“Historically a hotspot for criminals, today the neighbourhood is all high-rollers who frequent the hotel on the City’s periphery.”
The Rookery stands in what was once one of the seediest areas of the city, certainly not the place you’d expect to find a small, luxury boutique hotel. Located just outside the old legal boundaries of the City of London, it was home to all manner of crooks and ladies of the night. Thankfully those days are far gone and instead a steady flow of businessmen and discreet weekenders flow into the district.
Originally three little Georgian buildings, when the Rookery’s owners took the site over it was a derelict shell. Between them they painstakingly rebuilt, restored, converted and furnished it from their own collections of art and antiques. The result is a delightful boutique hotel, highly individual but never twee.
The facilities
Two of the three public rooms at the Rookery, the wood-panelled library and drawing room, are often in use for small meetings. However, there is a small private conservatory-lounge at the back of the boutique hotel, with rugs on the flagstones and plump tapestry armchairs in front of the fireplace. There are serious oils of breed bulls on the walls (Smithfield, once London’s main meat market, is just down the road).
Outside, there’s even a little gravelled garden planted with herbs and pots of geraniums. A frieze of rustic peasants in smocks leading cows to market is painted on one wall. Apparently the peasants are sly portraits of the owners. Past reception, the atmosphere is relaxed, informal and pleasantly free from interference. The Rookery has no restaurant, but can provide simple room serviceand breakfast is brought to your room.
The rooms
Naturally in such a funny old collection of buildings, each of the 33 rooms is different. The best at the Rookery is the room at the very top, the Rook’s Nest, a decadent and witty two-level suite with wonderful rooftop views of London from the Old Bailey to St Paul’s. Downstairs at this boutique hotel are deluxe doubles that are spacious but feel rather subterranean. A small top-floor room, Mary Lane’s, is notable for a lovely garret feel, with its wood-beamed ceiling. On one corridor wall, there’s a trompe l’oeil painting of a young milkmaid, clothes in disarray, peeking naughtily around a half-open door.
All rooms at this boutique hotel have fine carved or decorated beds and a few elegant period pieces. Bathrooms, too, are individual – you might get a claw-footed roll-top bath, a bath-shower combination with a beaten brass surround or a walk-in shower.
Address: 12 Peter's Lane, London, England, United Kingdom EC1M 6DS
Rates from:
GBP 115
Check Availability
Who stays here
The Rookery pulls a high-flying international clientele during the week - it appeals to people looking for a quirkier, more personal place to hole up, especially if they are on business in the city. At weekends, guests are younger and altogether more funky - ex-Libertine Pete Doherty was infamously arrested here in 2005, while he was dating Kate Moss.
Come for
- Feathering your nest
- The location, handy for the City or for clubbing in Clerkenwell
Not suitable for
- Anyone who values high-tech gadgets over paintings of cows
- People who need an elevator
Children
The Rookery can arrange a babysitter for families, but does not have a regular babysitting service. An extra cot can also be provided for the room.
Eating in
No restaurant, but breakfasts include home-made croissants and there are canapes at drinks time. Room service runs around the clock.
