The Library
Signed first editions, an open fireplace, and a self-service honesty bar that operates entirely on trust.
A London Boutique Hotels Guide
Three interconnected Georgian townhouses on Frith Street, dating from 1715 — thirty individually designed rooms, a legendary Library, and all of Soho on the doorstep.
Tucked behind a Georgian façade on Frith Street, Hazlitt's is the kind of London hotel that doesn't advertise — it doesn't need to. Built on word-of-mouth alone, this 30-room Soho sanctuary has quietly enchanted writers, creatives, and discerning travellers since the 1980s.
The hotel occupies three interconnected Georgian townhouses dating from 1715, right in the heart of Soho. It's named after the 18th-century essayist William Hazlitt, who didn't just inspire the hotel's identity — he actually lived and died on the premises.
Thirty individually designed rooms are filled with authentic antiques, four-poster beds, and Victorian clawfoot baths. There's no restaurant, no gym, no corporate polish. What there is, instead, is atmosphere — a legendary Library, a resident cat named Sir Godfrey, and all of Soho waiting outside your front door.
A legendary Library, a resident cat, and named rooms with distinct personalities — the elements that turn thirty rooms in Soho into somewhere genuinely singular.
Signed first editions, an open fireplace, and a self-service honesty bar that operates entirely on trust.
The hotel's resident cat, a Library regular, and one of the most frequently mentioned details in guest reviews.
The Baron Willoughby Junior Suite, the Jonathan Swift room, the Duke of Monmouth Suite — rooms with names, not numbers.
Three interconnected townhouses from 1715, with original fireplaces, panelled walls and period staircases still in place.
Freestanding Victorian tubs with period fittings and Land & Water bath products, present in most rooms.
Ronnie Scott's a few doors away, Soho Square two minutes on foot, and the West End on your doorstep.
Hazlitt's has 30 rooms across five categories: Club, Superior, Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Suite. They range from 129 sq ft (the entry-level Club Room) up to 688 sq ft for the flagship Suite. Every single room is individually designed — no two are identical, which is part of the appeal and something to keep firmly in mind when booking.
| Category | Size | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Room | ~129 sq ft | Antique furnishings, clawfoot bath or shower | Solo travellers, budget-conscious stays |
| Superior Room | ~215 sq ft | Period details, upgraded bath | Couples, short breaks |
| Deluxe Room | ~322 sq ft | Enhanced antiques, more space | Longer stays, comfort seekers |
| Junior Suite | ~450 sq ft | Separate seating area, roll-top bath | Romantic breaks, special occasions |
| Suite (Duke of Monmouth) | ~688 sq ft | Two-storey, private terrace, marble bath | Flagship experience |
The Baron Willoughby Junior Suite is the one to request for a romantic stay. It features a carved-oak bed of considerable grandeur and a generous roll-top bath that's genuinely designed to be used, not just admired. It strikes the balance between theatrical and comfortable that Hazlitt's does so well.
The Jonathan Swift room takes a different approach. A luxurious sofa anchors the space, and the bathroom features an impressive 12-inch rainfall showerhead — a modern touch that sits surprisingly well alongside the period aesthetic. If you're someone who prefers a serious shower to a bath, this is your room.
Both rooms reflect something important about Hazlitt's: the antiques and atmosphere are never allowed to come at the expense of comfort. These are genuinely liveable spaces.
The Duke of Monmouth Suite is in a category of its own. At 688 sq ft spread across two storeys, it's the hotel's flagship accommodation. The private outdoor terrace with a retractable glass roof is the headline feature, offering a rare open-air space in the heart of Soho. The bathroom is equally extraordinary: a bronze eagle-spouted marble bath that manages to feel both opulent and entirely in keeping with the hotel's 18th-century sensibility.
It's one of those rooms that becomes the story you tell about a trip to London.
Free WiFi runs throughout the property. Rooms include flat-screen TVs, DVD players, air-conditioning, and minibars. Bathrooms are stocked with Land & Water bath products. The freestanding clawfoot bathtubs with Victorian-style fittings are a signature of the Hazlitt's experience — present in most rooms, and genuinely among the best bathing experiences available in a central London hotel at any price point.
The Library is the heart of Hazlitt's — a beautifully appointed reading room with an open fireplace, walls lined with books (many of them signed first editions left by notable guests) and a self-service honesty bar that operates entirely on trust. You pour your own drink, you record what you've taken, and you pay at the end.
The Living Room provides an unhurried space that maintains the same home-like quality as the rest of the property — no background music, no lobby bustle, no corporate uniformity. Guests consistently describe the overall atmosphere as staying in a very well-appointed private house.
The Wardrobe accommodates groups of up to 12 for meetings or private events, equipped with modern presentation technology while maintaining the antique aesthetic of the rest of the hotel.
There's no on-site restaurant at Hazlitt's, and rates exclude breakfast — a deliberate choice rather than an oversight. The hotel sits in Soho, which has one of the highest concentrations of excellent cafés, breakfast spots, and restaurants per square metre of any neighbourhood in London.
