We’d heard rumours of Eccleston Square Hotel, a potentially precious, little boutique space in Belgravia that was run by two, young Parisian siblings. A brief online search rewarded us with glowing TripAdvisor reports and endless award listings – it was named The Best Hotel in London by the relevant outlets and such like – so we had to put it to the test. On the outside, Eccleston Square Hotel is quite easy to miss – set on a residential square just a few steps away from Victoria, it is actually two beautiful and immaculate, but subtly advertised Grade II listed, Georgian Townhouses; one was once the palatial home of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter. But what actually what lies within these historic walls is an Aladdin’s Cave, a luxuriance of sophisticated treats and modern surprises.
In 2010, siblings Olivia and James Byrne acquired numbers 36 and 37 Eccleston Square and began a £6.5 million refurbishment. They and their design team went on to create what is clearly a decidedly brand new ‘hi-class’ London boutique hotel category. As it transpires, the hotel is also one of the most technologically advanced in the world: every one of its 39 rooms oozes awesomeness, with some of the most experience-enhancing hotel products and services that money can buy.
Let’s start with the beds, because, let’s face it, hotels are selling sleep. Each room has a handmade Swedish Hästens massage bed. Retailing at well over £12,000, these beds are fully adjustable and have their own remote control and relaxing, vibrating massage settings – and are gift wrapped in the coolest, smoothest Italian bed linen. Elsewhere 3D TV’s grace the walls of every bedroom, and hyper responsive touch-pad controls by the bed do everything from closing the curtains, to illuminating the do-not-disturb sign (no lousy cardboard in this place). Aside the bed complementary iPad2s are provided for your stay – a preloaded, slick butler and concierge app is included, making cocktail orders room service dangerously easy. Also available through the app is a list of over 100 complementary 3D movies that are delivered tout-de-suite, accompanied by some very hi-tech 3D specs.