The Rookery

Stayed there for 3 nights Staff very friendly and accommodating Location is great Service on point and on time It is an experience on its own staying there Highly recommend it

+6

I cannot stress enough just how incredible not only the service was but the hotel itself was so so beautiful and spotlessly clean, the care and thought also of the staff was like nothing I've ever experienced. I felt as though I'd stepped back in time to a time when customer service was everything. I cannot wait to go back and I highly highly recommend it, what a gem !!

+2

Very charming and quiet little hotel. My room was beautiful and very clean. The bathroom was a little bit quirky but it’s adds to the charm of the place. Very good breakfast. I really want to go back!

Quirky, characterful hotel. Our room was small but perfectly formed. The furnishings are unique to each room, lots of antiques. Very comfortable bed. The shower had a beautiful copper surround, even the toilet was a throne!! Helpful, friendly staff.

We enjoyed an amazing stay in the Rookery for our weekend trip to London. The room and hotel itself are unique, very very fondly furnished and the staff is extremly kind! The only slight sticking point for us was the surrounding area of the hotel, which isn´t the nicest (many shops seem to be abandoned for example). Of course the hotel can´t help it - five stars without question!

Had a fabulous honeymoon stay at the Rookery. If I could stay at a hotel just like it in every city, I would. Beautiful antique furnishings and feel, but comfortable and updated, including AC which was a necessity during the 40 degree heat. Staff was very friendly and it was great to hang out with Bagheera. Would definitely stay again.

I think this is close to my idea of a perfect hotel. Though I had lived in London (more than three decades ago) I didn’t know this part of London or the delights of Clerkenwell. But I am so glad we had reason to stay at The Rookery. This place is truly special. From the moment you arrive having to be buzzed in (it makes it feel like it is your private residence) to the welcome from team, to the wonderful surprise when you are told about the honesty bar in two of the three lounges and only topped by the door opening on to your requisite bedroom. The room was just lovely, no shower just a lovely roll top bath, no rushing here you have to relax. We had a great (superb coffee and orange juice) in our room and we availed ourselves of the honesty bar. Such a lovely idea, so generous and warm of spirit. Yes! we did write our drinks down. Others didn’t 😡. We enjoyed this hotel so much that wherever we want to be we will stay here. The other bonuses: - you are three minutes from Farringdon Station which means you are less than 45 minutes from Gatwick Airport - Clerkenwell is just fantastic - two minutes from the soon to closed but amazing and historic Smithfield market - minutes from St Paul’s, The Thames, The Globe…. - you could actually walk to the Ritz end of Piccadilly in less than an hour. DO stay it is a lovely lovely hotel. Thank you.

The most beautiful boutique hotel I’ve stayed at in London…if you want somewhere that has history, character and is centrally located then this is it, a hidden gem. Stepping into the hotel from the hustle and bustle of the London streets was like being transported to a calming haven back in time. Staff and service wonderful! Can’t wait to return!

I had the dreamiest one night stay at The Rookery! The staff was incredibly sweet and helpful, the furnishings and room were so cozy, breakfast served to my room was well-priced and delicious, and the bathroom was the bathroom of my dreams! A gorgeous cast iron soaking tub— my goodness. This was a bit of a splurge, but totally worth every penny. I will absolutely be back next time I’m in London!

An Unforgettable Birthday at The Rookery Hotel I recently celebrated my birthday at The Rookery Hotel on June 10th, and I can’t say enough about how wonderful my experience was. It was everything I hoped for and more. From the moment I walked in, I felt like I was stepping into a warm, welcoming home. The staff at The Rookery are truly amazing. Alexandra, Judith, Thush, Robert, and the lovely Patricia, who made the rooms shine as bright as diamonds, were all exceptional. I apologize if I’ve misspelled any names! Every staff member went above and beyond to make sure my stay was perfect, and their kindness made my birthday unforgettable. A delightful surprise was Bagheera the cat, who added a special charm to my stay. My room was simply perfect, with a stunning bathtub that I couldn’t get enough of. The bed was so comfortable that I slept like a baby! The mornings were a treat with delicious fresh breakfast served right in my room. Every bite was incredibly tasty and a fantastic start to my day. This hotel truly was the best birthday gift I could have given myself. I fell in love with the place instantly. The location is fantastic too. Farringdon Station is just a four-minute walk away, making it super convenient. I also had lunch at Brutto, which is about a two-minute walk from The Rookery. The food was excellent and complemented my stay perfectly. A special thank you to Alexandra, who was kind enough to take a few pictures for me, creating lasting memories of my wonderful stay. The entire team put a smile on my face and made my birthday truly special. I can’t thank the people who discovered this amazing place enough. The joy and smiles it brings to everyone who stays here are worth it. Thank you so much to everyone at The Rookery Hotel for an exceptional experience. I can’t wait to come back!❤️

