorian newspapers speculated this was Soane’s strange idea of a joke.

POSTMAN’S PARK
Postman’s Park, five minutes’ pleasant walk from The Rookery, is an inner-city haven with a history. Opened in 1880 next to the then General Post Office, home to the world’s first postal service, it became the location of George Frederic Watts’s Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice.

Watts, a famous English painter with a social conscience, was concerned that ordinary people who had carried out heroic deeds were seldom remembered. In a letter to The Times he cited the case of Alice Ayres, a servant girl who, trapped in a burning house, threw out a mattress to cushion her fall, but instead of jumping ran back inside to rescue three small children before, overcome by fumes, falling from the window to her death.

Some 50 memorial tablets were erected during the lifetime of Watts and his second wife Mary. A wonderfully relaxing place for a coffee, full of fascinating stories of everyday heroism.

SHOPPING IN CLERKENWELL
The small-village feel of Clerkenwell adds charm to its array of delightful independent shops. Design specialist Magma, on Clerkenwell Road, has a diverse collection of magazines, DVDs, toys, pinhole cameras, and a series of limited-edition posters. Exmouth Market is a must for gift shops and independent restaurants.

THE HOLY TAVERN
Sightseeing is thirsty work, so we highly recommend stopping for a drink at The Holy Tavern. There’s been a pub by this name on the site since medieval times, though this higgledy-piggledy building is all 18th century cosiness.

THE BOROUGH MARKET
Join Celia Brooks to discover the secrets and delights of London’s oldest and most renowned food market. Explore the huge range of exceptional British and international produce available and learn all the fascinating facts about the Market’s rich history.

Kicking off with a meet and greet session over drinks and pastries at a chic restaurant within the Market, you’ll then accompany Celia for an exclusive tasting tour. As a passionate food expert, Celia will show you the best that Borough has to offer and lavish you with bespoke tastings of the unique foods and wines on offer here.

You will taste an array of treats, including rare breed meats, fine cheeses from Britain and beyond, superfood juices, fresh scallops, olives and antipasti, homemade Turkish meze, plus many more, whilst hearing the stories behind the creation of these fabulous artisan foods. A tutored wine tasting is also included in this this educational, delicious and demystifying Borough Market experience.

MALTBY STREET MARKET
From London’s original Jamon Bodega to a uniqueJapanese bakery, Maltby Street may not the biggest market, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in food glorious food. A tightly curated set of some of the city’s best street food vendors is all it takes to make your tastebuds sing. Just make sure you turn up hungry!

DOUGHNUT MAKING 
In this workshop, one of Bread Ahead’s Master Bakers will show you how to turn a few basic ingredients into delicious desserts of the finest calibre. You will be guided through the process of making doughnuts from start to finish and will leave with ‘custard grenades’ you’ve produced yourself!

Rooms: 33

Price: from 261 EUR per night

Source: www.rookeryhotel.com