Due to both of us having work commitments over the festive period, this was the first year that we did not spend Christmas with either of our families. I love Christmas at home with the little ones eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival, and cold wintry evenings spent with the family around the fire. Dismayed at the thought of missing out on all of the usual Christmas traditions, I decided that we must find a way to make our Christmas feel magical despite being far from our families! I needed to find somewhere in London that would feel special but also cosy and homely. After much searching online and reading many (many!) reviews, we booked into The Bloomsbury and (spoiler alert) it was the perfect home away from home that we were looking for.
The Bloomsbury is located in the West End near many theatres, the British Museum and a stone's throw from Covent Garden - perfect for catching a Christmas show or doing some last minute gift shopping. The Bloomsbury district has long been an intellectual and literary hub, home to many notable residents over the years including Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, William Butler Yeats and the Bloomsbury Set - a clique of writers, intellectuals and artists (Virginia Woolf being most famous amongst them) known as much for their hedonistic lifestyle as for their creativity. Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet and playwright, Seamus Heaney, was a frequent guest at The Bloomsbury hotel. There are nods to these famous figures throughout the hotel - the Seamus Heaney Library, for example, hidden away on the second floor is not to be missed.
The elegant Grade II-listed building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens was tastefully decorated for Christmas with pretty fairy lights and festive garlands. We were quickly checked in by the friendly staff at reception and whisked off to get settled into our room. We stayed in one of the hotel's Studio Suites - perfect for a special occasion or if you just want to treat yourself. The suite is large and beautifully decorated - I loved the large leather headboards and floral accents throughout. My absolute favourite feature was the free standing bath-tub situated in the room and partially hidden behind a pretty dressing room screen. Hotel bathtubs can often disappoint by being either too shallow or too short. This bathtub, however, made me feel like Alice in Wonderland when she drinks that magical liquid - total bliss. For those who dislike baths there is also a glorious monsoon shower - though I really must implore you to try the bath (it's not a regular bath, it's a cool bath!)
As it was Christmas Eve, we were keen to get into the festive spirit and so we made our way to the hotel bar for a pre-dinner drink. The Coral Room is easily one of the most beautiful hotel bars I have had the pleasure of drinking in - think old-school Hollywood glamour. The walls are like glazed candy and the Art Deco bar is lined with red leather bar stools - I'm not usually one for sitting at the bar but these are the most inviting bar stools I have ever laid eyes on. The bar is beautifully lit (soft lighting is universally flattering!), the chandeliers give the room a soft warm glow and, should you need some extra light to peruse the impressive cocktail list, they have the cutest little lamps along the bar.
We had a long lazy lie-in on Christmas morning ... not having to get up at crazy o'clock to see if Santa has arrived was one silver lining to missing the excitement on Christmas morning! The second was the hotel breakfast - I love a good hotel breakfast and The Bloomsbury did not disappoint. There was a buffet of fresh juices, cereals, fruit and yogurt and a selection of cold meats and cheeses. The fiancé ordered the English breakfast from the à la carte menu and I treated myself to some delicious pancakes. After breakfast we exchanged gifts and took a walk around the city to check out the Christmas lights - the perfect start to Christmas Day!
The hotel restaurant, Dalloway Terrace (a little nod to Virginia Woolf there), was decorated to recreate a beautiful Alpine winter scene that made us feel like we had been transported to the flash Swiss resort of Gstaad. The special Christmas Day menu kicked off with a glass of Perrier-Jouët champagne - we both chose the butter poached lobster for starter and kept it traditional with turkey and chestnut stuffing for main. We rounded our delicious meal off with an amaretto and cherry Christmas pudding for the gent and the chocolate and clementine Bûche de Noël for the lady.
Following dinner we retired to the hotel Sitting Room for drinks by the fire. This room was one of the main reasons that we chose The Bloomsbury for our Christmas stay. It is so beautifully decorated with statement wallpaper throughout but it is also very cosy and welcoming - it was the perfect place to curl up by the fire on Christmas Day and read a book or do a jigsaw (a favourite Christmas past-time of ours - don't knock it til you've tried it!).
If you ever find yourself in London for Christmas, or you live in London and just want to treat yourself to a Christmas staycation, then I highly recommend that you book yourself into The Bloomsbury - it's like Christmas at home but luxury! That said, The Bloomsbury is not just for Christmas ... this wonderful hotel is to be enjoyed all year round! The Coral Room would be the perfect spot for New Year's drinks and Dalloway Terrace reinvents itself each season and has a wonderful brunch menu.
As always, I will leave you with a shot from the fiancé taken on our Christmas Day stroll around the city.
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