We had an excellent experience at the Rookery back in April 2018. The staff were super friendly and helpful, I lost my cellphone during a cab ride and the front desk lady used their land-line to help me and waited till it was returned, I am very grateful. The in-room breakfast was also exceptional, lot's of warm, well-made bread and pastries with fresh juice and tea, good value and quality. The rooms were extremely charming, with canopy bed and Victorian style furnishings. There were even black umbrellas available for guests to use in London's rainy days.

An absolutely fantastic and historic hotel, situated in a wonderful part of London. It was a real pleasure to spend time in the room – especially relaxing in the bath – as well as enjoying the inviting public areas downstairs, such as the library, sitting room, and conservatory. While it isn’t the cheapest option, it’s well worth considering for a special occasion – you certainly won’t be disappointed, some other hotels turn out to be both expensive and disappointing. The only very minor quibble is that there didn’t appear to be any tea or coffee making facilities in the room.

Absolutely beautiful hotel! Everything- the rooms, the staff, and the service- exceeded our expectations. If you’re really lucky, you might even get to meet their resident black cat!

This is one of the best experience at this s hotel . Rooms are beautiful, service spot on and gin bar … just amazing . I must mention breakfast, excellent. Well done team..

My first time in the hotel and I am still shocked. So charming! The rooms so lovely and the breakfast was amazing…but probably the best was the staff with David, Alex, Jodi and Gary so nice people. They make you feel very comfortable and relaxed.

Great vibe! Friendly staff, AND guests! Rooms were lovely, slept like a log, breakfast delicious. Didn't try the cosy looking honesty bars, but nice to know they were there - next time... slight issue with bathroom, in that characterful roll top bath and old shower fitting but no shower curtain. Tricky... But had already had a lovely stay, and will be back, so not a biggie, atmosphere more than made up for it.

I had the best stay here of any hotel I’ve stayed in ever. Friendly welcoming so comfortable and actually really good value for a city centre hotel. Although right near Farringdon station as soon as you walk in it’s so quiet and peaceful. Room service outstanding value and really good food. Couple lovely lounges with bars. To note there is no on site restaurant but room service (which they will also deliver to lounge/courtyard) is really good and excellent value. There is also no typical kettle/coffee making in room BUT the room service for coffee was super quick and really good coffee and also good value. Generous selection in mini bars. I would not hesitate to return just to stay at the hotel.

This is the first time I’ve written a review before I’ve left a hotel. What a wonderful place. Extremely warm and friendly staff and the decor is stunning. Amazing location and only a short walk to St. Paul’s. Such a lovely place of calm and relaxation with lovely public spaces and a gorgeous hotel cat. Looking forward to the rest of my stay.

A stunning boutique hotel in the heart of Clerkenwell. It feels very exclusive and not like a standard hotel at all - in a very good way. Lots of space to spread out and find a cosy corner that’s not in your room, and the honesty bars are a great idea. Well stocked minibar in the room too and a real feeling that you’re staying somewhere incredibly special. I’ll be back.

A rookery, in the colloquial English of the 18th and 19th centuries, was a city slum occupied by poor people and frequently also by criminals, tells us Wikipedia… I can’t say for sure about criminals, but the Clerkenwell area in which this most charming establishment sits has most certainly long since been gentrified. Richly appointed with an abundance of decorative details, fine material and collectible artefacts, one feels immediately at home at the Rookery. Well stocked DIY cocktail stations, the discrete, “family-styled” presence of the staff and the black feline (aka Lady Grey) posing as the establishment’s proud yet elusive mascot, play a large part in giving you this most delightful impression. Whilst breakfast is rather delicious and healthy, one must point out that there is also a rather delicious looking yet classic menu for dinner or lunch, in one of the two dining rooms of the hotel, or perhaps, in one’s own bedroom.

