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The Harlingford has everything: a perfect location, super sleek design, and well-worth-the-money prices. Less than a 10-minute walk from the British Museum, this hotel sits across the street from a large, two-acre private garden. It's a bit beyond the normal Cheapo range, but for the style-savvy yet budget-conscious traveler, London hotels don't get much better than this.
Once inside, it's obvious how much passion Andrew, the Harlingford's owner, has poured into this place. When we met Andrew, he was ruminating over a piece of art.
"What do you think of this painting?" he asked. Well, we thought the Roman print was a nice contrast to the chic 90s decor in the rest of the lounge. He agreed: "The proportions are totally off, but somehow it works," he said.
This statement is perfectly put when considering the Harlingford: big things are happening in proportion to such a cozy, a well-priced space. Andrew is, after all, a sculptor by day, and his artistic sensibilities shine throughout the hotel's 43 spacious bedrooms - brightly colored fabrics stand out next to the pastel walls. Rugs are fresh, bedding is accented with velvet pillows, and asymmetrical mirrors give a funky feel. We particularly liked the bathrooms with their shiny green tiles, nifty faucets, and free-standing glass sink basins.
After touring the bedrooms, Andrew whisked us off to the breakfast room with its Danish design chairs, vases of fresh flowers, and a beautiful stained-glass window, circa 1930. Our conclusion: Everything at the Harlingford has been thought out to the -nth degree, and the results are stunning.
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