Stepping onto Basil Street in London’s upmarket district of Knightsbridge takes you among tall red brick buildings boasting a peaceful atmosphere. It sits alongside the mighty Harrods and is also host to The Levin Hotel, a boutique hotel, which happens to be the very closest to the world-famous department store.
The 12 room establishment holds a bistro at basement level – The Knightsbridge Metro and next door at the 5 star sister hotel, The Capital, sits Outlaw’s at The Capital, a Michelin starred restaurant serving up delightful seafood. The location is just perfect for the shops of Sloane Street, the boutiques of Beauchamp Place and, of course the big guns that are Harvey Nichols and Harrods. And when you’re shopped out, the hotel, which offers parking for guests, is also within a very short distance of Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum, Buckingham Palace and many other of London’s most famous and fantastic sights.
STAY
I spent a night in the junior suite in the hotel on the 4th floor, which is accessible by the a rather old fashioned lift, which I loved (but my guest didn’t) – luckily for him his fitness levels meant he could sprint up the stairs in no time and quite often beat me to the top!
First impressions of our suite were that it was spacious and stylish. The well laid out room had muted tones with little pops of red, dark wood and rich fabrics with low lighting to create a warm, sumptuous atmosphere. The suite had classic features with a little fireplace but felt comfortable and modern too. The large bed was extremely cosy and so difficult to get out of in the morning (not physically I might add!) – there was a dressing table, TV, chest of drawers and selection of books in the bedroom area and in the lounge another TV, low sofa and chairs and a low glass table. There was also a fully stocked mini bar and Nespresso machine too and across a small hallway, past the wardrobe, was a modern marble bathroom with underfloor heating.
EAT and DRINK
The smart hotel has a chic blue lobby area with seating, serving pastries and coffee in the mornings, but when it came to breakfast we took the trip to Outlaw’s at The Capital for a selection of buffet and freshly cooked items. I opted for a healthy, yet delicious, offering of avocado and fried eggs with paprika and lime and there was a good selection of juices, fruits, yogurts, pastries, ham and cheese as well as Eggs Benedict or Royale, omelettes, a Full English breakfast and more.
The award-winning fish restaurant serves up some beautifully fresh, seasonal and tasty dishes with some perfectly paired wines. I enjoyed a lovely lunch following my refreshing stay at The Levin and a morning of shopping, read my thoughts on the restaurant and my meal here.
For something a little more casual, The Knightsbridge Metro serves up simple coffee and cake and British classics such as fish and chips, smoked salmon or chicken and leek pie. There is also a happy hour offer of 2 glasses of wine and some houmous, flatbreads and olives for £7.95 between 5 and 7pm. The interior is bright and colourful with red and orange striped armchairs surrounding round dark wood tables atop dark wood floors. The bistro offers the ideal relaxed atmosphere for a casual lunch with friends or a post-work drink.
For those wanting to elevate their stay at The Levin, a number of packages can be purchased including the Romance Package where you can expect to find a bowl of chocolate dipped strawberries, pink Champagne and red roses in your room. If you’re visiting for the shopping another package includes a £50 Harrods voucher as well as a cocktail in The Capital Bar next door.
GETTING THERE
My preferred mode of transport is certainly train and the Trainline app has become a firm favourite of mine when travelling by rail. It has features to help at every stage of the journey and has recently launched the UK’s first price prediction tool that gives you an at-a-glance snapshot of all the opportunities to save money when buying advance tickets, if I’m sensible enough to plan ahead that is! Which is obviously the best option as you can save almost half by booking in advance with Trainline compared to others. I often buy my tickets through the app – it gives me live updates, platform info and, most importantly, is so easy to use, which, for a technophobe like me, is what I look for. It comes highly recommended from me so download the app or visit trainline.com.
IN A NUTSHELL
For a location that you couldn’t really ask much more from The Levin Hotel offers a peaceful, yet central, stay in stylish, upmarket surroundings with a choice of eateries to dine at depending on your current mood.
Address: 28 Basil St, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1AS
Phone: 020 7589 6286
