A stylish, doggy-friendly London staycation at The Standard hotel

With travel plans and far-flung adventures somewhat put on hold this year, the staycation has become the easy escape of choice for many. You get the feeling of getting away and turning your back on reality for a moment, but you don’t have to venture far to enjoy something truly special. The UK has a wealth of stylish boltholes, boutique hotels and hidden gems, all waiting on our doorstep. Whenever we wanted a city break, we’d think of Paris, Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but there’s something magical about being a tourist in your own city and discovering neighbourhoods you never normally venture to. Suddenly you see them with fresh eyes, as someone visiting for the first time.

With two cancelled trips already, including a honeymoon to Japan, we weren’t taking any chances when it came to celebrating our one year wedding anniversary at the beginning of the month. After browsing online for doggie-friendly hotels in our own city, we settled for a London staycation at the uber-cool The Standard hotel. When we used to live in the area, I remember it being used as the old council building. So it felt nostalgic to be going back to such a familiar place for our mini celebration – where we first lived together – albeit to much more stylish surroundings than our first digs.

[AD – press trip: I received a complimentary stay at The Standard, London. All images: Cate St Hill]

Hopping over the river from south London, we arrived at the futuristic, 1970s Brutalist building, a skip and a jump from King’s Cross station opposite. Step inside the lobby of the 266-room hotel and you’re greeted with a rich, retro interior with red leather armchairs, tiled walls and mellow music. Usually the downstairs restaurant (one of two in the building) is buzzing with hip, young things sipping cocktails, but with Covid restrictions and a quieter city, the space took on a more chilled feel on the Sunday we’re there.

The rooms upstairs offer instant quiet – you wouldn’t know you’re a few metres from one of London’s busiest roads. To mark our occasion, we were upgraded to one of The Standard’s junior suite rooms with its own private terrace and the best views in the house. Serendipitously, our room looked over our old neighbourhood (image below) – we could even see our old front door from the terrace! Along with The Shard, St Paul’s, the London Eye… I don’t think in many hotels you would get such a clear, broad, uninterrupted vista of the city.

While most of the rooms feature Seventies hues of aubergine, scarlet and blue, largely inspired by London Underground’s seat covers, these eighth-floor suites feature a calmer colour palette. The style feels like it’s a mix of Japanese-inspired design and effortless Scandinavian style. Warm woods combine with a leather upholstered bed and mood lighting to create a relaxing setting within which to unwind. There’s a huge king-size bed, crisp white sheets and plush, custom-made bathrobes. Even doggy friends get offered their own bed and bowl for utmost comfort!

The best bit of our London staycation, though, was the outdoor bathtub! With views out across the city, you can bathe in style no matter the weather. You’re slightly sheltered from the wind (and views) by Japanese-style wood panelling, so it didn’t even feel chilly when I took a pre-dinner bath with a glass of bubbles! It really did feel like the ultimate treat and is worth the upgrade alone.

There’s also a generous sitting area in the room – perfect for doing a bit of work before check-out at 1pm the next day. The luxurious touches really added to the laid-back experience, from the well kitted out bar to the Bang & Olufsen speaker. There’s even Stutterheim raincoats you can borrow in case London’s skies decided to open up and downpour.

I know some might still be wary of venturing out for a London staycation. But, from hand sanitiser at the entrance and masks throughout, to breakfast that’s brought to your room (I always preferred breakfast in bed anyway!), we couldn’t have felt safer during our stay. I thought it was a really sweet touch that they provide you with your own personal thimble on check-in – so you don’t have to touch the lift buttons with your fingers. I kept it and now store it in my purse in case I ever need it.

Even though we were just away for one night, and not far from where we call home, it felt like we had really escaped the mundane and been on a mini break from it all. We forgot our worries for a moment and enjoyed reconnecting with an area of the city we can sometimes forget is there as we go about our daily lives.