A new look for Bloomsbury London, The Academy: announces April 2018 launch date

Posted in News on 24 January, 2018

Situated in the heart of Bloomsbury in London’s West End, The Academy comprises a collection of five Georgian townhouses combined into one charming hotel. YTL Hotels’ investment in the property includes a multi-million-pound interior refurbishment, which will be completed in April 2018. The Academy will also become part of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection.

Renowned New York-based designer Alexandra Champalimaud is overseeing the refurbishment of The Academy, creating an engaging blend of modern and vintage with a nod to the lives and loves of the Bloomsbury Set who lived and worked in the area in the early 20th Century. As with their distinctive interiors at YTL’s first British property, The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Champalimaud Design will juxtapose timeless glamour and traditional features with a modern, comfortable city style to create a contemporary take on townhouse living.

Drawing on the area’s heritage, Champalimaud Design has been inspired by The Bloomsbury Set, the influential group of writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists which included Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes and E.M. Forster. The Academy’s interiors will reflect the casual exuberance, style and bonhomie for which this group of individuals are known.

Brimming with personality and unique little quirks, The Academy will house 50 elegant guest rooms across its five townhouses. A redesign of public spaces will see The Alchemy Bar re-housed on the ground floor, leading through to a beautiful garden. The lower ground floor will house The Refectory, an intimate breakfast room and function space.

A hidden gem in the heart of the City, tucked away in the charming garden of The Academy is Mr. Ma’s Tea House Spa.  The bespoke spa references 1920’s Bloomsbury and is a nod to Lao She’s acclaimed novel, Mr Ma and Son. Mr Ma’s Teahouse Spa will offer an uncommon collection of authentic Asian experiences. Guests will be able to enjoy traditional Asian body therapies, such as a hot medicinal herbal footbath followed by Zhi ya, Chinese reflexology or Tuina an invigorating and rhythmical acupressure to energise and balance the body.

Plush, bespoke furnishings in rich velvets and leather, jewel tones, coloured walls, fanciful patterns and visually engaging tile floors will create a glamorous yet supremely comfortable home from home ambience. Cosy nooks and small spaces set the tone for convivial, intimate gatherings.

Large sash windows ensure guest rooms feel light and airy. Elegant light fittings, large mirrors, patterned wallpaper, timeless furniture, comfortable velvet chairs and marble bathrooms set the tone for a relaxed and sophisticated space.

A stone’s throw from The British Museum, fine restaurants and world famous shopping streets, The Academy is ideally positioned for business and pleasure. Housing not one but two secluded gardens, the boutique hotel offers a refuge to gather, recharge and relax.

Steeped in glamorous yet laid-back luxury, The Academy will be the perfect spot for city breaks to the Capital.