Sometimes when you live only a short 30-minute train journey away from London, it’s easy to forget what a great city it is and even become blasé about what it has to offer.
So we decided to take a weekend break, and looked for a hotel in a part of London that had much to see and do, but wasn’t in the tourist hot spots like theatreland, Oxford Street or Covent Garden.
I also wanted a hotel that was fun, helped me relax and balanced high standards with a lack of pretentiousness.
And, in spite of its name, I found The Lost Property, Curio Collection by Hilton, in St Paul’s.
Overlooked by the great dome of Sir Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece, as you might expect Lost Property would not be easy to find if you weren’t looking for it.
The entrance is tucked away on a corner and from the outside you wouldn’t know it was a hotel, something I found appealing. And the nod towards not being your standard London accommodation carried on inside.
My wife and I were given the warmest of welcomes and the hugest of smiles by Gideon at check-in, an attitude towards service and guest satisfaction that was mirrored by every team member we encountered during our stay.
He pointed out the hotel’s own café next to reception, well stocked with premium drinks, snacks and more substantial offerings, as well as explaining the hotel’s gym was equipped with everything you could imagine including Peloton bikes that guests can connect their devices to.
We were then guided to our room, enjoying paintings on the corridor walls of things which have, over time, perhaps become lost to everyday London life, like bowler-hatted gents and telephone boxes, or creatures now extinct, such as the dodo.
The theming of the hotel is so clever, with that ‘lost property’ name running through the artwork in the public areas, and also in a truly stunning chandelier in the dining room – featuring extinct birds individually hand-made in glass by Murano of Venice, complete with details of the species on the wall.
This is a hotel that is serious about service, but also doesn’t take itself too seriously. The public areas are not grey and corporate: they are bright, light, cool, funky. Check out the amazing hanging lampshades, each also individually handmade by Murano.
Our deluxe king bedroom followed the same idea: the bathroom featured a painting of a dog running away with loo roll, all in a shade of pinkish brown that matched the mirror surround.
High-quality Penhaligons toiletries, a very spacious shower, pristine linen and cleanliness, mini fridge and giant TV.
After drinks by the Thames we watched the sun go down from our fifth-floor room and then the lights of the London Eye and various skyscrapers coming on.
In the morning, breakfast was a delight. A buffet of the highest quality, eggs cooked to order, fruit, pastries, cereal – all served by team that clearly wanted us to be happy.
It may be called Lost Property, but stay here and you’ll find all you need – and more.
• To learn more about the hotel, see latest prices or to book, visit https://lostpropertyhotel.com/
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