What a gem! A fabulous boutique hotel with top class service, facilities and rooms. Now one of my favourite hotels! Be warned, there is no restaurant but breakfast is served in room. But that’s one of the best ideas I have seen…..and they have a House Cat!

Simply the best hotel in London and I have had the privilege of staying in many fine hotels. Comfortable but not flashy, filled with antiques but not fussy. And books everywhere. Old and sometimes rare books are ever present. Who could ask for more? Breakfast you say? Best bacon roll in England, no question. Chibata saturated in quality butter topped with superb artisan bacon. I almost don't want to tell people about this haven of calm and quality it is so good.

My son, daughter and I stayed at the Rookery for 3 nights (Nov. 22, 23 & 24th), and each of us had our own rooms. The decor was enchanting, the beds were comfortable and the staff could not have been more accommodating. The breakfast, each morning, was a real treat and started our day off perfectly. I would definitely return to this lovely little hotel, so convenient to seeing London easily.

This is our favorite hotel, not only in London, but in the world. It is what the Brits call "civilized" -- that wonderful combination of comfort, dignity, coziness and order. Gracious in every way. An absolutely ideal home away from home.

Lovely rooms. Baths very luxurious. Right next to tube station. Didn't have the breakfast so can't comment on it. Service very good. Drinks available with suggested cocktail recipes with an honesty bar.

When in London and if you are tired of all these corporate chain hotels, come here (or go to their sister hotels, Hazlitts or Battie Langleys). Why? Well, 1. All rooms are wonderful and unique; filled to the brim with antique furniture, books and beds. Yet, 2. The beds are awesomely comfy with sumptuous linen and what feels like hundreds of pillows Also, 3. Honesty bar with a nice selection of Gin, Whisky, Vermout and mixers for all your cocktail needs (Martini, G&T) at reasonable prices even 4. The staff is wonderful: typically restrained yet very friendly for London In conclusion: stay here. You will not regret.

Very cozy and charming hotel. Small but full of carachter. They have a beautiful black cat that welcomes guests at check-in. Rooms are large for London standards and really well decorated. Bathroom was also very large. The location is good. Very close to Farringdon Station, which gives you access to the circle line and train station.

Very nice hotel! Great staff - very attentive and helpful. The rooms are old-style, but well maintained and not run-down. Most have amazing stand-alone bathtubs, which we loved.

I had a wonderful stay at the Rookery and the building and interior was so beautiful and cosy. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, they made the experience very personalised and comfortable. We felt right at home. The service is great and the quality of everything is perfect. We will definitely be coming back again. Also, loved the cat

Really enjoyed the stay here. Service is outstanding. Extremely friendly, thoughtful and proactive. Double bed is rather small but that's maybe just the authentic way to fit in to the vintage design. Area has plenty of restaurants for meals and a handful of pubs for drinks.

We stayed here for two nights (5th & 6th July ). This was our second time, although the first was many years ago. The Rookery is a delightful boutique hotel steeped in history. Public areas are very well kept and beautifully clean. Staff are so friendly and very helpful. The room we were in was called the Rooks Nest. It has two floors. The bedroom is very spacious with a free standing bath and shower. The upstairs has settes and a writing desk. It also has a retractable floor so that you can look down into the bedroom. Both rooms have a television and a well stocked mini bar. We would definitely recommend this hotel and in particular this room. Our only niggle would be that there is no tea and coffee making facilities in the room, however, the room service is excellent. Many thanks to all the staff for making our stay enjoyable.

Positioned close to Faringdon station, the Rookery is well placed as a cosy base to explore the area. The hotel is elegant, classy, oozing old school Victorian character. The staff are friendly and attentive. The rooms are named after local residents of the area from days of old and the hotel helpfully has created an interesting biography about them. There's an honesty bar in the lounge with a very reasonably priced selection. Great place for romantic retreat.

Location is central to London’s Thames and the south bank area, Tate museum etc. It’s a 2 min walk to the train station. Rooms are small but comfortable, the beds were divine to sleep in, such soft sheets. Great wifi, tea n coffee in room available. The only downside for us was the noise. We had two rooms, first had a plumbing noise so the hotel very kindly moved us, second room we could hear the guests above us walking around, admittedly it was intermittent. We did get a good sleep here once we moved rooms.

