TL;DR

Vibe: Luxury boutique comfort with moody, mysterious personality.
Aesthetics: Old fireplaces, four-poster beds, claw-foot tubs & slanted walls.
Setting: Stone house on a corner by Smithfield Market.
Check prices here

Besides the name, we also love The Rookery for mixing moody mystery into the easy comforts of a top-quality hotel.

Lots of shadows and stone floors can be a bit risky, but this sister to Hazlitt’s whimsy and Batty Langley’s Miss Havisham-esque charm knows what it’s doing.

The super-cute stone building sits on a cosy corner right by Smithfield Market, at the city end of Clerkenwell.

It’s all very London, in that it’s got plenty of dark spaces, a bit of a sordid past, and an air of exclusivity to its riches.

The neighbourhood was once an area of choice for London’s vice and villainy, and the decor calls back to that era.

We’re talking velvet-covered four-posters, fireplaces, florals that read masculine; the works.

The rooms are particularly dark and cosy. You’ll find a bit more light in the common areas, though. The Conservatory offers a bit of air, even.

What are the rooms like?

Rooms: 33 total.
Look: Heavy fabrics, dark woods, antiques.
Highlight: Rook’s Nest duplex with soaking tub.
See each room in detail here

Rooms begin with a 20m² Single, set up with a double bed, just to make things a bit confusing.

Next up is a Double, with either a double or king bed, and we go from there to a handful of Suites.

The most desirable, if you’re not too tall, is the Rook’s Nest.

It’s a super-romantic duplex option with an event of a soaking tub, circular window, and slanted walls.

All rooms are living their Georgian-era fantasy, full of heavy fabrics in a range of moody greens, reds, golds and dusky pinks.

Furnishings are rich, dark woods with plenty of antique carvings. The necessary modern amenities are snuck neatly into each space.

That is, you will have a TV, air con, running water, and electricity. You’ve also got desks, many antiques, and baths that do fit the decor but are definitely of-the-now.

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Breakfast: Conservatory or in-room.
Dining: No restaurant, but all-day room service.
Extras: Nice common areas, solid wine list.

There are no restaurants on-site, but you can enjoy breakfast in the conservatory or in your room.

We don’t really know how they whip up something so charming with no restaurant, but gift breakfasts are for putting, not looking, in the mouth.

They’ve also got a room service menu that you can enjoy all day. Yet, both us and them think you should probably get out on the town for dinner.

It’s London, after all, and there are more than enough must-see restaurants to contend with.

The house wine list is worth mentioning, as we can’t imagine much more satisfying than a nice glass of red in your claw-foot tub at the end of a long day of sightseeing.

Common areas are generally available for meetings.

They’re not set up for large groups or corporate presentations, but anything on the small side should fit perfectly.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Area: Quiet but central Clerkenwell with local character.
Sights: Walkable to the Barbican, St. Paul’s, Soho & Covent Garden.
Further reach: Easy tube from Farringdon Station.

A bit north of Blackfairs near Farringdon Station, Clerkenwell is a, newly, very nice part of London that’s far from, say, Buckingham Palace, but nearer more interesting, less-touristy places.

And to do those usual parks, palaces, and bucket-list items, you can just take a long stroll through the legendary streets of Covent Garden and Soho.

Clerkenwell is a perfect spot for someone who wants a bit of quiet but with easy access to the action around the centre.

There are also pleasant routes down towards the Thames from here, through the charming old streets of Blackfriars, and down towards Tate Modern, The Globe, and the riverside.

So many major sights this side of town, like the Barbican, St. Paul’s, and Fleet Street, are walkable.

Others are best reached via the underground, easily accessible from Farringdon Station.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Excellent historical property. Extremely friendly and helpful staff. Great breakfast. Rooms very quiet even though right on the street. So much like old London. So much better than a big generic hotel. Very easy to get to many attractions. We will stay here again next time we visit London….”

“In a world where most hotels go for that minimal, modern look… this place has a charm you just can’t find anywhere else! It’s a true Londoner building, and stepping inside feels like walking into a little museum. The antiques, the paintings, the bed frames full of detail, even the statues dotted around the hotel—it’s absolutely stunning!

A special shoutout to the lovely lady at reception with the Romanian accent…..she was amazing! So friendly, professional, and full of great recommendations. Honestly, the whole team there was fantastic. For the first time staying in London, we didn’t feel like “just guests”… it really felt personal….”