Bertrand’s Townhouse

Last Updated on March 9, 2026

New boutique hotel in Bloomsbury

If you are looking for a boutique hotel bolthole in central London, look no further. Bertrand’s Townhouse is a 4-star, 43-room hotel around the corner from the British Museum. It opened in mid-December 2025 following an extensive refurbishment, replacing a hotel that had previously operated in the building. Being Grade II listed, Bertrand’s Townhouse has retained its original features from parquet flooring to detailed ceiling cornicing, central staircase and fireplaces. In this part of town, the terraced townhouses – mostly built in the Georgian period – have floor-to-ceiling sash windows, allowing natural light to flood the rooms.

Located in the heart of Bloomsbury, Bertrand’s Townhouse is named after Bertrand Russell, the founder of analytic philosophy and a Nobel Prize winner. He was part of the Bloomsbury Set – an early 20th-century group of writers, thinkers, artists and bohemians who lived in the neighbourhood and established flourishing salons where new ideas were debated. One such salon was hosted by society hostess and aristocrat, Lady Ottoline Morrell, with whom Bertrand Russell had a long affair. Ottie’s Salon is on the ground floor of Bertrand’s Townhouse and forms the heart of the hotel. It comprises a bar, a lounge, a pipe lounge, and a cigar garden; any smoking takes place on the outdoor terrace off the Salon. Not many hotels have a humidor filled with an impressive array of Cuban cigars. Bertrand Russell, a devoted pipe smoker, would have been delighted.

Richly decorated, burgundy walls are hung with an eclectic mix of artworks from landscapes to portraits and lots of dogs and horses. Next to the bar is a more contemporary area with a large Marilyn Monroe print, a smaller Lichtenstein, and Cubist works. The décor of the Salon is part Edwardian private club, with its dark walls and artwork, but also introduces mid-century features such as the stencilled gold ceiling with its gorgeous petal-shaped, cascading glass chandelier. Furnishings are plush and comfortable for eating at small round marble tables or sitting awhile with tea or a drink and reading. It is a lovely spot to meet up for a quiet chat, and one does not have to be a guest of Bertrand’s Townhouse to pop in to enjoy Ottie’s Salon. It serves breakfast and an all-day small plates menu. In the summer, the terrace and garden off the Salon will have an outdoor kitchen, and there are two private spaces available for hire for events.

I received a tour of each room category, ranging from Classic Quarters to Deluxe Quarters, Grand Quarters, and Philosophers’ Quarters. While the rooms get larger depending on the level you book, they all share a beautifully designed interior with a plushly upholstered headboard and a carved wooden surround. Backlit, it is most atmospheric at night. Beautiful glass central lighting, period lamps, artworks, burgundy walls and parquet flooring run throughout. Bertrand’s Townhouse hotel has specially commissioned wardrobes with Chinese-carved panels with animal motifs. There is an SMEG minibar fridge with water, fresh milk, soft drinks, and a range of snacks, along with a coffee machine and kettle. Each bathroom has black-and-white tiling, underfloor heating, a rain shower, and a basin with a marble surround. Every room offers guests a Diptyque gift, which is a lovely and generous touch.

We were treated to a night in the Philosophers’ Quarters, which was fabulous. A claw-footed bath was positioned in front of the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the back garden, and while it was raining when I relaxed in it, on days when the sun shines, one would be basking in sunshine. Bliss. As if this bathing option was not sufficient, the bathroom had a his and hers pair of rainshowers, and a large basin on which perched luxurious Diptyque products. The gowns and slippers were a cut above the norm, being of very good quality and genuinely comfortable.

The room with its burgundy walls felt enveloping and warm. There was a sizeable wardrobe with hand-carved motifs that was so beautiful that I experienced my first case of wardrobe envy. The capacious bed was as comfortable as expected and had really good pillows. There was a lovely sofa, a mid-century table, and a desk. The minibar and snacks were complimentary, and the Diptyque gifts made me feel like my birthday had come early. Every item exuded luxury and comfort.

An evening spent in Ottie’s Salon was an opportunity for cocktails and conversation. Soon, there will be a twice-weekly jazz singer at Bertrand’s Townhouse hotel. Over a Negroni and a flute of Louis Roederer champagne, my husband and I spent time purposefully relaxing. As Bertrand Russell opined, ‘the time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time’. We sampled a few of the small plates from a menu that included charcuterie and cheese boards, Caesar salad, scallops, cured salmon, chocolate tart and sorbet. I had a rich and creamy wild mushroom ravioli served with cherry tomatoes, enoki mushrooms and micro herbs. My husband enjoyed a trio of short-rib croquettes; the meat could not have been more tender and had a delicious lacquer. Wagyu beef sliders were a plate of two mini burgers. These plates are small in name only. The portions are generous.

Waking from a good sleep, I was saddened only by the thought that checkout lay ahead. But not before enjoying breakfast. My husband opted for the philosopher’s breakfast,  which comprised a croissant or pain au chocolat, a choice of hot egg dish, and tea, coffee and juice. I chose a fruit platter and one of the three dishes in the Health and Wellness section of the breakfast menu. A courgette pancake was topped with slices of avocado, a poached egg and toasted seeds and served with cherry vine tomatoes. I finished my tea in the lounge, which had become a favourite spot. I have already arranged to meet a friend for tea when we are in the area.

After breakfast, we strolled over to the British Museum to see an exhibition and then browsed in a nearby bookshop. The area is full of small boutiques, ceramics shops, interesting restaurants and museums. The Foundling Museum at Handel’s Museum is nearby, and one can enjoy a self-guided walk around Bloomsbury, taking in Virginia Woolf’s house as well as other luminaries who lived in the neighbourhood. There are several bus routes that run near the hotel, and two tube stations are a 10-minute walk away, so it is easy to get around London. Bertrand’s Townhouse hotel is a convenient place to stay if you are in the West End to see a show.

Bertrand’s Townhouse is a hotel with all the contemporary facilities one expects, yet its aesthetic is in keeping with a tastefully furnished, traditional London townhouse. Its guiding philosophy is to make each guest feel as if they have been invited into someone’s home, and in this, it succeeds. Not only is the hotel comfortable and inviting, but the staff are warm, genuinely welcoming and interesting to talk to. With staff and service as charming as the surroundings, Bertrand’s Townhouse is a hotel I wholeheartedly recommend.

Bertrand’s Townhouse, 4 – 6 Bedford Place, London WC1B 5JD