The Cranley Hotel London
I like five star (or is six the new five?) hotels as much as the next girl, but on a recent trip to Europe, I decided to nix the big chains and try something different. Small, luxury hotels it turns out can be more charming, more attentive and more bang for your buck no matter what your destination. Take for instance The Cranley, a darling boutique hotel in the posh South Kensington neighborhood of London. Sure, it’s now operated by Stein Hotels & Resorts, but it is situated on a tree lined street and occupies three townhouses that were built in 1869. It is so perfectly meshed with the other homes in the area, you feel like you are going to visit your rich Aunt Lou every time you climb the lantern lit steps leading to the big brass door knocker.
As if that’s not reason enough to keep you coming back for more, each bedroom, while offering the latest in technology (think flat screen TV), is adorned with gorgeous antique furniture, hand-crafted beds and hand-stitched linens. The bathroom, with its towel warmer, delicious bath goodies and huge soaking tub/shower, could have easily held me hostage for most of my trip. Lucky for my husband, the hotel’s afternoon tea service and evening champagne hour gave me reason to emerge.
The Cranley. 10 Bina Gardens. South Kensington, London. +44 (0)20 7373 0123
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