Blakes Hotel

Architecture Martin Goddard, Claire Braybrook, and Anouska Hempel

Architecture Martin Goddard, Claire Braybrook, and Anouska Hempel

Converted Victorian townhouses, Blakes sets the stage with a beguiling black façade that hints at the grandeur within.

Nearly 40 years after opening, Blakes is still an inspiration. An elegant, black façade hides opulent interiors (and famous guests) from public view. Hempel’s central concept focuses on providing well-traveled connoisseurs with lavish design, swift service, and complete privacy. The thick period walls and lush furnishings act as a cocoon from the London hullabaloo outside.

Interior design Anouska Hempel

Each of the 45 refurbished guestrooms at Blakes takes inspiration from a different, far-off land.

Hempel weaves a seductive blend with Eastern tones and artifacts from her travels in Indochina, Africa, and the Middle East. Cultures collide to create an atmosphere at once familiar and unlike any place you’ve ever been before. The airy, elegant Provence Style room is a tranquil haven in soft gray tones with abundant natural light and a gilded Swan bed.