Holmes Hotel | Wallpaper*

A room in the Hilton London Bankside hotel. A large bed is to the left. White linen, orange pillows, and a black blanket sit on top. A large bedframe in black and white covers almost the entire wall. There is writing over the whole headboard. Two large windows let in a lot of light. A yellow chair and lamps break up otherwise a very monochrome interior.

(Image credit: TBC)

London’s Chiltern Street might not be the most obvious location on which to launch a new hotel, given the considerable dominance of the Chiltern Firehouse on the same road. Yet despite this, Holmes Hotel London has risen to the challenge, successfully carving out a corner all of its own on the Marylebone stretch this May with a £9 million overhaul of a pre-existing property that lives up to it luxe surroundings.

Situated in Marylebone Village — lending credence to the hotel’s self-styled home-from-home concept — Holmes presents a witty blend of heritage and playfulness paired with guestrooms and public areas that reflect the locale’s cultural and historic connections. Spanning four floors across four Georgian townhouses once known as Bedford House, the hotel encompasses 118 sophisticated rooms and loft suites that mirror the essence of this stylish central London enclave.

Furniture by the likes of Tom Dixon and Muuto harmonise with Sherlock Holmes-inspired details that include antiques and curios, as well as limited-edition artworks by Nelly Duff Gallery.

It’s all executed in a surprisingly chic fashion, aided by the artful positioning of Simon Key Bertman throws, and fabrics and furnishings by Mourne Textiles, and comes to a pleasing climax in the hotel’s laid-back library and Kitchen at Holmes, an in-house restaurant where a merger of tradition and contemporary style guides both the interiors and the menu.

A room in the Hilton London Bankside hotel. A view of the work area. A small desk with an orange leather chair and a picture above the table. To the right, there is a window with a white see-through curtain drawn, and a gray chair.

A living area in the Hilton London Bankside hotel. Light gray and pink chairs, with black and white marble coffee tables, take up the entire room. There is a shelf on the wall to the left with various decorations on it.

A view of the interior of the Hilton London Bankside hotel. Two gray armchairs and a white marble coffee table sit in front of the fireplace. To the left, there is a shelf with various decorations on it.

A bar inside the Hilton London Bankside hotel. To the left, there is a bar, which spans almost the entire room. We see shelves with drinks and glasses behind the bar. Bar chairs in black leather are next to the countertop. White marble tables with dark gray velvet chairs are set throughout the room. The entire place is very light and airy.

ADDRESS

83 Chiltern Street

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Melina Keays is the entertaining director of Wallpaper*. She has been part of the brand since the magazine’s launch in 1996, and is responsible for entertaining content across the print and digital platforms, and for Wallpaper’s creative agency Bespoke. A native Londoner, Melina takes inspiration from the whole spectrum of art and design – including film, literature, and fashion. Her work for the brand involves curating content, writing, and creative direction – conceiving luxury interior landscapes with a focus on food, drinks, and entertaining in all its forms