An honest review of a new London hotel with no locks and windowless rooms

In a new series, Rooms Without Views, our travel experts spend a night in windowless hotel rooms to see if the price is worth sacrificing natural light.

They have been described as claustrophobic, dystopian and depressing, but the trend of windowless hotel rooms is not going away.

Now when Metro was invited to visit a newly opened London hotel with a range of exactly that, we were some of the first through the door.

Down a quiet residential street in leafy Kensington, The Drey is a three minute walk to Earl’s Court station and the high street full of pubs, shops and restaurants.

The hotel occupies one of the region’s most beautiful whitewashed houses dating back to the Georgian era.

There are 125 rooms around, including family rooms large enough for six, and four windowless options with names such as ‘The Burrow’ and ‘The Nook’.

Although the facade is a classic beauty, the interior is unusual. Described as ‘self-service’ and ‘staff-lite’, guests log in online and check into the building and their rooms via a special app. There are no keys.

In the bar or restaurant there are vending machines and a Starbucks coffee station, but there are many cafes nearby, there is no reason to spend money for morning emergencies.

In fact, there is no breakfast.

The site has air-conditioned rooms with wide windows and super king beds.

But for the sake of this series, I’m staying at The Burrow, a windowless double room perfect for ‘those who take sleep seriously’, or so I’m told.

At £123 per night, it’s the cheapest room in the house (although not exactly the cheapest).

It has the essentials, by which I mean towels, vegan Gabar toiletries, water bottles and a coffee machine (though no details before that, try as I might, the machine wouldn’t turn on).

The shower and toilet are perfect for this type of room. Bigger than an airplane lav, but not by much.

The biggest black mark is the bedside sink, one of those round ones with gold faucets that can’t control its flow.

I was left disappointed and feeling more stylish than something.

Overall, this place is perfect for a short stay, perfect for a day out. It is not a place to do more than rest your head.

But when you do, it gives. I felt cramped rather than claustrophobic, the room temperature was nice and constant and I woke up feeling really rested, ready for the day.

No clothes or irons, yet you I can pay £20 for a fitness ‘bundle’ with yoga mats, skipping ropes and dumbbells inside.

I can’t imagine what kind of person would do this, but whatever you get into.

A better option is to book a class at one of the many fitness studios in this part of London.

The hotel works closely with local businesses, and has partnered with several restaurants, gyms and wellness centers to offer discounts.

Guests can get 20% off reformer pilates at TriYoga (what else is there to do in west London?), with breakfast at The King’s Head and dinner at restaurants such as Afandena, a lovely family-run establishment serving the best of Lebanese and Egyptian cuisine.

Order a mezze dish and feast.

Other local partners include the gardener, Petal Vibes, and trendy London winery Cru (tickets £8).

In addition, there are two Tube stops to the museum hub of South Ken where you will find the V&A, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, all free to visit.

Is it important?

There is no fault in comfort or space. You’ll sleep well here, and wake up well, connected to the best of London.

Anyway, call me old fashioned, but for £123, I expect more. Maybe if they fixed the sinks…

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