Facilities were more effect than practicality for example hand held shower and no safe in the room. That said the room was beautiful and the bed luxurious. Guest lounges fantastic with 2 honour bars. Close to both Farringdon stations. Lots of great amenities close by.

This is an amazing quirky place. Fantastic features at every glance. Possible downsides are for less mobile people getting in high beds and baths etc. I am sure there will be rooms suitable for almost everyone. I loved it and would definitely recommend it.

Very quaint hotel with lots of character, located just off a lively street. You definitely get a feeling of London. Excellent touches like a tea tray in the afternoon. Breakfasts are great and delivered to your room, although you can have them downstairs as well.

I wanted to give this 5 stars because the service is impeccable, the room was gorgeous and the bed was very comfy. The whole place feels effortlessly classy. However one star is lost because our room was next to the street. With Smithfield market nearby, at 2am a lorry parked up. I think it might've been filling up with the meat supply for the whole of the South of England because it wasn't really possible to get back to sleep properly with the bashing and banging noises going on. Ask for a room on the quiet side. It's probably fine at the weekend.

It was our wedding night! They kindly gave us a free half bottle of champagne. Wonderful room, extremely idiosyncratic and it felt very special. Friendly, approachable staff. Perhaps for the money they could throw in a coffee in the morning (or facilities to make one) but then if you can afford these sorts of places you're probably not too bothered.

EDIT: The hotel has subsequently offered us a partial refund, which has done a lot to absolve some of the hurt outlined in the review below. Last weekend we stayed at this hotel for our wedding. To begin with, we were absolutely blown away by the hotel -- the welcome and service, the decor of the building and of our room, the breakfast and the location were all second to none. We loved it so much in fact that we decided to extend our stay from 3 to 4 days while we were there, at great expense to us. While staying there we encountered a number of snags, as you expect from any hotel, that we were willing to overlook because we were finding the stay so delightful -- the cleaning staff left copper cleaner in the bathroom, there was no "Do Not Disturb" sign in our room so the housekeeping staff walked in during our honeymoon, there were no glasses in our mini bar cupboard. Also, the night before our wedding our ground floor room was subject to terrible noise from both upstairs and the road, so I slept quite poorly... as I say, snags we were willing to overlook. However on checkout day, after leaving our luggage to go for a stroll around London, we noticed an unannounced charge on our credit card to the tune of ~£45 for items taken from the mini bar that we had not had. Assuming this was just a simple error (after all, the Duty Manager mistook us for another couple when we checked out, and apologised for the mistake), we figured we'd simply clear up the issue when we headed back to the hotel. We were extremely surprised then, upon arriving back, to find that this was not merely a simple mistake. The (same) Duty Manager notified us that the charge was not done so in error, without sending us an explanatory email first, and on top of that, we were being accused of taking a USB adapter from the room during our stay and that we would incur further charges if it could not be found. After assuring them that we took neither the items from the mini bar nor the adapter from the room, they asserted it was "impossible for those items to be gone if we hadn't taken them" -- refusing to entertain the notion that the hotel's staff may have neglected to replenish the mini bar, and in the process accusing us of dishonesty. Needless to say we were very upset by this accusation. After some back and forth, the Duty Manager promised us a refund for the mini bar items. But at that point the damage had already been done. We understand the desire for managers to defend staff when it feels like entitled customers are trying to take advantage. My partner and I are very considerate, very honest people, often to a fault. However, this situation was handled with the least tact of any interaction I've ever had with hospitality staff. As someone who suffers from social anxiety, I have never been put into a situation where I felt confrontation of this nature was necessary, until I stayed at The Rookery. I would go as far as to say that this interaction came close to souring the entire experience of our wedding weekend, an experience that should be the happiest of our lives. In light of this experience, all of the snags we encountered over the course of our stay feel all the more egregious, especially for a 4 star hotel as premium The Rookery. Before this experience, during our stay, we were talking about returning for anniversaries in the future, but now I'm not sure if I can in good faith recommend anyone I know stay here, for fear of experiencing what we did. I can't begin to express just how saddened I am to be writing all of this. It started as the best customer experience of our lives, and became quite literally the worst.

