The

The
original Zetter Townhouse in
Clerkenwell has got to be one of our favourite hotels in
London, so we were thrilled when this sister property opened in W1.
Outside, it’s a Georgian townhouse which looks much the same as the
other mansions lining Seymour Street. Yet venture through the
understated slate-grey door and you enter the lair of Wicked Uncle
Seymour, brother of Aunt Wilhelmina who reigns the Clerkenwell
property. Both are fictional characters (we’re told) and their
whacky and whimsical ways fill both hotels, each overflowing with
cabinets of curiosities, daring decor and general all-round
outrageousness – done with style and aplomb, of course. In
Marylebone, Wicked Uncle Seymour is most in his element in
Seymour’s Parlour, a candlelit cocktail bar which has plenty of
dark corners for doing dark deeds…

Rooms

The 24 uniquely decorated rooms range from the smaller ‘club’
size, through superior four-poster suites, right up to the
expansive ‘Lear’s loft’, a sprawling apartment complete with a roof
terrace and alfresco bathtub. Expect plush curtains, sumptuous
velvet armchairs, rich Persian-style carpets, mahogany fireplaces,
heavy crystal glassware and hand-picked oddities scattered
throughout the rooms. On our stay, we were quick to don a vintage
admiral hat, fill a glass with whisky and twirl around the room
with a brass-handled cane – safe in the knowledge that Uncle
Seymour would’ve wholeheartedly approved of such behaviour. A
rotating flat-screen TV which emerged James Bond-style from the end
of the bed at the flick of a switch gave the room an unexpectedly
contemporary twist alongside a sleek, tiled bathroom brimming with
REN bath products.

What’s for breakfast?

Head to the ground-floor lounge for an artisan breakfast of
freshly baked pastries, jams, cheeses, cured meats, yoghurt and
fruit, alongside an a la carte menu offering the likes of avocado
and smoked salmon or potted eggs with beans and bacon.

How about lunch and dinner?

While they don’t have a restaurant, the bar offers nibbles and
snacks such as charcuterie, seafood and cheese boards to share.
Even better, they serve the most glorious afternoon tea featuring
delights such as sloe gin-glazed ham finger sandwiches, goat’s
cheese and red onion marmalade melts, piccalilli-haggis sausage
rolls, black pudding-scotch eggs and mountains of scones – all
served in a tower on traditional silver cake stands.

Is there a bar?

It would be a travesty to miss out on Seymour’s Parlour, the
naughty cocktail lounge with a drinks list from world-famous drinks
maestro Tony Conigliaro to match. Choose from mixtures such as
‘poire noel’ (noel liqueur and pear cider) and the heady ‘le
sphinx’ (orange neroli honey, ambrette bitters and champagne) to
keep you making mischief until the early hours.

Amenities

Free wifi, 24-hour room service, yada yada yada. The best bits
are the personal touches which include a carefully curated
selection of novels on your antique bookcase, hot water bottles in
charming hand-knitted covers and the fluffiest dressing gowns in
town.

Things you should know

This is one of the coolest places we’ve stayed. Period.

Within a short walk you can find

A stone’s throw from Oxford Street, if you’re in need of some
retail therapy, this hotel puts you in the right place. If you’re
looking for a more refined experience, head to the independent
vintage stores and bustling cafes of chic Marylebone High
Street.