Last week, I stayed at the luxurious five-star boutique hotel, Sanderson London. If you’ve not heard of it, I would be surprised as it’s one of the original lifestyle hotels in the West End, known for its iconic red lips chaise lounge at the entrance! It’s been on my hotlist for a while now, and after experiencing the Mad Hatters afternoon tea a few months back, it had to be a must-stay! It’s in the heart of the West End and around a 6-minute walk from Oxford Circus station. The hotel’s exterior is unassuming, but once you step inside, you’ll be impressed!

I had a lovely tour of the Hotel by Priscilla and Shivangi; they were friendly and welcoming and answered all my questions about Sanderson. In the reception area, I noticed many dog portraits; they represent their loyal and valued customers and create a warm and friendly atmosphere. I also learned that Sanderson is a dog-friendly hotel that welcomes dogs in all areas and even in some specific rooms! Downstairs, they have a pool table area, a secret bar (only open on Thursdays), the long bar (one of the longest bars in London), an outside terrace (open for Mad Hatters Tea Parties) and the restaurant (for breakfast, lunch and dinner).

I stayed in the Terrace Loft Suite designed by Tim Andreas of Banjo; it was stunning. The floor-to-ceiling floaty curtains around the room make the space feel super luxurious and give the room a playful yet sophisticated feel. The design was particularly unique, specifically the bathroom; it featured a free-standing bathtub and a separate see-through shower with LED neon yellow lights on the floor. The bathroom was a highlight; the walls were made entirely of glass, creating the illusion of space, and there was a huge double vanity and full-size mirror to get ready in. An hour into my stay, I couldn’t wait to run the bath and enjoy the views of the fully furnished loft suite private terrace. I opened the curtains and door slightly to hear the rainfall hitting the deck; how relaxing! I lit a Neom candle, made good use of the luxury MALIN+GOETZ bathroom amenities and lay in the tub whilst reading my newest book; total bliss! After the bath of dreams, I rinsed off in the see-through shower and began getting ready for dinner.

As my friend and I were getting ready, Priscilla from guest relations sent me a surprise plate of chocolate puddings, macaroons (my favourite) and a personalised handwritten note to my room; so cute! I made a cup of tea at the tea station in the room and enjoyed our sweet treats whilst listening to acoustic songs on the HD TV.

My favourite part of a staycation is that you only have to walk downstairs in your 5-inch heels to go to the restaurant! We ate in the restaurant at the back of the hotel, across from the Long Bar. We shared a meze platter for starters, a saffron truffle risotto for main and a sticky toffee pudding for dessert. We also enjoyed a beautiful bottle of Malbec, which was recommended to us by our lovely waiter, and it went down a treat. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu and attentive to our needs.

In the courtyard, you can enjoy Mad Hatters’ iconic afternoon tea. It’s one of the most Instagrammable in London and is always fully booked! I visited Sanderson during the summer to try it for myself, and it was so good you need to add it to the bucket list!

We went to our suite straight after our dinner to spend as much time as possible in the stunning room; we put on our hotel bathrobes and slippers and then jumped into the super king-size bed and enjoyed some room service drinks!

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the amazing team, especially Priscilla, for taking such good care of us during our stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and are looking forward to our next visit.

W: Sanderson London

Written by Danielle Tobin for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International