+1

Great location, lovely staff, great decor... But missing the comfort of a high end hotel. Beds are springy, hard and very small. Some rooms only have a bath (no standup shower). Smells a bit musty. But if you're looking for a old-fashioned English experience then this is your place!

We stayed this weekend for 1 night on Saturday after previously enjoying several stays at your sister hotel Batty Langleys. Inside was lovely & enjoyed the same signature decor with an honesty bar & complimentary cake. This hotel has a friendly resident cat who greeted us sat on top the reception desk. Our room was lovely, but unfortunately there was no roll top bath or a kettle, we rang downstairs & this is given on request & a lady came up with a complimentary tea tray with kettle, the air con was pretty hit and miss & the room was extremely warm. But the worst part was the noise from outside all night right through to the early hours & noise from upstairs could literally hear people walking above. I DID NOT get a wink of sleep, constant stream of people shouting and screaming & music blaring continuously which echoed all night, we even heard a blast of music at 6.55AM !!! We have since found out that this area has a lot of underground clubs so hence the noise !! The real shame was we booked 2 rooms as we were taking my elderly in laws away as a special treat & unfortunately they had a room next to ours along the front & got NO SLEEP either !!! Won’t be booking again

I stayed at the rookery last month and was very disappointed. Many people are likely reading this contemplating if they want to stay here, the main appeal being the beautiful design of the hotel and it is indeed beautiful. Most of the design aspects felt highly thought-out and detailed however some feedback regarding that would be the curtains, they were to long for the window so they were gathering on the floor. For an expensive hotel where aesthetics are their main selling point I think this needs to be resolved, it cheapens the whole room. Besides the design we did not have a good first impression, we went to drop our bags off before check in around 11 or 12 and the staff seemed tired, they weren't rude however they were in no means attentive or friendly. However the most unfortunate part of this hotel is the extremely thin walls, we asked for a quiet room after seeing the reviews regarding the street noise and disappointingly we instead had noise from other guests 2/3 nights. We were disturbed by what we assumed was the room with the shared wall, only to find out it was the room across the hall from us. It's ridiculous for hotel walls to be so thin you can be disturbed by a room across from you. We complained on the morning of the second night, we did so the next morning as we got in very late and regardless of the noise the other guests were causing we were extremely tired and didn't want to get re-dressed to speak to an employee. When the complaint was made they said that the couple next door was checking out but if the noise continued they would put us in a room they currently have available. Low and behold it wasn't that couple making the noise so on the final night we come back at 11 at night and the noise is still continuing. We immediately go down to reception this time just for them to tell us they sold the room they'd promised us if the noise continued. All the employees did was give us the mangers number and no apology other then "sorry, we don't usually get noise complaints for that room" it very much gave the impression they didn't believe us so I had an employee follow me up to the room to hear the noise as I don't like people implying that I'm lying or exaggerating. We were lucky the next morning that it was the manger who was checking us out, she was lovely: apologetic, friendly and professional. She offered us a one night refund which we found a acceptable solution. I highly debated posting this review as I am grateful to the manger for promptly offering us compensation however I need to warn potential guests of my experience here.

The room and hotel itself were really pretty, beautifully furnished etc. Staff all very friendly. Unfortunately we then went on to have one of the worst nights sleep I think we've ever had. The bed was pretty uncomfortable and wiry, felt like I was in a Victorian hospital. The worst part was our air con though. Around midnight we noticed that every time we heard people come back, a few minutes later our air con would start gurgling and would not stop for around 20 minutes. It was weird, loud and annoying, so we turned it off. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that it didn’t matter whether it was off or not, it would gurgle. It was on and off all night until it eventually stopped around 4am. It then started again at around 6am. I can only think it was something to do with other people flushing toilets or showering? It was like some strange form of torture, waiting in the darkness for this thing to stop gurgling so we could sleep, and neither of us could wait to go home. If we had a car with us, we would have upped and left in the middle of the night. When I told the person at the checkout desk the next morning his response was oh sorry… would you like a cup of tea? Lol, no. Before our stay, I reached out via email with a query about bags, and was ignored for weeks until I messaged their social media account to ask the same question. I had also told the hotel in my original booking, and when I re-confirmed the booking, that it was my husband’s 30th birthday. I have never stayed in a 4* hotel where I’ve told them it was a birthday (once, let alone twice) and not even had someone at check in at least say ‘happy birthday!’. Felt these aspects of the service were pretty poor for a 4*. At almost £300 for the one night I was, and still am, so, so gutted with this hotel.

