Miiro Templeton Garden: A Hidden London Gem You Need To Know
From the design-led interiors to the innovative and super chic cocktail bar, reasonable room rates to all-out glamorous suites, and a sprawling garden you can’t quite believe is in central London, Miiro Templeton Garden is one to watch on the London hotel scene. The Handbook’s Astrid Carter checked in for the night. Here’s what she thought…
What sets it apart
I’ve been stung by the term “outdoor space” in central London before. More often than not, a London garden means a modest patio, or a sliver of grass if you’re lucky. That’s not the case at the recently opened Miiro Templeton Garden hotel, where the name truly lives up to its promise.
Set behind a row of immaculately renovated Victorian townhouses, you’ll find a massive central London garden – the size of seven townhouses combined. It’s a unique oasis of calm just off the chaos of Earl’s Court, with relaxed seating areas that wouldn’t look out of place in an Ibizan beach club. There’s also an al fresco restaurant and bar terrace, lit by fairy lights and surrounded by palm trees. Dreamy.
When I arrived, under a particularly hot London sun, the huge lawn was playing host to hotel guests, locals, children, and dogs – the latter confirmed by a giant brown labradoodle named George, apparently a regular, bounding around quite happily. I knew I was going to like this place.
Inside, the impeccable taste and charm continue with a beautiful lobby and library area that looks plucked straight from a Pinterest board. All natural woods, terracotta, and cool blue tones, with chandelier lighting, original work by local artists Bethany Holmes and Tess Newall, wrapped up in a homely feel. The service was second-to-none too – absolutely no stuffiness here – every one of the staff I met was chatty, warm, passionate, and knew every detail of the hotel.
A unique oasis of calm just off the chaos of Earl’s Court.
Unlike typical city break hotels, where you’re only there to recharge, Templeton Garden is a destination in itself. You’ll find yourself wanting to carve out time just to relax, drawn in by a top-notch cocktail bar, a very reasonably priced restaurant, and a tranquil outdoor space. The hotel’s attention to detail is remarkable; they’ve even created a dedicated Refresh Room so guests checking in early or out late can grab a shower and get ready for onward travel or a lunch reservation.
The location
The hotel is right in the heart of Earl’s Court, which, truth be told, isn’t my usual stomping ground; it always feels a bit chaotic. But the location is perfectly positioned to explore all that south west and west London have to offer, offering a crossroads between so many parts of London. From here, you can easily get to the vibrant markets of Notting Hill or the world-class museums of Kensington, both of which are close by, with the tube station just around the corner.
The road that Templeton Gardens sits on, however, is gloriously sleepy and feels very residential and peaceful, yet grand at the same time. The impressive row of seven-story, white-pillared townhouses strikes a sweet spot between high-end London luxury and cool boutique style.
The rooms
I stayed in one of the hotel’s Junior Suites, a natural light-filled, design-led delight. Like the common areas, every inch of the 156 rooms and suites is styled to perfection, yet the hotel somehow feels like home. Designed by Thurstan, the colour palette blends soft pastels with rich rusty tones and natural materials. A sustainable and charming touch is the artwork, which has been repurposed from the building’s previous hotel.
In the centre of the room, a grand canopied four-poster bed, with quite possibly the best hotel sheets I’ve ever had the pleasure of sinking into. The tasteful touches continued with a Roberts radio on the bedside table, iron chandeliers by Cox London above the bed, big chunky bedside drawers, and bountiful storage space. The mini bar selection was the boujiest I’ve ever seen, from hipster canned kombuchas to a half-bottle of Gusbourne sparkling, artisan Ocelot chocolate bars, to the hotel’s own nut and wasabi pea mix. In the suites, the mini bar and snacks are all complimentary – a nice luxury touch.
A moment for the bathroom, too. While more modest rooms are on offer, the suites have spared nothing in terms of decadence. The three Garden Suites feature a roll-top bath beneath sprawling artwork and come with their own private terraces, while others have a marble and gold-detailed sunken bath that peers out into the garden below. Heaven. Toiletries are courtesy of Le Labo Santal 3 – a favourite of both mine and the hotel, which uses it as its signature scent throughout. In fact, that’s one thing that hit me straight away: just how good the hotel smelled.
