Hotel Snapshot at Bertrand’s Townhouse
Courtesy of Bertrand’s Townhouse
Bertrand's Townhouse is a 43-room hotel made up of three Georgian townhouses on Bedford Place in London's Bloomsbury neighborhood. Named for philosopher Bertrand Russell, the hotel offers charm and whimsy in abundance. And it doesn’t hurt that it sits less than a five-minute walk from the British Museum.
“Let me guess…two Americanos, one with a splash of milk, one black?”
It took the culinary team at Bertrand's Townhouse a single night to learn exactly how my husband and I take our coffee. That, in a nutshell, is what a boutique hotel can do that a big one rarely can.
We checked in on a crisp October weekend, in town to visit friends and wander one of our shared favorite cities. We planned to bop around London. Instead, we kept finding excuses to come back and lie down in our room, which tells you how quickly the place started to feel like home. The hotel sits on a quiet Bloomsbury street, a neighborhood long favored by writers, academics, and philosophers like its namesake. It’s filled with whimsy, and the staff is dead set on making you feel at home.
Design & Character at Bertrand’s Townhouse
Courtesy of Bertrand’s Townhouse
Bertrand's may have been overhauled by hospitality design firm Studio Moren, but its old-school bones remain: the original cornicing, decorative fireplaces, and tall sash windows, now dressed in velvet and deep reds. Russell's spirit is everywhere, including in Ottie's Salon, emblazoned with his famed saying, “The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”
The Rooms at Bertrand’s Townhouse
Courtesy of Bertrand’s Townhouse
The hotel's 43 rooms (which it calls Quarters) fall into four categories, from the snug Classic Quarters (12 to 16 square meters) to the garden-facing Philosopher's Quarters, where we stayed. At 32 to 33 square meters, ours had a super king bed, a soaking tub, a double rainfall shower, and a sitting area for kicking up our feet, which came in handy for snuggling up for a movie night in. The real hook was the decor. Those burgundy walls, velvet furniture, and curtains speckled with jeweled bugs gave us plenty of ideas for our own home renovation. Even the mini fridge was thoughtful, stocked with cow's milk and oat milk, plus plenty of tea and honey in the honor bar above.
The Food & Drink at Bertrand’s Townhouse
Courtesy of Bertrand’s Townhouse
There's no formal restaurant here, but you won't miss one. Everything happens at Ottie's Salon, the hotel's bar and lounge, named for a celebrated Bloomsbury hostess. Breakfast runs from 7 to 11 a.m., the all-day menu from noon to 9:30 p.m., and cocktails until 11 p.m. (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). Early risers will find croissants set out on the bar just in case you need a nibble before your coffee and eggs.
The Amenities at Bertrand’s Townhouse
Courtesy of Bertrand’s Townhouse
While there is no gym or spa, the real amenity is the service, from attentive staff to umbrellas lined up by the door for anyone caught without one. “We think the little things are often what guests remember most,” Daniel Cirdei, deputy manager at Bertrand's Townhouse, said. “Because Bertie's is such an intimate hotel, we have the chance to really get to know our guests.” Reception is staffed around the clock, room service is available, and dogs are welcome in select rooms through the hotel's Paws at Bertie's program.
Location & Neighborhood Recs at Bertrand’s Townhouse
Courtesy of Bertrand’s Townhouse
Bedford Place sits between Russell Square and Bloomsbury Square, putting the British Museum less than five minutes away on foot. We left the hotel at 9:55 a.m. and were among the first in line for the museum’s opening at 10. Soho's shops are about a 15-minute walk away, while Covent Garden and the British Library are about 12 minutes away. Holborn and Russell Square Tube stations are both within a 10-minute walk.
Fast Facts
Address: 4-6 Bedford Place, London WC1B 5JD
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Nearest airport: London City Airport (LCY), about 45 minutes by car; London Heathrow Airport (LHR), about an hour by car or by tube
Star rating: 4-star
Starting rate: From £300 (about $400) per night
Room count: 43
Vibe: Cool, chic, understated, and fun
Best for: Couples, travelers who want to bring the dog, and anyone who wants to be within easy walking distance of London’s major sights
Amenities: Ottie's Salon, Cigar Garden, 24-hour reception, room service, dog-friendly rooms
Nearby: British Museum, Russell Square, Covent Garden, British Library, Soho
Our favorite thing: A team that knows your coffee order by the second morning