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Story & Photography by Melanie Votaw
The Draycott
26 Cadogan Gardens,
London, SW3 2RP
United Kingdom
My new official favorite hotel in the world is the Draycott in London. First of all, I received the kind of personal attention that you get in a B&B, along with the 5-star amenities of a top hotel. But, what really sold me were the special little touches that I have never found anywhere else.
These included complimentary afternoon tea and biscuits at 4:00 in a lovely Victorian drawing room (or the privacy of my room, if I chose), a free glass of champagne at 6:00, and complimentary hot chocolate at 9:30. It’s rare to have an opportunity to actually socialize with other guests, and I really appreciated that. These unusual experiences, coupled with the push-button-operated fireplace in my room, made me one very happy guest.
And the operative word is “guest.” The Draycott is a small 5-star hotel with just 35 rooms and suites, so the personal service truly helped me to feel like a visitor rather than a customer. Here’s an example: My initial approach to the hotel was problematic. I had a bit of trouble locating the hotel, which was probably more a result of my fatigue than the directions. Bear in mind, however, that this is not a big property with a large flashy sign. It looks like a home on a quiet residential street by Sloane Square, so I missed a turn as I walked from the Underground station. When I called the hotel from my cell phone, a staff member actually walked out of the hotel and down the street to the intersection to find me as I approached. Color me impressed.
That level of service continued during my stay, and there was something very comforting about it since I was traveling alone. While the Draycott has much in common with B&B’s, one of the differences is that the innkeeper doesn’t go to sleep. There is 24-hour service at the hotel, which includes room service and full concierge services from restaurant, tour, and theater bookings to chauffeur arrangements. One downside is that there is no restaurant on the premises, but there is 24-hour room service, and there are numerous restaurants in the area. You don’t even get 24-hour room service in most of the big hotels.
The Draycott is in Chelsea, so while it may have been a little bit hard to find, it’s actually centrally located near the Sloane Square Underground station. The hotel occupies three red-brick Edwardian homes from the 1890’s in a quiet area called Cadogan Gardens. You’d never guess that just a couple of blocks away is a main  street with a big department store and lots of traffic.
My room also receives the prize as my all-time favorite. It had huge windows that overlooked the garden and the most luxurious draperies I’ve ever seen. I loved the antique furniture and old-world ambience. Rather than room numbers, Draycott’s rooms are named after theater stars and include mementos linked to each namesake. I stayed in the Gilbert room,  named after one member of the team of Gilbert & Sullivan, composers of “The Pirates of Penzance” and “The Mikado.”
My room also had satellite TV and a stereo system, and the Wi-Fi was complimentary – something I always appreciate considering how much many hotels charge for it. The hotel has a computer available for guests who haven’t brought a laptop.
The breakfast room is named after Peter O’Toole and has masks on the wall, in keeping with the theater theme. Breakfast was made to order, and there were only two other guests eating at the same time. So, it was a quiet experience compared to the enormous breakfast dining rooms of larger hotels.
One of the Draycott’s buildings is available for small meetings or weddings, as the entire group of rooms can be hired for an event. “Number 22” has nine suites, a board room with audiovisual facilities, a separate entrance, a dining room, a personal chef, and 24-hour butler service.
I would definitely stay at the Draycott again, and as someone who enjoys the small hotel experience, it was an ideal place for me to stay in London.
© April 2009 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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