The Haymarket Hotel, a Firmdale Hotels property on the corner of Suffolk Place, has built a reputation as a design-led sanctuary for travellers who want the West End at their doorstep. With guest ratings consistently above 9.3 out of 10 on Booking.com, this 53-room boutique hotel attracts everyone from theatre patrons to celebrities. This review draws on verified guest data, editorial critiques, and official listings to help you decide if it fits your next London stay.
Last checked: 2026-07-28
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Address: 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4HX, England · Hotel group: Firmdale Hotels · Designer: Kit Kemp · Signature restaurant: Brumus Bar & Restaurant
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-28.
Sources reviewed: official property website (Firmdale Hotels), Booking.com listing, TripAdvisor reviews, Mr & Mrs Smith editorial review, Condé Nast Traveller review, Michelin Guide listing, Kayak aggregated ratings, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine review.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, no independent price verification beyond published rates.
Snapshot: Haymarket Hotel at a glance
- 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4HX, on the corner of Haymarket and Suffolk Place in the theatre district (Booking.com)
- 53 rooms including 17 suites and a separate two- to five-bedroom townhouse (Mr & Mrs Smith)
- 9.3/10 based on approximately 245 verified reviews (Booking.com)
- 3:00 pm check-in; 12:00 pm (noon) check-out (Expedia)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4HX, England |
| Hotel group | Firmdale Hotels |
| Designer | Kit Kemp |
| Signature restaurant | Brumus Bar & Restaurant |
| Number of rooms | 53 (including 17 suites and a separate townhouse) |
| Distance from city centre | 650 ft (Booking.com) |
| Nearest tube station | Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) |
| Wi-Fi | Free |
Where is Haymarket Hotel in London?
The hotel occupies the corner of Haymarket and Suffolk Place, placing it at the northern edge of the West End theatre district. Trafalgar Square is a two-minute walk to the south; Piccadilly Circus is roughly five minutes north on foot. According to its Booking.com listing, the property is 650 ft from the centre of London, measured from the official city-centre reference point.
The address — 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4HX — sits within the City of Westminster, bordered by the restaurants and theatres of Leicester Square to the east and the shops of Regent Street to the west.
The bottom line: For anyone planning a West End theatre evening or a central sightseeing itinerary, the hotel’s walkability is one of its strongest assets.
What is the nearest tube station to Haymarket Hotel?
Charing Cross station, served by the Bakerloo and Northern lines, is the closest Underground stop — roughly three minutes on foot. Piccadilly Circus station (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) is also within a five-minute walk, giving guests quick access to the Jubilee and Victoria lines via nearby interchanges.
For rail connections, Charing Cross mainline station handles trains from southeast London and Kent. The hotel is also within easy walking distance of Embankment and Leicester Square stations.
What to watch: During evening theatre rush, Charing Cross gets busy. Guests arriving by taxi or ride-share will find the hotel’s Suffolk Place entrance easier for drop-off than the Haymarket side.
Tip for first-time visitors
If you are arriving from Heathrow, the Piccadilly line runs directly to Piccadilly Circus station — no changes needed. The journey takes about 50 minutes.
What makes the Haymarket Hotel unique?
Kit Kemp, co-founder of Firmdale Hotels, designed every interior herself. The result is a property that Condé Nast Traveller described as offering “homely comforts in the West End” — a mix of bold contemporary fabrics, curated art, and residential-scale furniture that distinguishes it from chain luxury hotels. Each of the 53 rooms features a different fabric palette and layout.
The hotel includes a swimming pool, gym, and spa — amenities rare in a boutique property of this size. Brumus Bar & Restaurant serves modern British cuisine and operates throughout the day; the menu changes seasonally, with a focus on British produce.
Guest feedback aggregated by Kayak consistently praises the interior design, central location, friendly service, cleanliness, and room spaciousness. The same meta-review notes that some guests consider the breakfast expensive relative to quality and that a few rooms lack in-room tea and coffee facilities.
The pattern: The hotel trades on personality rather than standardised luxury. That approach resonates strongly with design-conscious guests but may not suit travellers who prioritise all-inclusive convenience.
Which hotel do celebrities stay at in London?
Haymarket Hotel has attracted notable pre-wedding guests. Kate Middleton reportedly stayed the night before her wedding. Meghan Markle also used the hotel before her wedding. Taylor Swift has been linked to the property during London visits. These associations appear widely across tabloid and travel media, though the hotel does not officially confirm guest names.
The celebrity draw likely stems from the combination of privacy (the hotel has no formal lobby — guests enter directly into a drawing-room-style lounge), central location, and the discrete service that Firmdale properties are known for.
The implication: If celebrity-spotting or the idea of sleeping in the same suite as a royal wedding guest appeals to you, the Haymarket delivers that cachet without being a paparazzi hotspot.
“Country-house charm meets urban sophistication at Haymarket Hotel, just off Piccadilly Circus.”
Mr & Mrs Smith editorial team
Pricing and what to expect to pay
The hotel sits firmly in the luxury segment. Condé Nast Traveller cites doubles from about £280 per night, while Luxury Lifestyle Magazine quotes starting rates around £500 per night. The variation reflects season, room category, and booking platform. Mr & Mrs Smith notes that breakfast is not included in standard rates; the hot à la carte and buffet breakfast costs approximately £26 per person, plus a 5% discretionary service fee added at check-out.
The trade-off: You pay a premium for the location, design, and pool. If those elements matter to your trip, the rate is competitive with other West End boutique hotels. If you want breakfast included and a standardised luxury experience, competing chains may offer better package value.
Best for whom? A quick segment guide
| Reader type | Why Haymarket fits |
|---|---|
| Theatre-goers | West End theatres are a five-minute walk; pre-theatre dinner at Brumus is popular |
| Luxury travellers | Design-led interiors, pool, gym, and spa in a central postcode |
| Couples | Intimate lounge areas, cocktail bar, and quiet residential-style rooms |
| Celebrity-spotting travellers | Royal pre-wedding and musician stays give it a discreet A-list reputation |
| Design aficionados | Kit Kemp’s original art and fabric schemes are the main event |
Sample itinerary: A theatre-and-dine evening
A typical evening for a guest might go like this: check in by 3:00 pm, drop bags, and walk to the National Gallery or Trafalgar Square for an hour. Return for a swim in the hotel pool. Pre-book Brumus for 6:30 pm — the restaurant offers a concise à la carte menu that suits pre-theatre timing. Walk to the theatre district by 7:45 pm. After the show, the hotel bar stays open; the lounge area is quiet enough for a nightcap without loud music.
The hotel also offers afternoon tea, a popular option for non-guests as well, served in the lounge or the library area.
Tip for afternoon tea
Afternoon tea at Haymarket is not always listed on the public menu — ask the reservations team at booking time. It sells out on weekends.
Our pick: Who should book Haymarket Hotel?
We recommend Haymarket Hotel for celebrity-spotting travellers, design aficionados, West End theatre patrons, and luxury short-break seekers. The hotel excels on location, design originality, and service warmth. Guests who value predictable, all-inclusive luxury may prefer a chain alternative. The breakfast cost and occasional lack of in-room tea/coffee are genuine drawbacks if those matter to you.
Guests staying at the Haymarket Hotel can easily walk to His Majestys Theatre, which has hosted The Phantom of the Opera since 1986.