Easy Escapes: Kimpton Fitzroy, Russell Square

(Image credit: Kimpton Fitzroy)

published 4 March 2022

Why go

Check in to Kimpton Fitzroy to be treated like royalty. We don't mean red carpets and private dining rooms, we mean being treated like you are the only guest at the hotel. As soon as you walk in, you feel welcome. The staff are kind, caring and attentive. But not overly - they know you're here to relax and enjoy and they want to make sure that that definitely happens. The outside of the building is incredibly impressive (it has serious old-London vibes) and the interior is just the same.

The vibe

The interior is a mixture of classic Victorian heritage, with smatterings of contemporary architecture. On the ground floor, there are three places to relax. Fitz's, a dark, brooding and opulent cocktail bar that makes a mean dirty martini; Burr & Co - the hotel's coffee shop, where you can sit with your laptop and work or wait for 5 pm when all hotel guests are treated to an hour of free beer and wine; and The Palm Court - a serene greenhouse-style area that is the perfect setting for a glass of champagne.

The rooms

There are 334 rooms and suites to choose from, and if you can, go for a suite. The bath on a raised platform in the corner of your bedroom allows you to live your ultimate hotel fantasy. The decor is minimal but cosy with pops of colour in the soft furnishings. It makes you feel at home as soon as you walk in. The beds are, as you would expect, cloud-like and Crital-style doors in the bathroom could be straight out of a design magazine.

The food

The onsite restaurant is Galvin Bar & Grill and the mouthwatering menu has everything to offer for a full surf and turf dining experience. The Galvin brothers wanted to create a modern take on the British bar and grill and they succeeded. It's a smart affair, but not intimidatingly so. The staff, as you would expect, are happy to answer any request. Like whether it's ok to have pudding delivered to your room? Of course, it is.

Go for the glorious filet steak and Carlingford rock oysters, stay for the marmite infused bread. To die for.

How to book

You can book online or by calling +44 (0)20 7530 1800. Rooms start at £309.

Katie Thomas is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire UK. With over 10 years of experience on women's luxury lifestyle titles, she covers everything from the best beauty looks from the red carpet and stand out trends from the catwalk, to colonic irrigation and to the best mascaras on the market. She started her career on fashion desks across the industry - from The Telegraph to Brides - but found her calling in the Tatler beauty department. From there she moved to Instyle, before joining the Marie Claire digital team in 2018. She’s made it her own personal mission to find the best concealer in the world to cover her tenacious dark circles. She’s obsessed with skincare that makes her skin bouncy and glowy, low-maintenance hair that doesn’t require brushing and a cracking good manicure. Oh and she wears more jewellery than the Queen.