The Pilgrm London review: a stylish, sustainable stay just steps from Paddington Station

If it’s a design-led stay that doesn’t break the bank that you’re hunting for for your next London adventure, then you need to know about this absolute gem. Set on London Street, just moments from Paddington Station, The Pilgrm is an independent boutique hotel that has managed to make an extremely convenient location feel surprisingly intimate. It is also refreshingly different from the increasingly formulaic affordable London hotel experience, with its vintage furniture, original architectural details, independent artwork, plants and a strong focus on reuse and sustainability. After spending the weekend here, I came away thinking that more hotels in the capital should be aiming to recreate its exceptional customer experience. Are you travelling to London soon? Our London experts offer a 45-minute call to discuss your itinerary and offer suggestions that align with how you want to explore, including ideas you may not have even heard about. Enjoy the capital like a local and get some tips on where to eat, stay and explore. Book your session here today. While this stay was hosted, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

A review of The Pilgrm London

Hotel snapshot Hotel: The Pilgrm Address: 25 London Street, Paddington, London W2 1HH Rooms: 73 Style: Independent boutique hotel; vintage, eclectic and sustainable Location: Less than a minute from Paddington Station Food & drink: Ground-floor café and first-floor lounge; Rho Greek was operating during my stay Best for: Short London stays, solo travellers, couples, business travellers and anyone prioritising design and location over traditional hotel facilities Sustainability: Refillable water, recycled water bottles, reclaimed and reused furniture and materials, electric fans rather than air conditioning Room categories: Comfy, Snug, Nook and Bunk Prices from: £109 per night, depending on room and season.

Arrival and check-in

The stay got off to an easy start before I had even arrived. Online check-in the day before was quick and straightforward, removing some of the usual faff from arriving at a London hotel. Then there was the location. The Pilgrm is literally around a minute from Paddington Station, making it particularly convenient if you’re arriving by train or using the Heathrow Express. Check-in itself was just as speedy, with a genuinely friendly welcome from the team, who gave me the lowdown on the layout, the current photography exhibition by Peter Anderson, and timings for breakfast. And this is something that stood out throughout my stay: the service. There are plenty of London hotels where staff are perfectly professional, but at The Pilgrm, the team seemed to genuinely enjoy being there. Five stars to whoever does the hiring here, as they’ve found the cream of the crop, and I had some of the nicest interactions I’ve had with hotel staff in London in a long time.

A lobby designed to make you linger

The ground-floor café is an extension of the lobby area. A striking gold cylindrical light feature sits next to royal blue tiles, khaki leather sofas, marble tables, plenty of plants and a crimson wall. It’s a feast for the senses without feeling chaotic. Here, they serve Monmouth Coffee, and my iced oat latte was perfectly balanced, refreshing and necessary, given the 33-degree temperature outside. I ended up spending around an hour there, partly because the space was so pleasant and partly because I was having such a good conversation with the barista. The music was wonderfully chilled, the sun was streaming through the windows, and I settled in with my coffee and the latest issue of Wallpaper*.

A hotel that gets refillable water right

If you’ve read any of my hotel reviews before, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of refillable water options at hotels. So The Pilgrm immediately scored points with me. Each guest receives a branded reusable water bottle, with both still and sparkling filtered water available on the ground floor for refills. It’s such a simple idea, but one that makes far more sense than leaving multiple plastic bottles in every room. The only thing I’d change? There was a pantry directly opposite my room, complete with Fairtrade coffee bags from Cru Kafe, Proper Tea and little portions of Oatly, so it would have been useful to have another water dispenser there too. Having to head back down to the ground floor every time I wanted a refill wasn’t exactly difficult, but an additional dispenser would make the system even better.

The room: simple, comfortable and cleverly considered

I stayed in Room Y25, which was in the hotel’s largest room category, Comfy, which was the perfect choice for my short stay. As with many central London hotels, space is at a premium, but the room had everything I needed. There was a comfortable bed, a chair and a small table, plus a Marshall Bluetooth speaker and fans to beat the summer heat. There was also a selection of books and magazines, real plants and original artwork throughout the room, plus guests could borrow a branded tote bag during their stay, which I thought was a nice touch. The hotel’s rooms are designed around the idea of providing the essentials rather than an endless list of hotel extras. The bathroom felt particularly fresh, with white subway tiles and navy accents combined with vintage-style fittings. Again, it’s that juxtaposition of old and new that The Pilgrm does so well. There are no bathrobes, no minibar or coffee-making facilities in the room, but I suspect this is part of the hotel’s wider approach to keeping things simple — and, presumably, keeping prices more accessible.

The lounge: somewhere I’d happily spend an afternoon

In the lounge on the first floor, mismatched furniture comes in an assortment of colours, textures and shapes, while black-and-white photography continues up the staircase. Plants, artwork and architectural details appear around every corner; it’s the sort of space that encourages you to sit down rather than simply pass through. For anyone working remotely, it’s also a useful alternative to the bedroom. There are plenty of places throughout the lounge and ground-floor café where you can open a laptop, answer emails or simply sit with a coffee. The Pilgrm’s lounge is also open to non-residents, serving brunch, cocktails and food, plus it has a little outdoor terrace, which is the ideal spot to enjoy some drinks with friends.

The food and drink

Another unique perk of staying at The Pilgrm is that the hotel regularly rotates its pop-up dining options, served in the lounge. During my stay, it was home to Rho, serving Greek island-inspired food from chef Marios Miliorellis. The evening started with a Pomelo Margarita, which was excellent. The music was vibey, the service was even better, and the atmosphere had the relaxed feel of somewhere that would work equally well for hotel guests and locals. One slight disappointment was the lack of a non-alcoholic cocktail option. There were some lovely iced teas, but I’d have liked to see a more considered zero-proof cocktail offering. The wine list, however, was small but perfectly formed. I particularly enjoyed a Greek rosé, Maras Le Premier Pas Xinomavro Rosé. Food-wise, the tzatziki was a standout. It was incredibly flavourful and topped with pickled cucumbers, which took the dish to another level. The bread was also dangerously moreish, and I came very close to eating my way through the entire basket by myself. A fresh skate salad with Kalamata olives and bottarga rounded things off nicely, before I dived into a decadent ice cream dessert. If this is the calibre of the cuisine here, then no matter the takeover, I’m sure guests will be delighted. Thoughtfully, breakfast runs from 7:30 am – 12 pm, perfect for people like me who enjoy a leisurely, late start. The selection is à la carte and offers everything from Lemon and Blueberry Pancakes to Baked Eggs. I went for the smoked salmon, which was served with perfectly poached eggs and a burnt butter hollandaise, and I enjoyed this on the outdoor terrace.

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