Less really is more at this stylish Paddington hotel
Every Wimbledon trip starts with the same question.
Do you remortgage the house to stay somewhere within walking distance of Centre Court, or do you stay somewhere a little further out and trust the London Underground?
This year, we chose option two.
Our pre-Wimbledon sleepover was at The Pilgrm, a boutique hotel sitting directly opposite Paddington Station. While SW19 may be several Tube stops away, the journey turned out to be surprisingly straightforward. By the time we'd navigated the Underground the following morning, we'd saved a small fortune on accommodation and barely added any extra travelling time.
Location really is The Pilgrm's superpower.
Walk out of Paddington Station, cross the road and you're there.
Whether you've arrived on the Heathrow Express, travelled into London by train or simply want a base from which to explore the capital, it would be difficult to find somewhere more convenient.
The building itself is an elegant Victorian townhouse, but step inside and the atmosphere changes immediately.
Reception flows seamlessly into a bustling coffee shop where guests mix with locals over flat whites and laptops. Exposed brickwork, reclaimed timber, hanging plants, vintage lighting, old bicycles mounted on the walls and striking black-and-white photographs create an atmosphere that's effortlessly cool without feeling contrived.
It's less hotel lobby, more neighbourhood café.
The sort of place where you could happily spend an hour people-watching with a coffee, even if you weren't staying the night.
That relaxed, understated style continues upstairs.
The rooms are beautifully simple.
Reclaimed wooden furniture, crisp white bedding and original features combine with an old-fashioned porcelain sink that sits proudly in the bedroom itself. It's a design choice that perfectly sums up The Pilgrm's philosophy—keep what matters and quietly remove what doesn't.
That does mean adjusting your expectations slightly.
If you're looking for a hospitality tray laden with tea, coffee and biscuits, you'll be disappointed.
Instead, each floor has a shared pantry with hot water and tea bags. If you prefer milk in your tea, you'll need to pop down to reception.
This didn't bother us, but it's worth knowing before you arrive. This is a hotel that has consciously chosen simplicity over surplus.
One practical point worth mentioning is the lift. While there is one, it's extremely compact, with two adults and a couple of overnight bags about its comfortable limit.
There's also no air conditioning. During our stay that wasn't an issue, but on one of London's increasingly hot summer nights it could make the rooms feel rather warm.
Breakfast the following morning was served downstairs in the café.
The setting was excellent.
The coffee was excellent.
The food was excellent.
Everything is freshly prepared rather than rushed out, so it's worth allowing a little extra time if you have an early train, flight or, in our case, Centre Court calling. Breakfast service also doesn't begin until 7.30am, something to bear in mind if you're planning an early start.
As we crossed the road back to Paddington Station and headed for Wimbledon, it struck me that The Pilgrm isn't trying to be all things to all people.
It isn't chasing five-star luxury or competing with international hotel chains packed with every conceivable extra.
Instead, it focuses on getting the important things right: an exceptionally comfortable bed, thoughtful design, a genuinely welcoming atmosphere and arguably one of the best-connected locations in London.
For a one-night stopover before Wimbledon, it was exactly what we needed.
I'd happily book it again for a theatre break, a business trip or a weekend exploring the capital.
I'd describe The Pilgrm as the hotel equivalent of a really good espresso.
Small.
Strong.
Stylish.
And refreshingly free of unnecessary froth.
That probably tells you everything you need to know.
Contact details
- The Pilgrm
- 25 London Street, Paddington, London W2 1HH
- Tel: +44 (0)20 7667 6000
- Email: hello@thepilgrm.com
- Book direct: thepilgrm.com
Getting there
The Pilgrm couldn't be easier to reach. It's directly opposite London Paddington station, making it ideal whether you're arriving by train from elsewhere in the UK or on the Heathrow Express from the airport. Paddington is also served by the Elizabeth, Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines, putting most of London within easy reach. Hyde Park, Marylebone and Notting Hill are all within walking distance.
