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The Ampersand Hotel
London, United Kingdom · Independent · Accessible Luxury
Built in 1888 as the Norfolk Hotel, eighty rooms that did not match one another, this South Kensington house reopened in the summer of 2012 as The Ampersand. Dexter Moren filled 111 rooms with five themes taken from the museums across the road: botany, music, geometry, ornithology, and astronomy. The door is 10 Harrington Road. Drawing Room tea is upstairs. Apero is the restaurant downstairs.
- 111 rooms
- Opened 1888
- Neighborhood: South Kensington
- Interiors: Dexter Moren Associates
About The Ampersand Hotel
- Before the 2012 reopening the house was trading as the Grosvenor Kensington. Work started in October 2011, and the original staircase was kept and lengthened.
- The IIDA Global Excellence Award in 2013 went to these museum-district rooms. Studio Moren, the later name of the same designers, still counts 111 keys.
- South Kensington station is a minute away. The Natural History Museum, the V&A, and the Science Museum are the walk the themes are stolen from.
History
The Ampersand occupies a Victorian hotel building at 10 Harrington Road, SW7 3ER, which the architects date to 1888. The hotel's own account says it opened as the Norfolk Hotel, a small house of about 80 rooms, each fitted differently. By 2011 it was trading as the Grosvenor Kensington. Dexter Moren Associates, now Studio Moren, won the job to turn it into The Ampersand. Work began in October 2011 and the hotel reopened in summer 2012 with 111 rooms.
The brief was the museum mile outside the door. Rooms and carpets take botany, music, geometry, ornithology, or astronomy. The original staircase stayed. Drawing Room serves afternoon tea. Apero is the bar and restaurant. The hotel is a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. The 2013 IIDA Global Excellence Award is the design prize worth naming.
The setting
10 Harrington Road is South Kensington, a minute from the station and a short walk from the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert, and the Science Museum. Exhibition Road is the cultural street. This is the museum neighbourhood, not High Street Kensington.
Restaurants and bars
- apero — Restaurant
- Science Afternoon Tea — Café
- Jurassic Afternoon Tea — Café
Experiences
- Children's Parties — Creative games, entertainment, child-friendly feasts and more.
Amenities
- Canapé & Bowl Food
- Jurassic Afternoon Tea
- Science Afternoon Tea
- Private Dining
- Sandwich Lunch
- Day Delegate Rate
- Children's Party
- Drinks
Awards
- IIDA Global Excellence Award (2013)
Open The Ampersand Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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