Eleanor Cording-Booth

Photos from @thezetterhotels in Bloomsbury, with VERY GOOD interiors by @_thurstan . I stayed for a few nights this week and I’ll stay again for sure. The rooms are small (note that only suites have TVs) and it’s not a luxury hotel (carry your own cases inside and show yourself to your room sort of vibe), but it’s a handsome place to crash right next to the British Museum. The vast collection of vintage textiles, antiques and decorative objects really set this place apart from other mid-range London hotels with their dull identical bedrooms. In fact, its interiors are unlike any other hotel in the city. Also, it’s walkable from King’s Cross in about 20 mins (past Fortitude Bakery and diagonally across leafy Russell Square) and it has a tiny garden for sunny afternoons. I will say, it’s still brand new and there are some spaces (including the garden) being finished off, plus the team and processes obviously feel new, so I reckon give them a month or so, when they’ve had more time to settle in. I’ll def book another stay for autumn to make the most of the open fires in the guest lounge, and cosy, rainy mornings with the woodburner and glass roof in the conservatory. Until 30th April, they have a link on their website for 50% off room rates until the end of the year, which brings most nights in at £190-220 for the tiny rooms, and for central London, you can’t sniff at that price!

Last week at @thedorchester , where @housetowrite joined me for dinner and @alice_wawrik cycled over for breakfast. It was whimsical and fancy (the best combination) and even better than I hoped. Review coming soon to @cabanamagazine . Top line: - Vesper bar is perfect for a fun, special occasion cocktail. - The Grill menu prices are similar to many London gastropubs. I’d never have realised this. - Guests have access to the 20m swimming pool at 45 Park Lane over the road, and turns out it’s *stunning* - I assumed traffic noise would be wild bc the main road outside is so busy. Nope. The window soundproofing is incredible and it was nearly silent in my room. - I’ll def go back to try afternoon tea in the near future. The Promenade (where it’s served) is breathtaking, as are the huge floral displays.

1.5 minutes from 7 years living in our Barbican flat. A small glimpse of a life and the end of a chapter. Thank you to @whitevangentlemen movers for being so kind and patient when I barely knew what planet I was on, and for making a day I’d dreaded run so smoothly. Thanks also to @alice_wawrik for suggesting I enlist their professional help when I was being ridiculous and thought I could pack everything on my own!

On Monday I had the best sleepover at @haymarket_hotellondon with faves @ifonlyifnightwear x @firmdale_hotels . Mine was a high-ceilinged, print-heavy bedroom that was giving Elizabeth James’s house in The Parent Trap, with a new smocked cotton nightie to sleep in. We had such a fun group dinner with two brands that I love, and it was *exactly* what I needed! Photos by @kirstymclachlan (thanks for bearing with the most awkward person to ever stand in front of a camera).

I don’t have a caption but these scans just arrived in my inbox two weeks after I expected them, and film is expensive these days, so I’m leaving them here.

20 photos from a week in Devon, where it was freezing cold with blue skies every day, and I never stopped talking about the perfect weather. Every year now, we forgo Christmas presents and book a trip instead. Featuring @covevalley - remote cabins in a rewilding project in mid Devon (we stayed in Chatan this time, which is much bigger than the other cabins and gets the most beautiful natural light, though I thought tiny Ukai - where we stayed a few summers ago - was the most comfortable and special). Also a return to beautiful @fowlescombe farm, which is about 25 mins drive from the coastline of south Devon and is unique for many reasons, not least because all meals are included in the room rate. Fowlescombe knocked our socks off in July, so we came back to experience it in winter. We loved staying in the Loft suite this time - it felt so peaceful and calm. On the way there, we stayed at @numberonebruton for a quick overnighter - I’d recommend a Forge bedroom facing into the courtyard for the nicest, quietest view and good windows. We always love a pitstop in Bruton for walks at @thenewtinsomerset and food at @briar_restaurant (part of No1, so you can roll into bed after dinner), also @oldpharmacybruton next door and @osiprestaurant . Check opening days if you’re driving southwest and planning to break the journey in Bruton, as most shops/restaurants close for part of the week. [For avoidance of doubt, this trip was not gifted]

December in five. Didn’t do anything festive this year - no shows, no carol concerts, no parties - but it’s felt cosy all the same.

AD Dark December days working at home, with the tree lights on, mince pies as appropriate breakfast, and @origincoffeeroasters . 15 years ago I didn’t even like coffee, now I’ll walk an hour out of my way for a good pour-over, and the first places we map when we travel are always coffee shops. If you’re Christmas shopping for someone equally particular, a bag of freshly roasted beans in a stocking or hamper will always go down well. And if they’re into the ritual of hand-brewing (we use a Kalita Wave at home), a useful gadget will make the routine way more satisfying. We just replaced our old scales with a more intuitive Acaia set from Origin’s webshop - every equipment upgrade makes a difference to the precision. Over the past few Christmases, I’ve bought Tom a drip coffee machine, various jugs and mugs, a swan neck kettle, and two burr grinders (I got him the Fellow Ode Gen 2 last year and we love it). We both make coffee at home every day, so you could call it self-gifting in plain sight 😬.

Some film from New York, taken back in May 📸

It was a joy to go back to Copenhagen and interview Tina, the absolutely delightful founder of @theapartmentdk about its relaunch as a unique two-bedroom holiday rental. It was for @voguemagazine , so I also switched my brain to American spelling and remembered to say vacation instead 😅. The OGs will know The Apartment used to be a gallery/showroom styled like a home, where everything was for sale. I didn’t pack my camera as I hadn’t intended on taking any pics, but I regretted it when I got there - it’s so cosy, colourful and mood-lifting! There are so many trinkets to admire and art books to read - it’s unlike any hotel in the city. And there’s a dreamy freestanding bath! I somehow forgot to get a pic of that, but I did wallow in it for AGES.

Had some film developed and here are a coupla kids with big birthdays soon, trying to decide where to go. P.S. I will absolutely acknowledge that my fringe was cut too short in that first pic.

Copenhagen design details to save for later. Four special days in one of my favourite cities, for the second time this year! This one was a mother-daughter trip to celebrate my upcoming birthday, and her belated 60th (she reminded me that I looked like Winston Churchill when I was a baby, and that I’ve been a lifelong cynic because I was born on a Wednesday).