The Arch London hotel, in London (!!!), is the perfect example that great things can come in small packages. A boutique hotel located behind the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, just around the corner from Marylebone – in other words, perfect for my London life. I love Marylebone and have to say, this hotel, who is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, really surprised me.
Pre-Arrival
– Was there any pre-arrival communication by the hotel with myself via email or social media?
My stay was organised months in advance via email, and everything was pretty clear. There was no direct contact with the hotel as such.
– Did I try to engage the hotel via Twitter? Did the hotel interact with me and made me feel welcome/special?
I did sent a tweet out before I arrived at the hotel, and I got a response.
– Has the hotel tried to gather any personal information (e.g. preferences) prior to my stay?
I made no special requests, as per usual.
Arrival
– The wow factor! What was the hotel decor style?
As I walked in, I was immediately escorted by the doorman, who walked me to the reception area. I was seriously impressed with the decor and look and feel of the place. And to think I know the area so well and never heard of this hidden gem.
– How quick and efficient was the hotel check-in?
I love sit down check-ins and this was very good. Very efficient and the service was fantastic.
– Was I addressed by name once reservation has been located? (it is all about the small details, some others are outstanding with this, and I love it, like I do when I board an airplane)
Absolutely.
– Did I get an upgrade from my confirmed pre-booked room type?
I wasn’t sure what room I was going to get, so I was delighted to be told I was going to stay at the Abbey Suite.
– Did I feel genuinely welcomed by the hotel staff?
I thought the staff were absolutely fantastic – and honestly it was at par with the best hotels I ever stayed at. And when I met Michael, the fantastic GM and learned he came from the Four Seasons, everything made perfect sense.
– Luggage – how many people did I have to tip before the luggage made it safely to my room? This is cultural, I know
I was escorted by the gentleman who checked me in, and taken to my room, which was, unusually, in the lower ground floor. I thought it could be interesting – but I wasn’t disappointed! It meant we had a private patio, which is lovely, especially in London.
– Wi-fi – was I told anything about it? Was there a charge?
Wifi was complementary throughout the hotel.
Room Experience
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Our stunning room (photo courtesy of the hotel)
– First impressions – décor, size and wow factor
Our room was stunning. Stunning. Stunning. It was very spacious and very well designed. The whole hotel was incredibly tasteful and felt very inviting and warm. Besides a very large room with a small outdoor area, we also had a mini kitchen and a fab bathroom.
– Welcome amenity
I had three lovely macarons and a note from the GM.
– The bed
Was amazing and very comfortable. So comfortable, that on the last night we decided to go back to the room early after dinner and watch TV in bed, which we never do. At the end of the bed, there was a pop up TV!
– Closet/Wardrobe – proper hangers or those annoying ones where you need a PhD to get them out one by one? This is a personal pet peeve of mine. I can’t stand them.
Impeccable and plenty of storage space for me and Mr. O.
– Iphone Charger/Dock
There was a dock for an iPhone 4, which we did not use.
– Bathrobes and slippers
Of course and for once I used the bathrobe. It was lovely and soft.
– Coffee and Tea
Our mini kitchen came with a nespresso and a great collection of glasses.
– Free bottled water
Yes of course, but even better, the all soft-drinks at the very well stocked mini bar were free of charge.
– Magazine selection – had some nice surprises and doesn’t happen often enough!
It was actually quite nice!
– Power sockets in useful places – we have more and more devices and we know where we want them! By the bed, by the working area.
I had plenty of sockets on my side of the bed, but none on Mr. O’s side – but he was closer to the desk and had plenty of outlets there. Worth noting that there were also European and US adapters.
Bathroom
– First impressions – décor, size and wow factor
The bathroom was huge and fantastic.
– Bath, shower and taps – I am looking for Duravits and Hansgrohes (or other fab brands) around the world. How fab was the shower? And a little pet peeve.. was I able to operate the shower without asking Mr. O for help?
All top-notch! We had a bath tub (with built-in TV, which we did not use) and a fantastic shower room. I was also able to figure the shower on my own, which doesn’t always happen.
– Towels – yes, please! How many and how soft and lovely?
Very soft and large.
– Toiletries – own brand, super brand, baby ones or proper ones? I shall find out!
The toiletries were from Malin+Goetz, a brand you do not see very often! Originally from NYC, the products are lovely and I may have taken an extra set home. Or not.
– Amenity kit – I don’t want more sewing kits thank you very much, but I will need a shower cap.
We had everything we needed.
– Hairdryer – is it a human one, or just something stuck to a wall that only makes noise?
I did not use it, but it seemed proper.
Restaurant
The restaurant has a restaurant and bar called Hunter486. It looked lovely and we enjoyed using it for breakfast, dinner and as a bar. It may seem weird, but it actually wasn’t – it has separate areas and they feel very different. On one of the nights, it was very busy, the other wasn’t so much. We had a great dinner (very English – Dover sole and steak!), but the highlight was the seasonal dessert: ice cream cocktails! OMG, they were so good, it was almost unbelievable!
General thoughts
– How good and reliable was the wi-fi?
It worked well around the hotel, but not brilliant in the bedroom. I let the hotel know and they promised to look into it.
– Did the hotel interact with me via Twitter during my stay?
I did get a response back from my original tweet.
– Location
For me? Brilliant. I love Marylebone and believe it is a perfect base for London, whether you are visiting for leisure or business.
– Cost – rooms starting from…
Standard rooms start from £205 per night, and suites from £1,005
– Would I recommend it to my best friend?
Absolutely.
– Would I stay again?
Without a doubt.
Have you visited this hotel? What were your thoughts?
xo
Mrs. O
Disclaimer: I was a guest of The Arch during this stay, but hopefully you will see that this has not influenced my thoughts about the property. To book, click here.