Sydney House Hotel, London, United Kingdom

Sydney House is a chic townhouse hotel, beautifully located just off Fulham Road in London – between the museums of South Kensington and the shopping Mecca that is Chelsea. It’s one of a row of townhouses lining a quiet street and gives off a pleasant, residential air.

The facilities

Inside, a few rooms have been knocked through to create a small reception area. A recent refurbishment stripped out any trace of chintz and the boutique hotel now has a clean, contemporary look. Floors are blonde wood, walls are the palest pistachio, lighting is cleverly recessed and there are arty books scattered around.

However, it’s definitely on the comfortable side of minimalist. Seating is cushy and the bar is heartily stocked. There are rather charming pencil drawings of London landmarks on each of the landings. The staff are happy and seem to operate in a genuine family manner. This boutique hotel is run with great energy and good humour by the inimitable GM, Vojin Mandic.

The rooms

There are 21 rooms in this boutique hotel, each with excellent beds equipped with crisp, white Frette linen, fat goosedown quilts, lambs wool throws and piles of pillows. Furniture is neat and modular and in the same smart light wood as the floors. The front-facing rooms have the addition of a balcony over the street. Bathrooms, too, are sleek and modern, with lots of glass and walk-in showers; a few rooms feature tubs as well. The townhouse hotel is generous with bathroom products, which are by the White Company.

If you feel like a treat, the best room in the house is the The Room at the Top, which comes attached to a roof terrace with plants in terracotta pots and smart wooden decking. It’s a top-notch private outdoor space, perfect for drinks or dinner on a summer evening.