There’s no dilly-dallying at this London address.
In the heart of London, a stone’s throw from the bright lights of the Piccadilly Circus billboards, you’ll find The Dilly Hotel. Inspired by its central location, The Dilly opened in May 2021, although its history dates back much further to 1908. Formerly Le Méridien, its recent transformation makes it London’s newest independent hotel.
As we walk up to the front desk, we admire all of the London touches to the décor; the walls are painted a deep blue, adorned with hanging photos and maps of London, an Instagrmmable “Dilly” sign hangs from the ceiling, while a stained-glass skylight and spring floral displays take centre stage. We roll up for the check-in formalities and find the staff eager to welcome us and help with our bags – we know we’re in safe hands!
Many of the bedrooms and suites have views over the prime tourist areas of Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and the stunning rooftops of London’s West End. Our room is on the second floor and overlooks a rather large Waterstones, with a neighbouring Fortnum & Mason’s – a good coffee and leisurely wander around Europe’s largest bookshop excites us!
The rooms are very spacious and very comfortable. The double bed mattress and duvet were both divine, with the words “London is quite simply the theatre capital” traced elegantly above the bed’s headboard. One of the smaller walls in the room has a silver and black outlined map of central London, and there were other quirky London touches such as photos of iconic London landmarks Big Ben and The London Eye, and the bathroom mirror has written in black and bold red “Picadilly Circus W1” imitating the London road signs.
With Shaftesbury Avenue and theatreland just around the corner, we drop our bags and get ready to hit the city streets. Cocktails in nearby Nightjar Carnaby are a solid ten, or if you want to enjoy a cocktail in the hotel, Downstairs at The Dilly, The Dilly Hotel’s very own speakeasy bar is a popular choice. You might want to head to theatreland to catch a west end show; The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre or Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre are two of our personal favourites. With so much to see and do in London, it’s an absolute pleasure to stay in the heart of the city where a leisurely stroll takes us back to our comfortable accommodation after a busy day sightseeing.
If you want to make use of the facilities, there is so much to do. Families wishing to spend quality time with their older children and teenagers can take advantage of the vast gym, hire an indoor squash court for exclusive use or book a family or individual dance lesson at The Dilly’s Inspiration2Dance studio. The hotel boasts one of London’s largest underground swimming pools (measuring 11.5 metres by 12.75 metres), which can provide fun for all the family or a moment of peace.
The Terrace at The Dilly is the main dining spot in the hotel with a light and airy arched roof, complete with an elegant glass ceiling. The scattered greenery and spacious seating area is suitable for dining at any time of the day. We had to try the official Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea with its themed treats including the “Flower-Pot Hideout”, an edible chocolate pot with chamomile mousse, blackberry, chocolate ‘mud’ and sponge cake and the “Magnificent Mushroom”, a strawberry ganache in the shape of a toadstool with a crunchy meringue stem.
For heartfelt hospitality and a ten out of ten London location, The Dilly ticks all the boxes for families, friends, couples and solo visitors searching for a perfect staycation in the big smoke.
GO: Visit https://thedillylondon.com for reservations and more information.
