London Life – Overnight At The Wesley Camden Town

Much of my childhood was spent in and around Camden Town, a well-known area of Northwest London. Somewhat down at heel in the ‘70s, it underwent a resurgence that began with the proliferation of markets and trendy shops. I seem to recall that at one stage Camden Lock was London’s third largest tourist attraction.

As well as being a shopping mecca, Camden Town boasts an eclectic mix of live music venues, such as The Roundhouse and the Electric Ballroom to name but two. I have happy memories of visits in my youth.

Work takes me to London reasonably often these days and lovely hotels in the area are rather thin on the ground. Step forward then The Wesley on Plender Street, slap bang in the very heart of bohemian Camden Town. The hotel building started life as a chapel way back in 1824 and it has been refurbished using sustainably sourced materials where possible. The end result is a contemporary, and somewhat chic boutique hotel with 38 bedrooms, all quietly lurking behind the historic façade.

Travelling by car is always a challenge in London now and parking expensive and difficult to find. I usually abandon my press cars in an outer suburb and travel in by underground. However, with a little research, I found out that street parking close by was free from 6.30pm until 8.30am. There were plenty of free spaces, and my 5.30pm arrival time meant just a modest parking charge for the duration of my overnight stay.

Most visitors to The Wesley are far more likely to arrive by public transport and Camden Town tube station is just a short walk away. Euston Station I am told is only ten minutes distant and the walk quite an interesting one.

I was accommodated in a small, but some might perfectly formed, top floor room. Lovely for one, perhaps a little cosy for two. Deluxe rooms, available for a modest extra outlay offer considerably more space. Excellent double glazing and black out curtains ensured I was able to banish the sights and sounds of this buzzing area and get a good night’s sleep. The bed itself was extremely comfortable, the pillows soft and fluffy.

These are not a given as I have found out when staying in some rather swish hotels of late.

he bathroom was bright and clean, with the expected toiletries supplied. A little more power from the shower would have been nice though. The complementary Wi-Fi worked well and there was a safe and ironing facilities, not used but appreciated.

Rather unusually, the hotel has no restaurant, so I ventured out for the evening, taking the tube a few stops north to Hampstead to meet a friend for dinner.

Checking out early the next morning as the car needed moving, I was offered breakfast at the Wesleys’ sister hotel in Euston. I declined, but nearby there’s a good range of cafes, eateries and bakeries, all open early and selling tasty treats.

Hotel prices in London, like most capital cities are never cheap, and it is easy to find yourself paying well over £100 for a night in an uninspiring cheap corporate hotel. A midweek one-night stay at The Wesley Camden Town can be had for not much more than £150 according to the website, with a deluxe room coming in at under £200.

The location is most appealing for a quick overnight stay as I did as a business traveller. It would also make a great base for a long weekend, exploring the delights of this interesting area and beyond. The Regents Canal, Regents Park, London Zoo, Primrose Hill, all a delightful walk away.

And now I know I can park nearby if needs be, I think I may have found my new base when in town. I can now look forward to my next visit.

89 Plender Street, London, NW1 0JN
Tel: 0207 691 8588
www.thewesley.co.uk