Draycott Hotel will transport you back to the good old days of English aristocrats. In every detail you will find English elegance. Built in 1890 this hotel still holds its classic character. This red-brick Edwardian hotel is located around the corner from Chelsea’s fashionable Sloane Square and the beautiful borough of Kensington. Draycott Hotel is located in a quiet area but also close to bubbly London center which makes for a good combination.

In 2003 the Mantis group bought this hotel and now it is part of the more than 60 hotels that are operated by this group. They even set up hotel (camp) in Antarctica for groups. The building itself has been a hotel since the eighties. They turned three traditional townhouses into a 5-star luxury hotel.

The whole hotel is decorated in the typical English elegance from decades ago. Something we personally love but can be a bit too much for others. We love this theme and found out that the hotel is decorated by two designers. Rupert Lord has a more baroque style and Nina Cambell has a more feminine touch with lighter colors. We had a talk with the general manager of Draycott Hotel to find out more about the hotel and the style.

Melissa Stoman (general manager)

“We have a lot of regulars in the hotel who notice the difference between the two designers. Whenever I want to change a chair I need to get the same fabric since it all blends in to one experience.”

Besides style they focus even more on service. Some of the staff has been working there for over 20 years. That counts for something, right? The team here will go a long way to make you feel welcome. They will inform you about activities in London and make all reservations for you. We love it when hotels take good care of their guests. And they do that well in Draycott Hotel. They offer a number of complimentary services to all guests; served in the hotel’s Drawing Room are complimentary refreshments including tea and home-made biscuits at 4pm, champagne at 6pm, followed by warm hot chocolate from 9.30pm until midnight. And if that is not enough you will find drinks and snacks in your room with the widest selection of drinks and snacks we have seen so far in a hotel room.

With only 35 rooms this place will easily feel like home. Of those 35 rooms there are 11 suites which are even more spacious than the already spacious deluxe rooms. You can even have your own suite with a well equipped kitchen. Every room is named after a famous writer or actor. Each room is adorned with Edwardian antiques, reflective of its theatrical namesake. Be it Sheridan, Grenfell or Ashcroft, each room contains something reminiscent of times gone by. One of the things we really love is that they sponsor a charity in Africa that helps the rhinos. Don’t be surprised when there is a rhino on your bed with a little tag. That would be stuffed one that you can buy to support the cause.

Standard rooms start at 250 pounds per night (€288). Regarding the good location and a well thought out theme we think this hotel has a good value for that money. Book your stay at one of the most luxurious 5 star hotels in Chelsea, London. (address: 26 Cadogan Gardens, London) (Book here)