Agent Report: Fa-La-La in London with Egerton House
Breana from the Poe Travel team spent a festive couple of days at Egerton House Hotel last weekend, and it certainly made everything feel merry & bright. Here’s what she had to say...
Photo courtesy of Red Carnation Hotels
Upon turning off a busy road in Knightsbridge to the tucked-away enclave that Egerton House Hotel calls home, I immediately found myself soothed by the quiet. It seems impossible that you can make one turn off of a Central London thoroughfare and find yourself on a quiet residential lane, but that’s exactly what the experience was like as I made my way to Egerton House.
Breana at Egerton House Hotel in London
There was no missing it once I’d arrived. The festive decorations out front, complete with a life-sized gingerbread man and plenty of twinkling lights, put me immediately into the holiday spirit. The hotel’s façade, especially with these festive additions, looked like that of a London home—albeit quite a grand one.
Once inside, the warm and friendly staff told me a bit of the backstory, and suddenly it made sense. The Egerton House Hotel, now owned by Red Carnation Hotels, was once two townhouses. These days, the wall between the two has been knocked down, and the result is one sizeable townhouse. With the Christmas tree and a cart featuring mince pies and mulled wine, it felt as though I had come to stay at the London home of some nobleman or other as a Christmas guest. Their cocktail craftsman, Sahbi, whipped me up a spiced pear concoction (Christmas in a glass), and I settled in to enjoy this home-away-from-home in London.
The Egerton House only has 28 rooms, so it’s a wonderfully boutique hotel. My comfortable room was on the top floor, so it had vaulted ceilings, which only added to the spacious feel. Large windows looked out onto the chimneys of Knightsbridge and peaceful Egerton Gardens, and as I stared out over dusky London, I felt like a resident of this fashionable neighborhood. The room was classically decorated, no sense of modernity in the patterns and colors, but the modern conveniences were all there: large flat-screen television, granite bathroom, Bluetooth speaker, etc.
The hotel is perfectly situated for wandering out and experiencing London’s best. The V&A Museum is a five-minute walk, as is Harrods and the Natural History Museum. A slightly longer (but very pleasant) stroll took us to the King’s Road, with lots of wonderful shopping and some of the city’s best eateries. In fact, the walk between Egerton House and the King’s Road was particularly enjoyable because it felt almost like being on a village high street rather than the center of a sprawling city. Egerton House is also located very near both Knightsbridge and South Kensington underground stations, so connectivity with the rest of London is seamless.
Perhaps the best treat of all came on my second day at the hotel when I was able to experience their lovely festive afternoon tea in their drawing room. Afternoon tea is, of course, a time-honored tradition in England and something that simply must be done on every trip across the pond. Along with all the afternoon tea classics, Egerton House’s festive afternoon tea included the likes of a delicious turkey and cranberry finger sandwich, Christmas-themed cakes and pastries, and a wonderful hot Christmas pudding at the end—all coupled with some truly lovely bubbles.
If you’re looking for a last-minute festive getaway this year or perhaps planning ahead to a holiday season abroad next year, I can assure you you’d be looked after very well at Egerton House Hotel. Their staff is welcoming and attentive, their drawing room is the epitome of cozy, and their bedrooms are comfortable and homey. You’ll feel as though you’ve moved to London (and into a neighborhood most Londoners can only dream of!). Right in the heart of the city but without the loud hustle and bustle, I found Egerton House Hotel to be something of a festive dream.
If you would like to Go Away to Egerton House Hotel (or anywhere else in the world), contact us. We will design a customized itinerary to set you on your way.