Montcalm Royal London House ∙ A Creative Retreat in the Heart of the City
Combining classic London charm with modern flair, this five-star hotel is a city stopover celebrating skyline views and the lost art of letter writing.
The Hotel
Part of Marriott International's Autograph Collection and perfectly poised between the city hotspots of Moorgate and Liverpool Street, Montcalm Royal London House occupies the former Royal Mail headquarters. This grand hotel towers over Finsbury Square, making it the ideal check-in address for busy business workers and leisurely travellers exploring the bustle of London. Having been freshly renovated, with three restaurants, an urban spa and newly launched creative workshops, it really is the friendly staff who make the big-city feel homely during your stay.
Where To Stay
With 253 guest rooms, ranging from deluxe twins to the Montcalm Suite, all layouts are generously spacious by London standards and framed by skyscraper views. Painted in neutral shades, with glossy dark wood furniture and bouclé accent chairs, the rooms also feature plush carpets and heavy curtains to help block out the city lights come night-time. Techy accents such as 55-inch smart TVs, Nespresso machines and high-pressure rainfall showers are fitted in all rooms. Meanwhile, a light pad by the nightstand lets you control the mood lighting and air conditioning without ever leaving the comfort of your high-thread-count bed.
Nodding to the hotel's history as the former Royal Mail headquarters, books on postal history and sleep poetry line the bookshelves, while bespoke stationery and a silver-weighted pen sit waiting on your in-room desk. Some might think we've lost the art of letter writing and the power of putting pen to paper that comes with it. However, not at Montcalm. Here, you're greeted with hand-designed postcards upon check-in, ready for you to write to your loved ones. This creative pastime has been made easy again, letting you spend your mornings writing letters about your London adventures from your cosy room, wrapped in a blanket-like robe and sipping steaming cups of coffee. A replica green post box (on loan from the city's Postal Museum) and a traditional red post box are positioned in the lobby for when you're ready to post your letters.
How to Unwind
It is a luxurious use of real estate for a London hotel to host a well-equipped spa, and the Montcalm YĀTRĀ Spa is just that. Derived from the Sanskrit word for 'journey', the YĀTRĀ spa therapists blend Ayurvedic philosophies throughout the treatment menu. At PIBE, we recommend the 30-minute bespoke facial: a quick power workout for your skin, perfectly performed early doors, to unwind after a long day or even during a fleeting lunch break. This moment of calm will ensure your skin is cleansed, rolled, lovingly exfoliated, massaged and slathered in beautifully natural Elemental Herbology products.
Leaving you glowing and plumped post-facial, the spa's nine-metre-long pool will beckon you to dip in for some relaxing lengths. Follow this with further indulgence in the neighbouring jacuzzi, steam room and infrared sauna, or perhaps a change of pace in the spa's small but mighty gym to continue the sweat.
Where to Eat
With three very individual restaurants at Montcalm Royal London House, going hungry is never an option. The crown jewel is the all-day dining rooftop eatery, The Aviary, situated on the hotel's 10th floor, with showstopping panoramic views of London. Here, sun-reflecting skyscrapers and pockets of greenery from the city's busy rooftops and parks can be admired.
This open-air terrace is the perfect spot for breakfast, from a fully stocked gourmet buffet to a carefully curated à la carte menu. Your perfectly seasoned scrambled eggs, fresh pastries and early cuppas will be soundtracked by the hustle of the London streets below, giving you a glimpse of the high life from one of London's most elevated al fresco dining spaces. Come the weekend, brunch bookings are hosted alongside live DJs, seafood and dessert-sharing towers, and ice-cold cocktails.
A few floors down, lunch and dinner are served at the Long Arm Sports Pub and Brewery. Nestled within the heart of the hotel, this caters to sports fans and beer enthusiasts alike. Meanwhile, the Burdock is an all-day bar and café for those grabbing something on the go.
What To Explore
Montcalm Royal London House is a newly established creative hub, letting guests exercise their arty side without ever leaving the four walls of the hotel. A new partnership with Rise Art sees a rotating gallery of contemporary art displayed throughout the hotel, supporting and celebrating hand-picked artists. The current exhibition is by printmaker Emma Lawrenson, whose earthy-toned collection of collages and prints, titled 'Threads of Land', will be on display until 31 December.
Within the hotel's communal spaces, a clever collaboration with creative studio Culture A has also led to 900 curated works of art from 30 artists, celebrating prints, collages, handwritten scripts and forms of calligraphy. This turns the hotel's lobby from an elegant waiting area into an art gallery, with lined walls for guests to explore. Montcalm Royal London House is serious about its ode to the written word and has expanded this belief through its partnership with the London Writers' Salon, allowing guests to sign up for a series of hosted calligraphy workshops, writing salons and literary reading events, all hoping to inspire guests to get creative again with the written word.
Once you've fed your arty appetite within the hotel, a short walk or tube journey will continue your London adventure, with Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane nearby, both famed for their street art and food stalls. The Barbican Centre is within walking distance for theatre and cinema viewings, while the ever-impressive St Paul's Cathedral is just a coffee stroll away. With such a prime location, you can take in the beauty and creativity of London as you wander down its streets, before coming back home for the night at Montcalm Royal London House.
How To Book
montcalmcollection.com
Room rates: from £375 per night.
22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3873 4000
Travel Writer / Sarah Barnes
