The Thousands

Flinders Street and Carnaby Street couldn’t be much more different. One was the scene of mid-20th century beatnik and arts culture, 200 years of rampant sex industry, home to the Sex Pistols for a time, and the site of The Rolling Stones first every show. The other is a broad thoroughfare with nothing much more than a Christian College, a Baptist Church, and the Clarion Hotel Soho that is upping the arty.

With a little untrained gawking you’ll notice some architectural teasers to what is inside – a pool splashing at the upper floor window, the wooden touches, tiny restaurant Decant. Once inside, you’ll appreciate it front to back. I found a Tolemeo Micro at my desk, the great Nonno of desk lamps. I played with it for hours.

While my fabrics are thrift, the touches of Missoni are nice. Every micro-detail just ‘clicks’, from the tapware to the iPod dock, the balcony doors to the stylish furnishings. The Soho doesn’t deal in hollow design bombast but rather practical and meaningful comfort, in the way any boutique ‘art hotel’ should be.  Sure it isn’t THE Soho (LDN) but Flinders Street is just a 5 minute walk from the East End.