That said, in-room breakfast can be ordered: freshly baked pastries and croissants, bacon sandwiches, smoked salmon bagels, berries and granola. Room service runs 24 hours. The Library's honesty bar is open at all hours to guests — and the hotel actively encourages guests to use the Library as an entertaining space, inviting friends for an evening drink before dinner.
The address is 6 Frith Street, Soho Square, London W1D 3JA — steps from Soho Square itself, surrounded by the restaurants, bars, theatres, and galleries that make this neighbourhood one of the most culturally dense square miles in the country.
The nearest Tube station is Tottenham Court Road, roughly a two-minute walk. Leicester Square (Piccadilly line) is approximately five minutes on foot, giving direct access to Heathrow Airport via the Piccadilly line.
Theatreland (Shaftesbury Avenue): 5–8 minutes
Carnaby Street: 5 minutes
Oxford Street: 10 minutes
Covent Garden: 10–12 minutes
Foyles bookshop (Charing Cross Road): 8 minutes
National Portrait Gallery / Trafalgar Square: 15 minutes
Bond Street and Mayfair: 15 minutes
Five frames from the hotel — exterior, Library, named suites, terrace and Sir Godfrey.
6 Frith Street — three Georgian townhouses dating from 1715 in the heart of Soho.
Photo by Daniel Gynn on Unsplash
The Library at Hazlitt's — signed first editions, an open fireplace, and a self-service honesty bar.
Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash
Sir Godfrey — Hazlitt's resident cat and Library regular.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
The Baron Willoughby — carved-oak bed and roll-top bath, ideal for a romantic stay.
Photo by Andrew Lamb on Unsplash
The private outdoor terrace of the Duke of Monmouth Suite, with retractable glass roof.
A clear-eyed guide to who Hazlitt's suits best, and where it deliberately isn't a fit.
Best For
Roll-top baths, four-poster beds, and Soho's restaurant scene on your doorstep. The Baron Willoughby Junior Suite and Duke of Monmouth Suite are the standouts.
Character-filled Club and Superior rooms, the Library honesty bar, and a central London base with genuine personality.
Signed first editions in the Library, a building with genuine 18th-century literary provenance.
Shaftesbury Avenue is 5–8 minutes on foot. A great show and a nightcap in the Library.
Ronnie Scott's next door, the Photographers' Gallery ten minutes away, the National Portrait Gallery fifteen minutes on foot.
Honest Limitations
The staircases are original Georgian — narrow and steep in places. A genuine constraint for guests with mobility limitations.
The Club Room at ~129 sq ft is full of character, but compact. If you're spending extended time in the room, consider upgrading.
Deliberate choices, not oversights. If you need or want those facilities, you'll need to seek them elsewhere.
9.2 / 10
Excellent
from nearly 3,000 reviews
A notably high proportion of returning guests — a reputation built on word-of-mouth over nearly four decades.
"I'd never experienced anything like the Library — it felt like being let into a private club, except the only membership requirement was curiosity."
On the Library
"The carved-oak bed and the roll-top bath made it feel less like a hotel room and more like a very elegant friend's house — I didn't want to leave."
On the Baron Willoughby
"Being on Frith Street, steps from Ronnie Scott's and a two-minute walk from Soho Square, made every evening feel like a proper London experience rather than a tourist itinerary."
On the Location
The questions below reflect what prospective guests most commonly ask before booking Hazlitt's. They're answered directly.
Explore more Soho hotelsNo. Hazlitt's does not have an on-site restaurant, and breakfast is not included in room rates. In-room breakfast can be ordered (pastries, bacon sandwiches, smoked salmon bagels, and more), room service runs 24 hours, and the Library's honesty bar is available around the clock. The absence of a restaurant is a deliberate choice rather than an oversight — Soho's extraordinary density of dining options means guests are never more than a two-minute walk from exceptional food at every price point.
No. Hazlitt's has no lift. The hotel occupies three Georgian townhouses dating from 1715, and access between floors is via the original period staircases — which are narrow and steep in places. This is worth factoring in carefully if you have mobility limitations, are travelling with heavy luggage, or have any accessibility requirements. The hotel's porter service can assist with luggage, but the staircase structure cannot be changed. Contact the hotel directly before booking if this is a concern.
Hazlitt's does welcome dogs in certain rooms, making it a viable option for guests travelling with well-behaved pets. Given the antique furnishings throughout the hotel, it's strongly advisable to confirm the pet policy, any applicable charges, and which rooms are designated dog-friendly at the time of booking. Conditions may vary by room type and availability.
The Duke of Monmouth Suite is Hazlitt's largest and most prestigious accommodation — a two-storey suite of approximately 688 sq ft. Its headline features are a private outdoor terrace with a retractable glass roof (a rare outdoor space in central Soho) and a bronze eagle-spouted marble bath of considerable drama. It's the hotel's flagship room, suited to honeymoons, significant anniversaries, or any occasion that warrants the most memorable option in the building.
With some caveats, yes. An extra bed can be added to suitable rooms for £30 per night; cots are provided free of charge; and babysitting can be arranged on request. However, the hotel's Georgian layout means there is no lift, no interconnecting rooms, and the antique furnishings throughout are not designed with young children in mind. Families with older children or those comfortable with the staircase constraint will find it a characterful and well-located base.