Hazlitt's, London, United Kingdom

Three townhouses on Frith Street in Soho hide within their walls a cozy, discreet boutique hotel which oozes history. Named after William Hazlitt, the writer who died here in 1830, each room in turn is named after a resident or guest who stayed at the house at some point in its history. The Hazlitt's is so discreet that even some London cabbies don’t know there is a boutique hotel on Frith Street.

The facilities

This boutique hotel doesn’t have a restaurant, but serves a lovely breakfast and light snacks. There is a small drawing room holding signed publications of the authors who have stayed there (Ted Hughes, Yann Martel, JK Rowling among others). But this is the heart of Soho, and surrounding this boutique hotel there are plenty of eateries and drinking holes nearby. In fact, Bar Italia just down the road offers an all night people-watching venue. And with your own front door key to Hazlitt’s, you’re invited to treat this place like home.

The rooms

All 23 rooms at this boutique hotel are furnished with heavy Victorian mahogany. Beds are either four poster or mahogany backed. They are large and inviting in rooms which are small but no less inviting. Bathrooms are a Victorian delight - brass fittings, roll top bathtubs and bucket-sized showerheads. The Jonathan Swift and Mary Barker rooms are my favourite.