Ham Yard Hotel, London, review: full of surprises

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 9 years ago

Ham Yard Hotel, London, review: full of surprises

Bed-sits be gone - these bright, funky and quite stunning accommodation options are a revelation.

By Rob McFarland
Updated
Ham Yard Hotels distinctive interior.

Ham Yard Hotels distinctive interior.

Why doesn't every hotel have a bowling alley? Space, for a start. So it says something about Firmdale owners Kit and Tim Kemp's priorities that they would set aside a significant part of their latest hotel to install a four-lane 1950s bowling alley from Texas.

Ham Yard Hotel is full of these sorts of surprises. You'll also find a 188-seat theatre, an orangery and a hypoxic chamber for altitude training.

The hotel sits on a quiet pedestrianised square in Soho whose tranquillity is all the more remarkable given it's two minutes' walk from Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. The aim of the development is to create an urban village feel so lining the square are 13 specialist stores including the first London outpost of Australian jewellery and homewares company Dinosaur Designs.

The hotel has 91 rooms, all of which feature Kit Kemp's distinctive interior design. My room has a bright yellow diamond-patterned headboard, deep blue fabric covered walls and a blue-and-white checked sofa. Whimsical touches include a polka dot seamstress mannequin and a children's fairytale scene mounted on the wall. Love it or loathe it, at least it's not dull.

While the property's bold design ethic is eye-catching, it's the shared spaces that make Ham Yard so intriguing. Where else can you train at altitude, watch a movie, take afternoon tea in an orangery, enjoy a rooftop cocktail and go bowling all in the same building?

Rooms from £310, 1 Ham Yard, firmdalehotels.com.

Sign up for the Traveller newsletter

The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading