Lonely Planet Review

Staying at Hazlitts is like spending the night on the set of a big-budget period drama. The plumbing's been updated and there's a TV in every room but you still feel like guests should be wandering around in Dickensian night-shirts carrying candles.

Built in 1718 from three Georgian houses, this literary haunt, named after the writer William Hazlitt, is one of central London's finest hotels. Each of the 23 individually designed rooms are named after former residents or visitors to the house including the '13th Baron of Willoughby' and the 'Prussian President'. Traditional features remain and every room offers a wealth of wood panelling, antique furniture (including some splendid four-poster beds), thick rugs and oil paintings. Devoid of any pretension or stuffiness, this is an enchanting step back in time where the staff are as charming as the decor.