Quintessentially British old world charm, but apparently quality service is reserved only for those who deemed ‘worthy’. Unfortunately I was treated differently compared to other guests. I can't say whether this was a case of racial profiling, or an assumption that I couldn't possibly belong at this hotel. I am a black british male, and all other guests were caucasian or of east asian decent. This includes the combative energy with which I was greeted upon check-in. No warm welcome, as I saw other guests receive. Just suspicion, with cold demands for me to produce my name, my passport. Odd for a hotel of this caliber, I thought. Before check-in was completed, the staff found reason to argue with me in an incredibly condescending tone - he would not accept that I had pre-paid for the room. His computer eventually proved me right (when he bothered to check). Mistakes happen, but why lecture me ("you are wrong, you've made a mistake") before checking? Another incident with different staff - I was asked to prove my identity after returning to the hotel one evening. The hotel insists that guests deposit room keys with front desk before exiting the hotel. Upon return, all other guests simply have to state the name of the room they have. During my 4 day stay I saw countless guests come and go without issue. But for some reason, it was only me who had to prove that the room belonged to me? Rather humiliating. This treatment left a sour taste in my mouth. So much so that I wrote to the hotel via WhatsApp upon checkout, requesting to discuss with the hotel manager and making my allegation very clear. The duty manager (worryingly) thanked me for not sharing my feedback via Booking.com, and after empty promises of a swift reply - I had to followup again 5 full days later before this matter was deemed deserving of a response. And that response was unsatisfactory - explaining my experience away ("security is of the upmost importance to us") without explaining why no other guests were subject to this treatment. The offer of a complimentary upgrade for a future booking, is certainly not enough to remedy this. And the statement from the manager that the hotel employs a diverse group of staff, only serves to rub salt into an open wound. Does that then justify my treatment? And does that mean there is no requirement for accountability when things evidently go wrong? Photos added purely to prove that I actually stayed at the hotel. For the record, the property itself and the rooms truly are great.

Called for a reservation today, and had to cancel an hour later due to an asthma attack and had to go to the hospital instead. A particularly rude receptionist began arguing with my husband on the phone, refusing to cancel the booking unless he paid when my partner hadn’t made a booking or paid deposit, simply asked them to reserve, so it was still available to the public, quote from the receptionist, ‘two other people have reserved for tonight’ and we are ‘fully booked’… which is humourlessly contradicting and a blatant lie. To diffuse the receptionist’s anger I spoke to him about how I had been excited to stay and will come next week when I feel better however he kept cutting me off and challenging my husband. Overall I think this is the worst communication I have received from a London hotel and would not recommend anyone to stay here, 0/10. It’s my birthday and from a business point of view, they need to train their staff to be able to speak politely to the public instead of snapping at them and being patronising.

Guy who checked us in was very unfriendly. Not sure if it was a night manager (night managers are usually night managers for a reason!) Short guy with glasses. So very glum Anywho. We went straight to bed. Bed spread and pillows smelled musty, bed was lumpy and we were kept awake by drunk folk, lorries and general street noise. Room smelled of damp. Then we were woken again in the early morning by the garbage truck, after which we couldn’t get back to sleep because the bed kept shuddering from the train vibrations. Mentioned it to the person on front desk and it didn’t get followed up. A couple staff members are friendly but it seems anyone in charge is awol. Manager didn’t respond to email.

Unbelievable treatment. The night staff wouldn’t let my pregnant friend use the toilet. They treated us like we were stragglers off the street. In reality, I was going to stay here next month for a work trip. I will be cancelling my reservation as I wouldn’t want to stay where I’m not welcome.

I got the worst room. I couldn't sleep because of the noise from the street, pick up vans, perhaps train (?), all sorts of noise until morning. The room was so hot. I kept waiting up. Nightmare. The room was very dark. Felt like dungeon. Pillows didn't smell nice at all. I would not stay here again.