Kimpton Fitzroy London review: is this the capital’s plushest pet-friendly hotel?
Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and even hedgehogs are catered to as part of this five-star hotel’s ‘Pet-Kation’ package
Spending your first-ever holiday at a luxury hotel is not bad going – especially if you’re a dog. And during our stay at Kimpton Fitzroy London, Maisie – my friend’s charcoal whippet puppy – was provided with true five-star treatment.
Presumably in a bid to capitalise on the dramatic rise in pet ownership over the pandemic (more than three million UK pets have been purchased since March 2020), the hotel recently launched its first “Pet-Kation” package. Starting from £309 per night for two adults and a pet, it includes an overnight stay, breakfast and a pet-friendly room service meal from a special “ap-PET-isers” menu.
The hotel claims it will welcome all pets – no matter their size, weight or breed – as long as they can fit through the door and into the lift. They really mean it; according to the team, 45 pets have stayed at the hotel since June this year including dogs, cats, rabbits and, rather bafflingly, five hedgehogs. In fact, the Kimpton Fitzroy London is so pet-pro that it even has a resident pooch: Winston, who’s also known as the director of pet relations.
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.
The “ap-PET-isers” menu includes dishes for all sorts of furry and spiky visitors, from hamsters (“Ham-somely Good” features strawberries, hemp seeds, linseeds, blackberries, coconut, peas, basil, mango and apple) to hedgehogs (the “Prickleberry” is a combination of lean beef, blueberries, raspberries, melon and tomatoes).
As an overly excitable dog on an ordinary day, Maisie went wild when we entered our room to find it kitted out with what the hotel described as a “pet tuckbox” (which included a bone and packets of salmon dog food by the sustainable pet food brand Marleybones). The complimentary provision of compostable dog waste bags was a nice touch too.
Kimpton Fitzroy London is in the heart of Bloomsbury, nobly looming over the treetops of neighbouring Russell Square. Given our exclusive location, it felt apt to order Maisie something called the “Bloomsberry Bark” (a combination of beef, sweet potato, carrots, broccoli and kale) for her supper.
After a lengthy wait, which the kitchen explained was due, at least in part, to the WhatsApp outage, she gobbled down the beef in less than a minute (however most of the broccoli and kale ended up on the carpet).
While Maisie frantically tucked in, her owner and I also enjoyed a room service dinner; we shared peppery calamari and Scottish smoked salmon starters, followed by chicken Milanese and a grilled salmon fillet. Nothing particularly knocked my hotel slippers off but it was all perfectly pleasant, especially for in-room dining.
After a few necessary trips to Russell Square (with a not-so-ideal seven-storey lift ride and short, drizzly walk each way), it was bedtime. Maisie eschewed her luxury dog bed to snuggle up with us in our comfortable – but now extremely cosy – king. From the bed, we spotted a watermelon-sized statue of a whippet by the side of the TV – was it a coincidence or some expert customisation work?
Room service breakfast the following morning was definitely a highlight of our brief staycation. Our full Englishes arrived piping hot thanks to silver cloches and came complete with black pudding, bacon and sausages – one of which Maisie was quick to nab from the trolley before we could restrain her.
My friend had felt some trepidation over how Maisie’s first hotel stay might unfurl, but thankfully (aside from sausage-gate), there were no disasters. Clearly, a lot of thought has gone into the “Pet-Kation” package, which is far more developed than just being a gimmick designed to entice millennial dog owners. Thanks to the items provided and specialised menu, our stay was far more relaxing than we expected our puppy playmate would allow for.
Although next time, for a fully rejuvenating stay, I might take a friend with a pet rabbit instead.
The “Kimpton Pet-Kation” package starts from £309 per night for two adults and their pet; kimptonfitzroylondon.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
Kate Samuelson is The Week's former newsletter editor. She was also a regular guest on award-winning podcast The Week Unwrapped. Kate's career as a journalist began on the MailOnline graduate training scheme, which involved stints as a reporter at the South West News Service's office in Cambridge and the Liverpool Echo. She moved from MailOnline to Time magazine's satellite office in London, where she covered current affairs and culture for both the print mag and website. Before joining The Week, Kate worked at ActionAid UK, where she led the planning and delivery of all content gathering trips, from Bangladesh to Brazil. She is passionate about women's rights and using her skills as a journalist to highlight underrepresented communities. Alongside her staff roles, Kate has written for various magazines and newspapers including Stylist, Metro.co.uk, The Guardian and the i news site. She is also the founder and editor of Cheapskate London, an award-winning weekly newsletter that curates the best free events with the aim of making the capital more accessible.
-
Band Aid 40: time to change the tune?
In the Spotlight Band Aid's massively popular 1984 hit raised around £8m for famine relief in Ethiopia and the charity has generated over £140m in total
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Starmer vs the farmers: who will win?
Today's Big Question As farmers and rural groups descend on Westminster to protest at tax changes, parallels have been drawn with the miners' strike 40 years ago
By The Week UK Published
-
How secure are royal palaces?
The Explainer Royal family's safety is back in the spotlight after the latest security breach at Windsor
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Biltmore Mayfair review: a quintessential slice of luxury London
The Week Recommends This swanky retreat in Grosvenor Square blends old-world glamour with modern comforts
By Caroline Dolby Published
-
Langdale Chase Hotel: a cosy nook in the Lake District
The Week Recommends This Victorian villa has breathtaking views and expansive gardens
By Natasha Langan Published
-
Ramdane Touhami's Hotel Drei Berge
The Blend A passion project in the Swiss mountains sees creative visionary Ramdane Touhami achieving new heights
By Delilah Khomo Published
-
Timeless hotels for old-school elegance
The Blend From Jamaica to Rome, we check into incredibly atmospheric landmarks
By Delilah Khomo Published
-
Hoteliers who host
The Blend Sublime design gets personal at these luxury properties with personality
By Delilah Khomo Published
-
The Count of Monte Cristo review: 'indecently spectacular' adaptation
The Week Recommends Dumas's classic 19th-century novel is once again given new life in this 'fast-moving' film
By The Week UK Published
-
Death of England: Closing Time review – 'bold, brash reflection on racism'
The Week Recommends The final part of this trilogy deftly explores rising political tensions across the country
By The Week UK Published
-
Engel Ayurpura: a boutique Ayurveda retreat in the Dolomites
The Week Recommends The tranquil Italian hideaway offers an array of specially tailored wellness programmes
By Ann Lee Published