Sanderson London

Hiding behind a humorless, glass-and-aluminum facade is a designer hotel prized by journalists, artists, and other creative types. Morgans Hotel Group has turned the building, formerly the offices and showrooms of Sanderson and Sons manufacturers, into a literal box of surprises. The hotel's contemporary baroque interiors are the work of acclaimed French designer Philippe Starck, who prepared the Sanderson for its 2000 debut, and Tim Andreas, who oversaw a 2014 renovation. Both are provocateurs, so naturally you'll come across many interesting details, such as a lips-shaped sofa (a copy of a famous piece by Salvador Dalí), bar stools with painted eyes, and flower pots with butterfly-ties.

Choose from 150 rooms, including suites (with and without terraces) and a penthouse. The latter, not surprisingly, is the most impressive, and has private elevator.

The hotel pulses with nightlife, thanks to two bars and a restaurant. Local bohemians have fallen head-over-heels for Long Bar, and sometimes there's a long line to get in. The hotel is also famous for its Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea, served in a picturesque Japanese courtyard garden. At Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea, as it's called, you'll find menus hidden in vintage books, plates decorated with portraits of characters from the story, marshmallows that look like red mushrooms, and more.

Sanderson London has its own gym, spa, and even billiard room.Wi-Fi is included in the room charge. Breakfast is not complimentary.

FYI: Bathrooms in the rooms are separated by a glass divider and see-through curtains. Unless you're traveling alone, keep this in mind. Guests can rent bicycles from the hotel for free.

Rooms begin at £269/night.

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