The Rookery
Georgian period drama meets private members' club. Dark jewel tones, carved oak beds, roll-top baths, gilt-framed oil paintings. Every room named after a local historical character — some of them distinctly disreputable.
Book the Rook's Nest if budget allows — it's genuinely unlike anything else in London
Why It Matters
One of very few genuinely atmospheric period boutique hotels in the City/Clerkenwell area. The Rook's Nest penthouse suite — a two-storey space with a Victorian bathing machine on a plinth and views of St Paul's spire — is the kind of room that gets written about for years. Sister hotel to Hazlitt's in Soho and Batty Langley's in Spitalfields.
The Rookery occupies a row of restored 18th-century townhouses on a quiet lane in Clerkenwell, just off Cowcross Street. Inside, it feels more like stumbling into a very well-appointed private club than checking into a hotel — polished wood panelling, flagstone floors, open fires, and antiques at every turn. There's no restaurant and no spa, but with 33 individually named rooms, an honesty bar, a dedicated gin bar, and a resident cat named Bagheera, it earns its reputation as one of London's more singular places to sleep.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Club Double
At around 22m², these are the entry-level doubles — not large, but full of character. Period furnishings, artwork, and vintage bathroom fittings. Individually styled and named after local EC1 historical figures.
Double or King · 22 sqm
Club Single
The smallest room in the house, averaging 20m². Compact but kitted out with the same period character as the larger rooms — antique furniture, artwork, and soundproofed windows. Good for solo travellers who aren't planning to spend much time indoors.
Small Double · 20 sqm
Junior Suite
A significant step up at around 46m². Four-poster king-size beds, period antiques, and generously proportioned bathrooms are the headline. Multiple configurations exist — some have particularly dramatic bathroom setups with Victorian-style fittings.
Four-Poster King · 46 sqm
Superior Double
Averaging 27m², these are the largest of the standard room category. Some feature roll-top baths, carved oak beds, and silk curtains or traditional wooden shutters. Mary Lane — one of the named Superior Doubles — sits in the eaves with a low beamed ceiling and ruby-red colour scheme, with a portrait of the local servant girl it's named after hanging by the bed.
Double or King · 27 sqmSuperior Four-Poster
Averaging 25m² and anchored by a grand four-poster king-size bed. Dressed in antiques and original artwork throughout. Bathrooms have Victorian fittings with either freestanding bathtubs or walk-in showers — both with vintage styling. Windows draped in silk curtains or fitted with traditional wood shutters.
Four-Poster King · 25 sqmThe Rook's Nest
The headline act. A two-storey penthouse suite at 101m² with views of St Paul's Cathedral and the Old Bailey from its 40-foot spire. Downstairs: a bedroom dominated by a hand-painted, ornately carved four-poster bed (black cherubs at the foot, gilded faux-bamboo frame) and a massive restored Victorian bathing machine sitting on a raised plinth behind lace curtains. A dog-leg staircase leads upstairs to a sitting room under the spire, furnished with an antique lawyer's writing desk, dining table, and plush sofas. Deep green throughout. Emerald walls, heavy drapes. Not subtle. Not trying to be.
Four-Poster Super King · 101 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The hotel actively markets its interiors for film and photography hire. The period rooms, conservatory, and public spaces have all been used as shoot locations. Enquire directly with the hotel.
A proper library with books and armchairs — guests mention losing hours here. Mahogany table seats up to six and doubles as a private meeting space. One of the most-cited features in reviews.
A small patio garden with stone urns and cherubs — a quiet outdoor spot in the middle of Clerkenwell. Limited in size but genuinely pleasant in warmer months.
Two private meeting rooms: the Drawing Room (seats up to 14, antique decor, also houses the gin bar) and the Library (seats up to 6, mahogany boardroom table). Both furnished in period style with modern AV. Popular for discreet business meetings and private dinners.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
The hotel has no lift. Guests with mobility considerations should note this — the Rook's Nest penthouse in particular involves significant stair climbing.
Working fireplaces in the conservatory lounge and elsewhere in the public areas — a genuinely atmospheric feature, especially in winter.
Bagheera the cat is a fixture in the public areas of the hotel — library, reception, conservatory. Restricted to public spaces only; does not enter guest rooms. A genuine talking point and, for many guests, a highlight.
Available throughout the hotel and in all guest rooms.
Gift hampers and vouchers available to purchase via the Hazlitt's Hotels gifting platform.
All rooms and suites are air-conditioned.
All rooms and suites have Nespresso machines stocked with Allpress pods.
Available in all rooms and suites.
Flat-screen TV with Chromecast in all rooms — bring your own streaming account.
Available for guests arriving before check-in time (3pm) or departing after checkout (12pm).
Staff assist with restaurant reservations, tours, tickets, and access to local clubs and venues.
Dry cleaning and laundry services available on request.
Multilingual staff available around the clock for concierge assistance, tour/ticket bookings, and luggage storage.
No on-site or affiliated parking. Farringdon station is a 2-minute walk.
BUILD YOUR THE ROOKERY PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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