The Ham Yard Hotel is a recent addition to London’s hip-hotels’ scene. Despite its location in the middle of buzzing Soho, it is surprisingly serene. Tucked away from the crowded streets the hotel centers on a stunning yard full of trees. Many of the rooms feature wall-sized windows that overlook this rare pocket of urban tranquility.
The Ham Yard Hotel is part of Firmdale Hotels, owned by husband and wife Tim and Kit Kemp. Kit is responsible for the interior design, a labour of love no doubt, which makes the hotel feel more intimate than many luxury destinations. The interiors are a celebration of maximalist design: bold patterned wallpaper, eccentric furnishing textiles and statement artwork live together in post modern harmony. Each room has been individually dressed to further expand this vision.
The communal spaces are wonderfully textured and bursting with eclectic details. The wallpapers are a particular delight, especially the French botanical illustration themed ones in the corridors. The public spaces are integral to the Ham Yard Hotel’s appeal. Among them are a library, drawing room, theatre, cinema, bowling alley and roof terrace. They encourage interaction and movement which add to the hotel’s convivial charms.