The Rookery Hotel

““You will have much pleasure in being in London.”—Sense and Sensibility”

Jane Austen herself would have felt at home at The Rookery—even though the imposing tower, which is presently obscured by scaffolding, is not even three decades old. But it has been constructed with such sensitivity from salvaged brick that it looks every bit as Georgian as the converted 18th-centu… more

Jane Austen herself would have felt at home at The Rookery—even though the imposing tower, which is presently obscured by scaffolding, is not even three decades old. But it has been constructed with such sensitivity from salvaged brick that it looks every bit as Georgian as the converted 18th-century shops that comprise the rest of this boutique hotel. The rooms themselves are furnished with antiques and decorated with exceptional taste—even the bathroom, with its burnished copper plumbing, high-tank toilet, and roll top tub. I was besotted with one room in particular: the Mary Lane, the exposed mortise-and-tenon beams, a remnant of the original building. What I didn’t appreciate were the 50 steps treaded every night to get there. The room also faces the street and there is the soft murmuration of night sounds—not, given the very comfortable duvet and feather pillows, that one will be awake long enough to be disturbed. In retrospect, though, a room on a lower floor, such as the Elizabeth Cormac, is just as beautiful and demands half the effort to enjoy. The Rookery also is only a three-minute walk from the Farringdon Underground Station. On the Circle Line, it will whisk you along the bank of the Thames to London’s most important sights. Or one can walk. St. Paul’s Cathedral is only 15 minutes away by foot; the British Museum, twice that—distances that, if there are traffic diversions, can easily take as long by cab. Better yet, The Viaduct Tavern is just 10 minutes away through the brightly painted arcade of Smithfield Market. Stroll over, order a gin and tonic with chipped ice or a London Pride, and congratulate yourself for having stayed at The Rookery. (A note: book directly. Rates will not be lower elsewhere, and there is advantage of dealing directly with hotel staff, who are uncommonly helpful—especially Thush.)

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“The Rookery will change your life”

My partner and I visited for my birthday and were utterly spoiled by the lovely staff who upgraded us to the incredible Rook's Nest suite, which was possibly the nicest birthday surprise I've ever had. I've stayed in all three of the sister hotels and I think The Rookery might just be my favourite.… more

My partner and I visited for my birthday and were utterly spoiled by the lovely staff who upgraded us to the incredible Rook's Nest suite, which was possibly the nicest birthday surprise I've ever had. I've stayed in all three of the sister hotels and I think The Rookery might just be my favourite. We wanted to pass on our gratitude to the generous and welcoming staff who made our stay a pleasure. Love this gem of a hotel with its peaceful library, wonderfully decadent rooms (with just the right level of Georgian naughtiness. That bath..!) and lovely resident cat, making it all feel like home. Bliss.

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“Comfort, Convenience, and a Cozy Sense of History”

We arrived at The Rookery after dark and even though it is an easy three minute walk from Farringdon Station, we almost missed it as the facade was covered with scaffolding. But, what a joy to be welcomed into its front hall, so rich in a sense of history. We loved our 3rd floor room - Sophie Rood… more

We arrived at The Rookery after dark and even though it is an easy three minute walk from Farringdon Station, we almost missed it as the facade was covered with scaffolding. But, what a joy to be welcomed into its front hall, so rich in a sense of history. We loved our 3rd floor room - Sophie Rood - although travelers with heavy bags, take note. Toosh from the front desk kindly helped with our suitcases, but there is no elevator. That aside, we would want the same room next time. Its lighted fireplace, lovely portrait, beamed ceiling, and beautiful desk-turned-armoire embraced us. The room was clean and the bed wonderfully comfortable. We loved the beauty and comfort of the different common rooms, all of them furnished with comfy wing back chairs, period lamps, and antiques. The library was stunning. There is an honor bar and it was lovely to come back after a day of touring, mix a drink, and relax in this beautiful setting. Bagheera, the black cat, would saunter through for a visit which added to the sense of home. At the front desk, Dave, Alexandra, Muslum, Augustine, Robert, and Toosh were ever helpful and friendly in answering questions and making suggestions.I believe it was Muslum who recommended the nearby Fox and Anchor pub which we LOVED. Thank you for a wonderful stay!

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“FANTASTIC - AND GREAT LOCATION”

I arranged to stay at the Rookery for business, for four nights. It looked a tad small from the outside, but once you entered, the place was a true gem. The staff were just sensational, always wanting to help, they even had a cat wandering around, just making it feel even more like home. The room w… more

I arranged to stay at the Rookery for business, for four nights. It looked a tad small from the outside, but once you entered, the place was a true gem. The staff were just sensational, always wanting to help, they even had a cat wandering around, just making it feel even more like home. The room was "old fashioned'. but that just added to the charm, the bed was magical, soft, clean and just superb. Everything was perfect and I can not wait to return next year with my wife to let her enjoy the experience. It was 10:10... My only slight comment that the shower was handheld, which was a little bit of a challenge, but OK for me

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