Inhabit: London’s ‘first mindfulness boutique hotel’ offers meditation, yoga, Pilates and more
- The hip and healthy crowd will be drawn to the new property in the British capital’s Paddington area
- A mainly plant-based menu keeps guests eating clean, while phone-free spaces encourage them to switch off
How so? Where to begin? The Library is mercifully muzak and phone free, there are air filters in the public areas, the aromatherapy diffusers and scented candles are by Self Care, which donates proceeds to mental-health charities, and much of the furniture is custom made by social enterprise Goldfinger Factory, the nearby academy of which teaches carpentry to the out-of-work.
The hotel has partnered with food-wastage apps to share perfectly edible but leftover produce from the cafe. And when the refit began, the architect and interior designer worked with the Globechain marketplace to redistribute unneeded pieces and reduce landfill waste.
How does it look? Banish all thoughts of hessian, it’s stylishly serene. Step inside and the decor of blues and greys and tactile fabrics are undoubtedly calming. Bespoke joinery is reminiscent of the original Georgian architecture and mixed with contemporary touches such as light-flooding sky lights and Scandi-chic furniture.
Tell me more about the health and fitness. Free early-morning meditation sessions are offered to guests or you may choose to start the day with an hour’s guided nature walk in nearby Hyde Park – few things beat it on a bright, crisp day in London.
Morning and evening yoga and Pilates classes are held in the hotel, instructors coming from renowned studios such as Tri Yoga. A “meditation pod” is due to land any day now, so guests can listen to guided meditations inside a cocoon-like structure. Already up and running is an Infrared sauna, the many health-promoting benefits of which are said to include weight loss.