Eccleston Square Hotel

Spanning two townhouses in Eccleston Square, this family-run hotel has technology down to a tee. The 39 bedrooms – decorated in shades of black, grey and white – were all designed with the latest gadgets in mind, from a filtered fresh air system to smartphones (with free international calls) and iPads, which double up as a digital butler. Guests benefit from the same all singing, all dancing features in all room types, from the super-comfortable Hästens beds (with massage setting) to 3D TVs (over 100 films and 3D glasses are available). The hotel does serve food, but with so many places to try in the area there are endless options or, order in food from nearby restaurants straight to your room (via the iPad, of course!). Guests can use the exclusive residents’ square across the road. Ideal for business and leisure alike, this is a peaceful spot in a well-positioned part of town.

Why do people love staying in your hotel?
Located on a beautiful quiet residential square of white Georgian town houses, it’s hard to believe that Eccleston Square Hotel is also conveniently just a five-minute walk from the train, tube and bus services at Victoria Station.

Central to each room is a handmade, electronically adjustable Swedish Hästens bed, blissfully wrapped in divine Italian bed linen to offer the best night’s sleep. Rooms feature lots of exciting tech panels for functions like closing the curtains and adjusting the lighting. Then the SmartGlass bathroom walls are popular, they offer the ultimate in privacy at the flick of a switch.

Guests can make complimentary international calls to mobiles and landlines from their room’s Handy mobile phone – which is also loaded with unlimited 4G and maps, so is a very handy navigational tool. Concierge requests can be made on the in-room iPad, or if preferred, attentive staff are on hand to attend to all requests for assistance. On the room’s iPad there is also menu facility with over 100+ complimentary 3D movies which can be watched on the in-room 3D TV screens.

There is a complimentary mini-bar for all guests who book directly with the hotel, and everyone appreciates the handy Nespresso machine and 24-hour tea-pot service. Also, uniquely, guests at the hotel are permitted free access to Eccleston Square’s private residential gardens, which feature a tennis court and beautiful spaces, surrounded by some of the most incredible blooms.

What is there to do in the area?
Eccleston Square Hotel is the former palatial home to queen Victoria’s granddaughter, princess Victoria, and is just a couple of doors away from the former home of Sir Winston Churchill.

A few minutes away by foot lies Elizabeth Street, one of the most beautiful streets in London featuring brilliant boutiques like Peggy Porschen’s pink parlour, Poilâne bakery, Jo Malone’s own store and the world famous milliner Philip Treacy. Hamilton theatre is just a few steps away from the hotel as is the new Nova SW1 dining quarter, featuring greats like Helena Puolakka’s restaurant Aster (Finnish/French fusion).

Just off Elizabeth Street is the all-new Eccleston Yards, a hub for creative enterprise, commerce and co-working. Really interesting independent brands are queuing up to be offered a permanent residency at the yards. So far residents include Tailor Made, a super high-tech suit maker, Barry’s Gym which offers the best work out in the world and SMUK with its revolutionary holistic approach to beauty therapies.

One of the sweetest things to do whilst staying at Eccleston Square hotel is to enjoy the tranquil oasis of the Garden Square. There is ample room for picnicking, an immaculately kept tennis court and the beautiful trees offer lots of dappled shade. The gardens tend to be peaceful all year round as only the residents of the square are permitted access.

Sloane Square is only 15 minutes away by foot, as is Buckingham Palace.

What kind of breakfast do you offer?
Eccleston Square Hotel offers a full a la carte breakfast, with favourites like omelettes, pancakes, and the full English. There is a delicious continental buffet too with fresh fruits, yoghurts, pastries, cereals etc.

Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally?
Eccleston Square Hotel offers a daily breakfast menu, which can be taken in room or in the hotel’s beautiful dining room, which overlooks Eccleston Square. Brunch and Afternoon Tea are also served on the weekend. Eccleston Square Hotel also offers an all-day menu featuring traditional small meals and hot snacks, and it also offers a unique delivery service for dishes from many local restaurants.

The hotel’s young owner, Olivia Byrne lives locally to the hotel and has written a guide on the local restaurants which can be read on the in-room iPad. Colbert on Sloan Square offers possibly the best French cuisine in London, TomTom on Elizabeth Street is where all the locals head to for brilliant artisan coffee, Bavarian draft beer, wines, delicious unfussy food and even sometimes, one of TomTom’s Cuban Havana Cigars. Nova SW1 has many restaurants, some of the best include the likes of Sticks’n’Sushi, Ahi Poke (Hawaiian cuisine) and Rail House Café, the new sister restaurant to the Riding House Café.

Which are your most popular room types, and why?
Eccleston Square Hotel is a small boutique property with 39 rooms. The Balcony Rooms at the front of the hotel are extremely popular as they offer delightful outdoor dining space and lovely views across the square. There are some spacious patio rooms which also feature a neat office area, as well as a beautifully presented patio with a table and chairs. The rooms on the higher floors at the front of the hotel offer stunning views of the blooms and pretty greenhouse within Eccleston Square Gardens and some of the City Queen rooms at the top of the hotel have views over to Battersea Power Station.

What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers?
Eccleston Square hotel is the epitome of affordable luxury. Whilst famous for being one of the most technologically advanced hotels in Europe, the hotel prides itself more on its high standard of customer service. Offering a delightful home-from-home environment, Eccleston Square Hotel is a centrally located, immaculately kept and affordable luxury hotel.