There’s something so charming, so inviting about Templeton, you’ll want to carve time out from your city break just to relax.
Food & drink
With all city stays, there’s always pressure to get out and leave the hotel to try all the food options a city has to offer. Templeton Gardens, however, has some excellent options if you want to stay in and chill. My top recommendation is the cocktail bar, Sprout, in fact, a must-visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel.
Firstly, the interiors are nothing short of stunning. Dramatic draped curtains lead the way to velvet seating, intimate table lamps and beautiful panelled walls, all in a dreched colour palette of pretty putty pink.
My pick? The Anchovy Martini, for all the salty souls out there.
Sit inside or on the outdoor terrace, weather permitting, and order an array of cocktails from an innovative and original menu that takes sustainable and seasonal local market produce and turns it into tipples. From a Tomato Collins to – my pick – an Anchovy Martini, for all the salty souls out there. If your cocktail choice errs more on the side of traditional, I can vouch for the winning Negroni, too.
Food-wise, off the lobby is a stunning dining room and restaurant, Pippins, headed up by Liam Fauchard-Newman, who has previously worked at esteemed restaurants like The Ledbury and Holborn Dining Rooms.
The menu is modern European and incredibly well-priced for a high-end hotel. The beautiful dining room leads out into that glorious outdoor space, with banquette seating and winding foliage that blends into the trees behind. It’s a true gem of a spot to make the most of warm London summer nights. I tucked into a fresh and zingy seabass ceviche with King’s caviar, apple, and shiso pickle to start – exactly what you want to eat in the heat – followed by a tender lamb rump with seasonal vegetables and creamy goat’s curd.
For dessert, the menu offers a twist on British classics, from Templeton trifle to an Earl Grey custard tart and an indulgent chocolate mousse with brownies and chocolate cream.
After a well-deserved kip, in the morning, we headed to the hotel’s more informal café, Pip’s, for sweet almond croissants and takeaway coffees before heading out to explore. The atmosphere was excellent and had a genuine local feel, with freelancers working from laptops and hotel guests grabbing a quick bite before checkout. It’s clear that a local, relaxed vibe is something the hotel is keen to promote.
Things to do
The location is ideal for firsttimers to London – you can take the tube one stop to the iconic Notting Hill and peruse the brilliant vintage markets at the weekend, indulge in endless food options, from affordable street food to Michelin dining, head to the brilliant boutiques of Westbourne Grove, or head south to the pretty Kensington High Street that will take you down to Kensington and Hyde Park.
For families, you’re also really well positioned for The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum and The V&A.
Plus, make the most of some of London’s buzziest and iconic pubs that aren’t too far from Templeton Garden. I really rate the Mall Tavern (excellent Sunday roasts), The Churchill Arms (an Instagram opportunity with its flower-covered facade, as well as a good pint), and The Pelican (everyone’s talking about right now). You can also jump on the tube and be in Soho in just four stops.
The verdict
Stunning interiors and great cocktail bars are easy to find on the central London hotel scene, but they usually come at a price. While I was lucky enough to stay in one of Templeton Garden’s suites, the hotel also offers more modest – but still beautifully designed and comfortable – rooms from just £290. For a central London hotel, that’s a genuine steal.
With its welcoming warmth, a garden that’s been on my mind ever since, and charming little touches, this hotel is a gorgeous hidden gem that I almost want to gatekeep. I have no doubt I’ll be back to sip another one of those Anchovy Gimlets, even if it’s under a rug on a crisp autumn evening rather than a sun-drenched summer’s day.
Getting there
Miiro Templeton Garden is less than a five-minute walk from Earl’s Court Underground Station, where you will find the District line and the Piccadilly line. You can get directly to Heathrow Airport via the Piccadilly line, which takes about 40 minutes, or a taxi will take about 35 minutes, depending on traffic.
Booking
Room rates start from £290.
Book online at miirohotels.com/templetongarden
All imagery via James Mcdonald
