If you are looking for a place to stay that is in the throes of London, but outside of the hustle and bustle, we have the perfect place…

At first glance it is easy to miss The Bingham Hotel, for it blends it with the Victorian décor buildings upon the road, and the simplistic front does little testament to the true splendour and luxury which lay within.

The reception is quite small and simple, but the staff friendly and helpful, and they lead us up a decadent set of stairs to our room. The Hotel is made from two Victorian townhouses knocked into one and the quirky, vintage splendour is evident throughout- from the droplet chandeliers to plush armchairs to the light plum paint on the walls, character and charm oozes out of every nook and cranny. There are fifteen different rooms and suites spread over two floors of the Bingham, each one individually designed,  featuring bespoke art deco inspired furniture, sumptuous furnishings and modern comforts.

The Room
Upon entering our room, we were instantly taken over by its warmth and charm. With tumbling country views of the River Thames just outside the window it’s easy to forget you are a short twenty minute tube ride from the center of London.

Beautifully contemporary yet charmingly quaint, the room is all you could wish for a break away. From the black and white pictures on the wall, to the added touches like reef diffusers, various books and other amenities every aspect was thought of. The beds are made by Hypnos and so a good night’s sleep is more than guaranteed.

The room comes with a good sized television for if you don’t fancy venturing out, and the Hotel has a range of DVD’s which you can borrow from down in reception. Tea and coffee is provided, as is a good sized wardrobe and iron.

The bathroom was absolutely beautiful. A good size and with a large jacuzzi bath and a shower.

The restaurant at the Bingham is an absolutely beautiful, opulent affair, with gold-plate and green walls and a swish carpet. The room holds just enough tables for it to be atmospheric yet still feel personal, and it draws you in with open arms.

We had pre-ordered our food to sample the wedding menu, and for starters I chose cauliflower soup and my partner Anjou Pigeon.

Our starters were accompanied by a wine which was recommended by our waiter, which was the Masciarelli Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2013 from Italy. It was a wonderfully crisp and fruity wine, a perfect accompaniment to whet the tastebuds and prepare you for the main meal.

The Soup, which was made with roasted cauliflower and had a goats cheese crouton was delicious. The texture was perfect, not too thick, nor too watery and the portion size was just right.

We were told they did not have any pigeon, so my partner was given salmon instead, a worthy replacement, for this too was delicious and beautifully presented.

For mains I selected ‘Label Anglais Chicken, barley, wild mushrooms and chicken sauce. I am known for my love of chicken dishes, so had a lot to compare to, and I have to say that the others  simply wilted in comparison. The chicken was deliciously succulent and the sauce a perfect balance between being overpowering and weak, giving the dish an added kick. My partners braised pork belly came with creamed cabbage, apple puree and black pudding, and again you can tell that such care and thought had been put into all the flavours of the dish. This course was accompanied by another recommended wine, this time a red. The Ironbark Shiraz wine 2012 was from Australia and a  delicious rich tipple. It was filled with aromas of blackberries and blueberries and teased the palette with subtle hints of dark chocolate and spice.A delicious and suiting wine for the course.

For dessert I opted for Chocolate Marquise with white chocolate sorbet. It was deliciously rich, offset by the white chocolate sorbet, although if I were to give a piece of advice it would be to wait a little before ordering your dessert for I was pretty full when it arrived.

My partner had a British favourite- sticky toffee pudding with both toffee and vanilla ice cream. The sponge was moist yet light and the ice cream was flavoursome yet not heavy. Our dessert was accompanied by a sweet wine- Seigneurs de monbazillac 2011, France. This wine has subtle hints of apricots and orange and was a smoothly sweet addition to the meal.

After a meal in the restaurant, we headed to the bar to sample what I had been promised were their delicious cocktails. (And they did not disappoint.)

The bar itself, was again very contemporary, with modern decor, chandeliers and of course, beautiful views through the windows. We ordered two cocktails between us- a chocolate martini and a white rum based cocktail- both of which were recommended by the bar tender and were utterly delicious.
The bar at the Bingham is a lovely, classy room to spend your evening in, whether curled up  on one of the plush sofas with your partner or laughing with friends, it feels like a home away from home.

Breakfast offered a wide selection of dishes, from the traditional English to a continental feast. We opted for the full english, which consisted of sausage, egg, bacon, tomato and mushrooms. It was well cooked and fresh and we were not waiting for too long. As well as this we could help ourselves to continental food such as breads and cold meats, a lovely addition. It is a perfect room to enjoy your breakfast, basking under the winter sunlight just breaking through the trees. In summer I can imagine it is perfect being able to enjoy your morning coffee sat on their outside terrace overlooking the river.

Overall I would highly recommend this Hotel to anyone wishing to stay in London but with the feel of the countryside. It bears a majestic charm that is difficult to find, most particularly in City Hotels. Service is exemplary, the food delicious and the rooms warm and welcoming. This Hotel has everything you could possible need and more.

I am thoroughly shocked that this Hotel is a three star, for it beats some of the five star Hotels I have stayed in in more aspect than one.

Visit their website here