The Soho Hotel: Stylish Luxury in the Heart of London

The Soho Hotel is a unique luxury boutique hotel situated on a quiet street in the heart of one of London’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Kit Kemp, the owner and interior designer, has created a work of art with the decor. I loved the fashion and literary elements woven throughout, right down to the selection of paperback books in our room.

In addition to the stunning ambiance, what makes the Soho a standout property is the level of personal service. It’s obvious that the entire staff is eager to please, as the standard answer for every request is “Of course!”

Family-Friendly Review and Highlights of The Soho Hotel

Accommodations

The hotel has 96 individually designed rooms and suites, including connecting options ideal for families. All of the rooms are individual and beautifully decorated, with brilliant style and taste combining classicism, quirkiness and modernity. 

We stayed in a one-bedroom Richmond Suite, which felt like guest quarters in a very well-appointed private home. It was not just visually fabulous — it functioned perfectly for our family in every way. The bed was incredibly comfortable and outfitted with luxurious linens, and the room was unbelievably quiet (especially for a city hotel) due to the superb room-darkening blinds and insulated windows.

The bathroom was quite large with a soaking tub and adjacent TV. Our favorite part was the wonderful walk-in shower, which had amazing water pressure — not always a given in London.

Dining

Refuel Bar & Restaurant offers a lively atmosphere and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast, a continental buffet followed by an a la carte menu, was so good that we were already looking forward to it by the time we went to bed each night.  

We loved our accommodations so much that we decided to order in-room dining and have a family movie night for our last night in London. The food arrived promptly and was delicious. A sweet and savory afternoon tea is available all day in the the Drawing Room.

There are many amazing restaurants near the hotel, and the fabulous concierge team is happy to make suggestions and book reservations. For a quick meal or takeout, we liked Princi, just a block away. We even stopped there to get food to take the airport with us since we were flying out of Gatwick, which has fewer food options than Heathrow.

Amenities

The basement theater, called the Screening Room, is unlike anything I’ve encountered at another hotel. My kids were ecstatic to find we were the only guests for the Saturday afternoon viewing of War Horse, complete with a choice of regular or salted caramel popcorn and many fancy drink options. Entrance to the Screening Room is complimentary for guests; contact the concierge prior to arrival for showtimes and reservations. 

After a day of sightseeing, families can enjoy a beverage from the Honor Bar and settle in the Drawing Room to play a board game. A pleasant surprise is that the drinks are reasonably priced for London.

Personal touches are evident throughout the hotel: complimentary bottles of Evian water in the gym, the welcome gift of a scented candle from Kit Kemp’s own line, relaxation spray at the bedside and wonderful toiletry items in the bathroom.

Location and Nearby Activities

We caught a double-decker bus near the hotel and took it to the Tower of London, then did a commuter ferry ride, getting off at the London Eye stop. Order timed Fast Track tickets for the London Eye to avoid the long queue in high season.

The Soho is steps from the Theater District, Chinatown and the popular Piccadilly and Covent Garden neighborhoods. And shopping on nearby Oxford Street is a must for families with teenage girls.

Relevant Links:

Browse family-friendly London hotels and activities on Ciao Bambino

5 fantastic neighborhoods for a family vacation in London

Review of Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Editor’s Note: Sandy was provided a media rate to review the property for Ciao Bambino. As always, our opinions are our own. Photos by Sandy Pappas.