Staying At: The Laslett, Notting Hill Review

The Laslett is Notting Hill’s answer to a chic, boutique stay – combining comfort, style and luxury in an enviable location. 

If there’s one thing that the past few years have taught me, it’s the pure joy of a simple staycation.

How far do you take it though? 

It’s one thing to staycation (and no, I don’t want to hear about how much you hate the word) in a remote rural retreat in Wales, and quite another to staycation in your own city. 

Does it even count as a break if the journey takes less than an hour? Let’s not have an existential crisis over it, but these are important questions. 

That’s exactly what I was trying to find out when I spent the night at The Laslett in Notting Hill over the bank holiday weekend. 

The Laslett, Notting Hill Review

The hotel was a delight, the perfect base for exploring Notting Hill and the surrounds. Formed from a series of five vast townhouses, it’s spacious without being soulless, with thoughtful decor that strikes the right balance between being stylish, comfortable and practical. 

Location 

Notting Hill needs no introduction – one of West London’s most expensive postcodes, it’s a good choice for those looking to stay in striking distance of central London but want a neighbourhood feel. 

The Laslett is located down a quiet side street near Notting Hill Gate station – so very easy to get to. It’s only a few minutes’ walk to Kensington Gardens and the famous Portobello Road, is also minutes away. 

Style 

The Laslett totally nails it on the style front. 

From the grand porticoed entrance painted an impossibly crisp white to the rooms, adorned with statement art and old Penguin Classics (I spied an old favourite the Kraken Wakes in my room), everything in The Laslett conveys a sense of understated luxe. 

The two leisure rooms – The Henderson Bar and The Library are the kind of rooms you wish you could transport home, piece by piece. Tactile velvet banquettes in jewel hues are accentuated by mood lighting – and more art of course. In the daytime, they’re flooded with light, before taking on a moodier aspect after dark.

Rooms 

If there’s one thing you can count on in the kind of large Victorian townhouses in which The Laslett is located, it’s a sense of grandeur and space – two things the hotel has in abundance. 

Rooms are on the generous side anyway, but made to feel even more so when paired with the building’s tall ceilings. I’ve touched on the decor (reminder: totally fabulous), livened up by quirky touches like giant feathers and more practical ones like the Marshall radio propped on the desk. Much of the furniture is by British designers including bespoke benches by Pinch and lighting by Simon Day at Nocturne Workshop. 

I stayed in a Master Bedroom Suite, the largest category, but even the smaller rooms are generous at 22-33 square metres for the Master Bedroom Double and 19-22 square metres for the Double Bedroom. There’s no differentiation in the style and quality of the decor between the different room categories, so you can rest assured that smaller categories feel just as luxurious. 

The only small hiccough in my room was that the hot water tap on the bath didn’t work, forcing you to use the shower head to fill the bath. That workaround did work though, so it’s a small point. 

Service and Amenities 

As a boutique hotel, The Laslett keeps it simple on the amenities front. 

There’s a small pop up ‘Little Shop of Curiosities by Jerome Dodd’, West London’s eclectic antique curator. Add to that The Library, The Henderson Bar and that’s about it. They also offer a cute picnic hamper service for you to take to Kensington Gardens – a nice touch. 

The staff are excellent – friendly, informative and genuine without being overbearing, plus always on hand to dish out recommendations for things to do and cool spots in the local area. 

Food & Drink 

Breakfast is served either in the Library, the Henderson Bar, or, if you’re lucky with the weather, on the hotel’s sleek tiled terrace. The menu emphasises seasonal ingredients, cooked simply and done well – my smoked salmon with scrambled eggs was cooked to perfection and the Organic Cru Cafe Coffee certainly put a spring in my step that morning. 

The cocktail menu is short but sweet – but the bartender was quick to tell me he could make something to order if I wanted (I did) and the ensuing margarita was exactly right. 

There’s also all day dining – served either in your room or in the downstairs areas. 

Oh, and the answer to can you have a staycation in your hometown? For sure. Just make sure you leave the laptop at home. 

Practical Information and Map

Address: 8 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4DU

Telephone: 020 7792 6688

Check Rates and Availability: On Booking.com I Direct with the Hotel

Read More London Hotel Guides

• Chic Boutique Hotels in London for Your Next Trip
• Cool & Quirky Hotels in London
• Where to Stay in London: Area by Area

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