Sleep Here: Treehouse Hotel, London

For a room with a view in London, it doesn’t get much better than at Treehouse Hotel: a new eco-focused hotel that puts you slap bang in the middle of central London — we’re talking super super central, like 2 minutes walk from Oxford Circus! As much as I love living in London, I tend to avoid venturing into central because of the crowds, but, it turns out it’s pretty damn magical to stay in such a tourist hot-spot when you’re tucked up away above it all, in a 12th floor room, looking down on it all from a cosy, cushioned window seat!

Treehouse Hotel London comes as the ‘little brother’ brand to 1 Hotels, the US hospitality brand championing sustainable practices. Treehouse embraces an eco-focus with nature-inspired interiors: think lots of wood and sleek birch ply, plant-filled communal spaces, birch tree trunks in the bathrooms, and glassware made from recycled wine bottles. Big windows flood rooms with natural light, and there are even cuckoo clocks that twit-twoo on the hour. Yep, you might be opposite BBC Broadcasting Place but you’re coerced into thinking you’re hiding out in a forest somewhere! Behind the scenes, Treehouse Hotel adheres to some admirable conscious practices: a robust composting and recycling programme, a commitment to reducing single-use plastics throughout operations, and thoughtful programming for guests like local garden tours from resident horticulturalists. 

Rooms are compact but well designed. I love raw concrete ceilings, and the glass wall separating the bathroom from the bedroom make the space feel more bright and open. I spent a few happy hours curled up in our cushioned window seat, gazing out at the view and doing a bit of work on my laptop with a glass of wine — a pretty dreamy set up and a very unique view. Some aspects of the hotel do feel a little style over substance (the treehouse-style corridors, a lot of Instagram-baiting decor, the sloth teddy bear on the bed) but overall, I definitely enjoyed our Treehouse stay. 

Up on the 15th floor, you'll find Mexican restaurant, Madera (well off the tourist-radar) and on the 16th floor, an even more cosy hideaway, The Nest. Though it feels very much designed "for the 'gram" you could happily spend a cosy day up there cooped up with a good book and a great bottle of wine, and come summer, it'll no doubt be one of central London's most popular rooftop bars — margaritas all round!

TREEHOUSE HOTEL LONDON, rooms from £214

Enjoy views of central London with a margarita in hand up at Madera, the covered rooftop bar and restaurant.