Press

City Times (Khaleej Times)   

26 May 2007

Time out in the heart of London

Lucia Dore shares with City Times her delightfully English summer break and what she describes as one of the most luxurious hotels she has experienced in her life

Looking to get away from these hot climes but feel uninspired about going to stay in a bulk-standard luxury hotel, even if it is five-star? Maybe that's one of the downsides  of living in Dubai, with five-star becoming the expected norm and the extras - whether it be the decor or the quality of spa - providing the "pull".

This is how I feel about hotels anyway (perhaps even more so because I grew up in them, albeit not in Dubai, since they were the family-business). So when I travel not only does my accommodation, whatever the price bracket, have to enable me to tick all the normal boxes - cleanliness, value for money, location - it must also have that extra "je ne sais quoi". That's what makes a place really memorable.

On my last trip to London I managed to find a place that did just that, and for reasons quite different from what they would be in Dubai. Tucked away on Sloane Street  just off Sloane Square and just steps away from Harrods, Hyde Park and the Kings Road - in a typical Victorian townhouse that had once been converted into a school, is a boutique hotel called Durley House. Such is its location, and unlikely frontage, that it was almost impossible to find, unless you knew what to look for - which I did, of course.

The hotel is indeed boutique - all of 11 suites - unusual in London, where the price of land means more is usually crammed on to a site rather than less. There are one and two bedroom apartments and family ones as well. All rates are quoted on request, which probably gives you some idea of what the price is like. The hotel also offers special packages, such as Theatrical London, which includes two tickets to a production of your choice, and Shopping in Style. More about shopping later.

Given the price, Durley House has to have a different allure, and it does, which accounts for the fact that it appeared to be completely full when I was there. There are the business suites configured specifically for the business client. The conference room is large, with a suitably large Victorian table, large windows looking out over the gardens across the road. In fact, as was typical at the turn of the last century in London, wealthy townhouse residents had access to private walled gardens, and this is still the case today. Durley House is no exception - in fact it has a private tennis court as well - so if you do decide to head off to London as the temperature here rises you can take time out in this green, manicured English
garden. 

I stayed in a one-bedroom apartment, with a kitchen, bathroom and sitting room. The bed was enormous as it seemed to be twice that of a king size and there was lots of bedding - great when it seemed so cold outside. There is no doubt that you have to like old - uneven floors and ceilings, and the fact that the rooms have been "configured", rather than designed, around the existing structure. This means that the facilities are not well appointed in the way they are in a new hotel in Dubai, but that's what makes it so attractive, and quirky.  There are a handful of rooms, very friendly staff with service to match, exquisite antiques and decor comprising a mix of English print and bold fabrics that create an unforgettable atmosphere. Guests have included Oprah Winfrey, King Juan Carlos, rocker Rod Stewart, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Moreover, Durley House is perfectly located for some of the best shopping in the world (and coming from Dubai you are bound to be an expert on that). If you dont know the best places to shop Durley House can provide you with a personal shopper, who happens to be an image consultant as well, to take you to exactly where you want to go. As you would expect, you have to book well in advance to avail of the services of Toshiko Kobatake (not English at all but a Londoner none the less who knows London shopping better than most) so you can maximise your time and your purchases.

One of the downsides of Durley House is that it doesn't have a restaurant, though room service is available. But this is not such a nuisance when you realise you can try out the restaurant, just down the road at its sister hotel, The Cadagon. Both hotels are run by the Stein Group, which operate a number of boutique hotels across Europe, and is also a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World.

The Cadogan Hotel has  been recently renovated and is similar to Durley House but on a much grander scale. There are 65 rooms combining modern day comforts with an atmosphere of the Edwardian era, when the hotel was originally built. Some of the rooms are designed to commemorate the lives of earlier occupants, such as Lillie Langtry, the famous mistress of the Prince of Wales who later became King Edward VII, and King Edward VII himself.

A stay at either of these exclusive establishments would make for an interesting time. Certainly a stay at Durley House makes you feel that you have enjoyed an experience rather than just stayed.

For booking appointments or enquiries, please contact Toshiko:

Tel/Fax: +44 (0)20 8458 4597