Rosewood London hotel review: is the A-lister’s favorite crash pad really worth the nightly $700 price tag, or are there more luxurious options in the city?

• Rating: 8/10
• Rooms at Rosewood London start from $739 (£608) a night
• Check current rates and availability

Having opened in fall of 2013, Rosewood London quickly cemented itself as one of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels around—an impressive feat in a city already teeming with stylish, artistic and beautiful places to bed down. And there’s no doubt that the grade II listed building, formerly known as Chancery Court, excites right from the very moment you arrive with its huge stone columns and sweeping marble staircases. Built between 1912 and 1919 the main building has been through various iterations before Rosewood Hotels & Resorts took over, turning it into the idyllic celebrity hotspot it is today. Drake, Justin Bieber, Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba are all rumored to have stayed at the Rosewood, while the hotel’s bars and restaurants look after journalists, A-listers and creatives in the know on a daily basis.

My room at the Rosewood London

Its location, just a few moments from Holborn tube station ensures the hotel is right in the center of the action with the British Museum, Somerset House and the River Thames just a short stroll away. But while Rosewood London is undeniably charming, the epic price tag—in my opinion—means the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, The Mandrake hotel near Tottenham Court Road, and Notting Hill’s seriously intimate and unique The Lost Poet hotel are the superior, and more creative options in the city.

With 262 rooms, Rosewood London is not a small boutique hotel and sits in the same category as The Ned hotel (250 rooms), and while I really do love staying at these dreamy locations, they often lack the personalized touches of their smaller counterparts. Saying that, the Rosewood and The Ned both provide round-the-clock service, a concierge and on-site spas and salons, which I do realize is important for many when booking a London hotel.

What’s the vibe?

You enter the grounds of the hotel through grandiose cast iron gates, just off High Holborn and I was swept up in the beauty of the inner courtyard immediately. The hotel’s main doors are to the right, past the numerous highly polished cars parked out front and as you enter, first and foremost the vibe exudes luxury. When the Rosewood first opened its doors, it was the place to go for work dinners, PR meetings and drinks but since then and the almost two years of lockdown it doesn’t seem to have the buzz it once had, however, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re after a quiet getaway or intimate dinner. There’s no doubt about it, the reception area is dazzling, with extremely professional staff on hand as soon as you walk through the doors, and I adore the bathroom that’s situated on the ground floor as you head towards the restaurant.

Beautiful sinks and porcelain in the communal bathrooms

A good bathroom always impresses me and the Rosewood’s delights with hexagonal-shaped silver sinks, patterned porcelain bowls filled with the softest hand towels, leafy plants and wonderfully scented beauty products. Elsewhere on the ground floor, there’s generally always a few folks milling about, but it’s a pretty relaxed place with stunning fresh flowers on display, pretty mirrored walls and fun sculptures dotted around.

How are the rooms?

Of the Rosewood’s 262 rooms, there are a seriously impressive 23 categories to choose from, with the more affordable ‘Deluxe’ rooms, to an array of stunning suits, and 13 amazing celebrity-worthy signature suites. I stayed in one of the ‘Executive’ rooms and was pleasantly surprised with the size and peaceful atmosphere. All the usual offerings were available in my room; bathrobes, a selection of pillows, a salon-style hairdryer, Nespresso coffee machine (I’m not a fan, preferring an in-room French press as seen in my favorite vacation spot, Aguas Claras hotel on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast), as well as strong wifi, daily newspapers, and turn-down service. I must admit though, for the price of the room it didn’t really have any artistic flair. With a mostly beige and taupe color palette, the bed was undeniably comfortable but there was a lack of art and creativity in the decor. The bathroom, on the other hand, did impress and featured the same silver hexagonal sinks as the hotel’s communal bathrooms downstairs. My bathroom also contained a deep bathtub and was decked out in beautiful polished marble—Czech & Speake are the hotel’s luxury bath products of choice.

Pretty bathrooms are standard at Rosewood London

What is there to eat and drink?

Of all London’s luxury breakfast spots the Holborn Dining Room, just by the main gates of the hotel is actually a pretty intimate and chilled place for breakfast, dinner or drinks, but I often forget it’s even an option when planning where to eat and drink in the city. For my stay at Rosewood London, I opted, as always, for breakfast in bed, but on occasions when I have been to the Holborn Dining Room for breakfast, it didn’t disappoint and included the usual favorites like buttermilk pancakes and eggs benedict, as well as lighter options like fruit salad and millet granola too. For my in-room breakfast, I ordered grapefruit juice which arrived in its own miniature glass bottle, boiled eggs, toast and coffee. For the cost of a night’s stay, it’s definitely not the best breakfast I’ve had at a London hotel and the coffee isn’t really that great either.

Breakfast in bed

I’d recommend heading to the Hoxton Holborn for a much better breakfast selection. The hotel’s bars and restaurants are, however, worth a visit and maybe breakfast would have been more impressive had I headed down to eat mine. As well as the Holborn Dining Room, the hotel also boasts Scarfes Bar, a cozy nook where live jazz is often played, a Pie Room which I, unfortunately, forgot to visit, and an elegant all-day dining lounge known as the Mirror Room. 

Any highlights?

On the whole, the hotel is wildly elegant and luxurious and the building really does impress endlessly. I also checked out the spa and the massage I had really was a real highlight, extremely serene and very professional. There’s no doubt that Rosewood London deserves its 5-star status, but I can’t help thinking that the price is a little excessive, especially considering how brilliant the London hotel scene is at the moment. 

Anything they could improve on?

I'd have to say the price, as mentioned previously this place is seriously expensive.

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