The Cadogan hotel review: your own townhouse in the heart of Chelsea
Enjoy a very personal stay at this intimate five-star Belmond property in London

Nestled between Hyde Park and Sloane Square, the discrete yet impressive Chelsea townhouse - The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel - is the perfect harbour for a romantic getaway. With just 54 rooms over its five floors, the five-star hotel has an intimate scale - at times almost feeling like a private residence - so the staff will get to know you, delivering a very personal and top class stay.
The hotel
Upon first walking into the hotel, the light and airy reception lobby has an absence of formality. A low desk sits opposite a fireplace and armchairs, instantly making you feel at ease and welcome. However, also instantly obvious is that this is a luxurious and impressive hotel. Since reopening in 2019 as a Belmond property, following a $48m (£34.7m) refurbishment, it’s quickly established itself as one of London’s finest. Some 430 original artworks bring a fresh aesthetic, 130-year-old wooden panelling adorns the walls, and a library of books resides in each room curated by John Sandoe Books - these are just a few of the touches which make it quite unique.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rooms
The rooms and suites are exemplary with comfortable beds, pillows and high-end finishes throughout. Marble, parquet flooring, considered lighting and sumptuous carpets, and modern tech such as Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speakers also feature. Occupying a corner plot, many rooms have views onto Cadogan Place Gardens, including the Penthouse suite which enjoys balconies on both of the building’s facades and a swath of rooms that make it a favourite for anyone looking for indulgence of the highest order.
Food and drink
Chef Adam Handling, pictured above, is the main attraction with his restaurant, Adam Handling Chelsea. Like the rest of the hotel, it’s smaller in scale, but with an open kitchen, exquisite service and exceptional modern British cuisine, it’s likely this will be a highlight of your stay here. Handling sums it up: “Modern, British, seasonal, sustainable; that’s the ethos that underpins my cooking. I don’t want to be the best restaurant in the world - I want to be the local’s favourite in Chelsea.”
There is another dining option in the less formal Bar and Terrace where you can enjoy a more relaxed dinner, and enjoy a drink from the bar that will serve any cocktail under the sun. It also has an outside seating area along the pavement to soak in the local atmosphere and some people watching. Should a traditional English afternoon tea take your fancy, head to the sumptuous lounge behind the reception area, and in the evening, this becomes a location to settle in for some fine Japanese whisky or a special drink.
Facilities
Given it is a smaller hotel, facilities are on the lighter side. There is, of course, a spa to enjoy massages and other treatments, and a small fitness suite for some exercises, although with Hyde Park just a few minutes walk up the road, why not go for a jog or cycle, or even a wild swim in the Serpentine Lido - the lake in the centre of Hyde Park.
Extra romantic touches
If it’s a nice evening, and you really want to dial things up with a romantic surprise, the concierge can arrange a champagne picnic in the charming Cadogan Place Gardens directly opposite. This is a private communal garden - picture Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts climbing over the railings into a similar one in the film Notting Hill - for nearby residents which the hotel also enjoys access to. A suitably quiet corner will be found to make for a unique and memorable experience.
Price
Rooms start from £560 per night, including breakfast. The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, 75 Sloane St, Chelsea, London SW1X 9SG; belmond.com
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'This recommendation is reasonable and in line with the evolution of medical consensus'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
All the comedians to see on tour this spring
The week recommends Thaw out with Ricky Gervais, David Sedaris and Trevor Wallace
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rome: historic haunts – and one new hotel – to explore
The Blend From the Garden of Ninfa to the Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum, here are some top places to visit in and around Italy's Eternal City
By Flora Vesterberg Published
-
Chiva-Som Hua Hin: Thailand's wellness pioneer is second to none
The Blend Resort celebrates 30 years as the least 'institutionalised' institution in the wellness world
By Bill Prince Published
-
The Nare Hotel: a charming hideaway on the Cornish coast
The Week Recommends Upgrade your classic seaside holiday at this five-star country house hotel
By Theo Tait Published
-
Sleep like you are in a gallery at these art-filled hotels
The Week Recommends Prepare to be inspired
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Suffolk: a cosy restaurant-with-rooms by the sea
The Week Recommends Stay at an Aldeburgh bolthole that feels like an old friend's house
By Xandie Nutting Published
-
Hands-on experiences that let travelers connect with the culture
The Week Recommends Sharpen your sense of place through these engaging activities
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The UK's most romantic retreats
The Week Recommends From Scottish castles to cosy windmills, these scenic hotels are perfect for a last-minute getaway
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Hotel-hopping in Shanghai
The Week Recommends From Michelin-starred restaurants to tranquil spas, these are the swankiest spots in the city
By Crystal Bennes Published