Hazlitt's

A captivating, quirky little hotel hidden in the streets of Soho with authentic 18th-century furnishings

You’re never far from history at Hazlitt’s. William Hazlitt was a renowned essayist and critic who lived at 6 Frith Street, now one of 4 Georgian townhouses that make up the hotel. The buildings date from 1718 and are just off Soho Square - you couldn’t get more London central. It was a fashionable address for the literarati of the time, and all 30 rooms at Hazlitt’s are named after distinguished residents and visitors to the houses.

Of course, there were no dimmer lights or power showers when Jonathan Swift dropped by to see his protégé poetess Mary Barker but, like him, you’ll still have to walk along the delightfully wonky floors to her room. Every room is overflowing with plush furnishings and rugs, antique but comfortable beds, and richly painted walls hung with original artworks. And when you need a blast of the present, the bustling streets of London’s shopping and theatre districts are just outside the discreet front door.

Highs

• A real 18th-century ambiance - the rooms have been lovingly restored with antique furniture and art
• Each house is accessed via a separate staircase, adding to the feeling that you're staying in your very own 1700s London home
• Delicious breakfasts delivered to your room every morning
• Hard-to-beat Soho location, with no shortage of restaurants, shops and London attractions on your doorstep
• Deep bathtubs fed by brass pipework make bathing a pleasure

Lows

• The stairs are steep (only one of the 4 houses has a lift) and some of the floors slant
• Not all bathrooms have showers; some come with bathtubs only
• Rooms facing onto Frith Street may experience some noise filtering in from buzzy Soho, though it's muffled by double-glazing
• Club and Superior Rooms feel small - we'd recommend splashing out on a Deluxe Room or a suite