Arosfa Hotel

Finding an affordable hotel in such an amazingly central London location (right behind Tottenham Court Road and within walking distance to London’s West End) is a treat in itself. Stumbling across a quirky spot like the Arosfa Hotel is icing on the cake.

Offering excellent service, affordable rates and modern rooms with a touch of luxury, this B&B sets the “budget boutique hotel” bar high.

Quick read

Pros: Great location. Friendly staff. Unique décor with fun, quirky touches. Good value. Lovely garden.

Cons: Lots of steep stairs and no elevator. Can pick up some traffic noise.

Rooms

Each of the Arosfa’s 18 airy rooms has its own style that tends toward modern minimalist. Trendy vases add personality to simple furnishings, and large modern canvases add splashes of color to white walls. We also saw interesting touches like mod clear chairs and sweet antique-style clocks.

Rooms are not large, but most are well laid out to make creative use of their small spaces. All rooms are equipped with a fan, coffee and tea maker, radio, telephone and flat-screen television (some of which are mounted rather precariously on the foot of the bed).

Bathrooms

The private bathrooms are tiny, but they sparkle and are finished to the highest standard with cream tiles and silver fittings. Rainfall showers pour on the luxury, and we even saw a few quirky touches (hello little buddha in the shower) in some rooms.

Hotel

The Arofsa Hotel’s fabulous living room, with its huge windows framed by grand curtains, is the perfect place to unwind after a busy day. Black leather sofas, designer mirrored drawers and a transparent plastic table make the whole thing feel sleek but welcoming. And it’s all finished off with black-and-white photographs and British flag pillows.

Our favorite part of the Arosfa, though, is its beautifully manicured garden (complete with canary). With ivy-covered brick walls and an expansive lawn, it’s a great place to barbecue in the summer months.

A traditional English breakfast is included in the room rate, and the basement breakfast room also has a modern spin, with trendy wooden chairs and tables. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and a few Internet stations are also available, free of charge. Note that the Arosfa does not have an elevator.

Location

The Arosfa has an enviable location in pretty Bloomsbury, within easy walking distance from the British Museum, Covent Garden and Leicester Square.