I had a hot tub with a view over Bloomsbury.
Looking out from the tower corner suite of the five-star Kimpton Fitzroy hotel, I had a cheeky evening view of the winding paths and lime trees of the pleasant square Russell Square garden.
I hope no one could see me, because this bathroom wasn’t hidden – it’s a free-standing bath on a raised terrace with only fig-leaf-like shutters for privacy.
The fact that a bath is the focus of a beautiful suite at this remarkable hotel has something to do with its life cycle, because when it opened in 1898 as the Hotel Russell, it was not only one of London’s most opulent places to stay , but also the first hotel in the capital, where all bedrooms had their own bathroom.
Immaculate and hopefully unseen, I set off in search of one of London’s most stunning hotels, the ground floor of which is so decorated that some say it’s the origin of the phrase ‘all dolled up’.
Carlton Reid checks into London’s Kimpton Fitzroy where he is treated to a swim with a view
The 334-room hotel was originally designed by Victorian star architect Charles Fitzroy Doll
The eight-story hotel was designed by Victorian star architect Charles Fitzroy Doll, who was later commissioned by the White Star Line to recreate parts of his interior design for the Titanic’s first-class dining room.
Poppie’s design for this corner of literary London was inspired by the Chateau de Madrid, a 16th-century Parisian palace that lay in ruins at the time of the French Revolution. Like this royal residence, famous for its exterior reliefs, the exterior of Kimpton Fitzroy is lavishly decorated. It is covered with soft brown Doulton terracotta, known as Thé-au-lait, or “tea with milk.”
The facade is also dotted with life-size statues of four queens: Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne and Victoria, the work of monumental sculptor Henry Charles Fehr, famous for his sculptures next to the Supreme Court in Parliament Square.
The decoration inside the hotel is also beautiful. Pop went all out and created a brown and cream marble entry hall that is dark, luxurious and almost literally enchanting.
The mosaic floor is decorated with signs of the zodiac, evoking the Victorian era’s fascination with the occult.
The facade is decorated with life-size statues of four queens: Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne and Victoria, the work of monument sculptor Henry Charles Fehr, known for his sculptures next to the Supreme Court on Parliament Square
The brown and cream marbled entry hall is “dark and luxurious”, says Carlton
Upstairs is the hotel’s mascot, “Lucky George,” a 30-inch bronze dragon that guards a staircase on the hotel’s second floor. There are twins that were tied to the stairs of the Titanic’s first class dining room
And with modern, new-age wellness, the 334-room hotel now offers a tarot reading experience created in collaboration with occult expert Dr. be offered. Christina Oakley, founder of the nearby witch bookstore Treadwell’s.
The hotel even started using its own tarot deck. The Kaiser card is based on suffrage leader Emmeline Pankhurst, whose former home is now the Burr & Co brasserie in the hotel (where I had breakfast). The Wheel of Fortune card features the hotel’s mascot, “Lucky George.”
It is a 75 cm high bronze dragon that guards a staircase on the second floor of the hotel.
Doll commissioned two such kites. The twins were tied to the stairs of the Titanic’s first class dining room. Today, the unfortunate George finds himself at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Shortly after reopening in 2018 after an expensive renovation, the hotel’s name was changed to Kimpton Fitzroy. Fitzroy is obviously a nod to Doll, while Kimpton is an American chain of characterful boutique hotels founded in 1981 by Bill Kimpton.
This photo shows Fitz’s cocktail bar. Carlton describes the hotel’s interior design as “beautiful”
Carlton explains that the hotel, designed by Victorian star architect Charles Fitzroy Doll, gave rise to the expression “all dolled up.”
The hotel renovation included an interior refresh by Tara Bernerd & Partners, a London-based studio that designs for many of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
Wisely, much of Doll’s design remains, including the tiled floor, long hidden under carpets.
Back in my corner suite, I sat on the velvet sofa, supported by Kit Miles-designed side cushions with a stylized dragon. By the fireplace, Bloomsbury’s literary connections are highlighted with a selection of challenging books.
I picked one and went to read, surrounded by five-star luxury.
Happy George? Just as well.
Carlton can be found on Twitter @carltonreid and his videos can be found at www.youtube.com/@cyclingnews.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
