My expectations have slipped a few notches when it comes to accommodation. When you travel as much as I do, sometimes you are faced with toilets that work half the time, either partially or rarely clean, bedsheets that don’t smell as dewy fresh as they could, or rude, annoying roommates where privacy is scarce. I even recall a distinct sewage odor invading my nostrils from the bathroom of a hotel in Agra, India a couple of years ago. Ah, sweet memories.
In other words, I’ve grown to accept accommodations for what they offer. A touch nicer than okay. Semi-comfortable. It will do. I admit to being weary, even cynical nowadays.
When HostelBookers and I partnered together for Girls Running With Bulls, it was my turn to be surprised. Even humble for a change.
Palmer’s Lodge Swiss Cottage is a historic manor that has been renovated into a modern day boutique hostel. It took a while for me to wrap my head around that concept.
I tend to be a purist and prefer a historic manor to remain one, not be altered, but be trapped in time. I was very wrong.
Spectacular exterior
Cozy and comfortable drawing room
Communal feel to the dining area
Croissants to fill a hungry belly
Loved this hallway!
Charming antiques
Every manor requires a fireplace
Exterior architectural detail
I’ve stayed in some breathtaking places, and as part of my job had to photograph them all, but I was greedy photographing this one.
I love antiques, get visibly excited over the stories that such objects hold. And perhaps I had a whiff of Jane Austen floating in muslim and lace down the hallways, divining her novels and characters in the drawing room. Musing upon love and life in front of a roaring fire on a chilly November night. The musty, ancient smell of such places is powerful to me. Seductive. Certainly, it wasn’t Bath, where Austen is from, but soaking in this environment sent my imagination wild.
I’ll admit something to you, I really don’t fancy London much. It’s grey and dreary and indifferent. The thought of going back to Palmers’s every night for my short stay cast London in a glorious light.
It’s rare that mere accommodations do that for me. So, Palmers, you won me over. Jane and I couldn’t have been happier.
What every fierce woman scribe needs - a chandelier!
Reception desk: staff were friendly and explained things well. There’s an ATM near the staircase in case you need to top up on pounds, which was convenient. You get your own key card to enter your room. Reception is open 24 hours.
Rates: Dorms (whether mixed or gender specific) run from $33 to $43 per night (a range of 12 to 28 bed dorms). Standard 3 to 9 bed dorms are from $49 to $61 a night. And deluxe rooms or dorms range from $79 to $82 per night. A standard dorm in London is estimated at $35 to $45 per night, so their rates are comparable. All currency listed here is in Canadian dollars.
Restaurant and bar (in basement): The restaurant serves a free continental breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. everyday, which is budget minded. After that, the restaurant opens for lunch and dinner. I ate a decent pasta salad one night for £ 7. There’s also a bar if you desire a pint, but I didn’t have a chance to visit it.
Dorms: I stayed in a multi-bed dorm, but because of the layout it felt like less people. My bed was a bunk style, but made of solid wood and had thick, heavy curtains I could pull across to gain privacy.
Internet: If you have an Apple laptop, remember to reset your network settings in order to use the free wifi. Their Internet is accessed through a username and password screen. I had trouble one day, but it finally got fixed. Once it was repaired, the Internet speed was fine. There are also computers in the main drawing room if you don’t have your own computer.
Location: I found it easy to find from London Heathrow. Take Piccadilly line to Green Park stop (Victoria line), then change to Jubilee line and get off at the Swiss Cottage stop. Walk out of Exit 2 and turn left at the fruit stand and walk up College Crescent until you get to number 40.
Palmers website: http://palmerslodges.com/swisscottage/hostel/.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PalmersLodgeSwissCottage.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/palmerslodges/.
HostelBookers generously provided my stay in London, but all opinions are my own.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
@Waegook Tom – Hey handsome! So sorry for responding to your comment late. Every one of us deserves a chandelier to gaze upon at least once in our dull lives, no?
@Katherina – You’re right it is residential, but was a nice place for me to head back after hopping around busy London. Oh wow, living there is likely very different than just visiting!
@Hogga – You’re a clumsy drunk too? Sooo bad. :)
@Anneliese – Haha, this place is average price when it comes to a hostel in London, not cheap compared to SE Asia standards, but that is Europe unfortunately. Hope you try them out, I really did enjoy staying here!
This hostel looks amazing. I stayed at two hostels when I was in London and both were horrible (one reminded me of a dungeon because it was poorly lit and it had no atmosphere whatsoever). When I return to London (hopefully as a rich woman), I am going to check this place out for sure!
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Antiques are cool but most of the time it’s not really something I’m all about when I’m looking for somewhere to pass out… in fact it kinda makes me anxious cause I feel like I’m going to break something…
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Funny – this is the hostel I stayed at back in 2009! I wasn’t a big fan of the neighborhood. Back then, I thought it was a bit too residential – now, having been living in London for almost a year, I’ve realized that Swiss Cottage is actually quite well located (and has West Hampstead quite close by, which I love!). It was great recalling my memories of this place through your post – thanks for sharing!
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I know where I’m staying when I next head to London, Jeannie – this place looks fab, and I remember you briefly posting about it a little while back (this is the same place, right? or am I making things up?) Can’t believe you get such a classy setting for a comparably (for London) cheap price.
It’s not only fierce women scribes that need chandeliers. I would like to demand one installed in every place I sleep from now on.
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