NoMad London — The Complete Guide to Covent Garden's Most Iconic Hotel
Inside the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court, directly opposite the Royal Opera House.
4.5/5 on TripAdvisor · Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice 2023 & 2024 · CNT Hot List 2022
A Victorian courthouse, reimagined
NoMad London is a Sydell Group conversion of the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court and Police Station — a Grade II listed building standing directly opposite the Royal Opera House. Now part of Hilton's LXR Hotels & Resorts collection, it offers Hilton Honors members one of the most rewarding premium redemptions in the capital.
The numbers tell part of the story: 91 rooms and 16 suites, a three-storey glass atrium housing the award-recognised Twenty8 NoMad restaurant, and over 800 square metres of event space anchored by a former courtroom. Rated 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor and recognised by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards in both 2023 and 2024, the hotel has earned its accolades through genuinely exceptional service and an atmosphere that's impossible to replicate.
'A conversion so considered, so theatrically executed, that the building's turbulent history feels woven into every corridor, every bar stool, and every velvet-draped bedroom.'
This guide covers everything you need before you book: the history, the rooms, dining at Twenty8 NoMad, the Katie England spa residency, private events, honest guest feedback — and the practical details that other reviews leave out.
From Bow Street courtroom to Covent Garden hotel
The building at 28 Bow Street has been dispensing justice since the mid-18th century. The original magistrates' court was established here in 1740, with the novelist and magistrate Henry Fielding among its most notable early occupants — also the man who created the Bow Street Runners in 1749, widely regarded as London's first organised police force. The current Victorian building dates from 1879 and served as an active magistrates' court until 2006.
The cast of defendants who passed through is extraordinary. Oscar Wilde was charged here in 1895 — proceedings that eventually led to his imprisonment. Emmeline Pankhurst appeared before Bow Street magistrates multiple times during her campaign for women's votes. The Kray Twins were remanded here during their 1969 murder trial. Even Vivienne Westwood found herself in the dock. The cells beneath the building — now preserved as part of an on-site museum — held all of them.
Walking past those thick iron doors today, knowing who once sat behind them, is genuinely arresting. It's one of the most unusual things you can do in a central London hotel, and it costs nothing beyond the price of your room.
'Walking past those thick iron doors today, knowing who once sat behind them, is genuinely arresting.'
The Roman and Williams vision
When Andrew Zobler, founder of the Sydell Group, acquired the site, the challenge wasn't simply converting a disused courthouse into a hotel — it was honouring a building that carries genuine historical weight without turning it into a theme park. The Sydell Group had already proven they could handle that brief: the original NoMad New York opened in 2012 in a landmark building on Broadway, establishing the brand's reputation for serious design, exceptional food and drink, and an atmosphere that felt more like a private members' club than a conventional hotel.
At Bow Street, the solution was surgical restraint combined with moments of drama. The courtyard was sunk by several feet to create the soaring atrium that now houses Twenty8 NoMad restaurant — a move that required engineering precision and no small amount of ambition. The original Magistrates' Courtroom was preserved and reimagined as the Magistrates' Ballroom, with a cloudscape mural painted by scenic artists from the Royal Opera House directly across the street.
Interior design was entrusted to Roman and Williams — the New York studio behind Ace Hotels and, more recently, the British Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their approach was to treat the building as a living archaeological site: layering antiques, bespoke textiles and art objects that feel accumulated over time rather than installed all at once. Studio be-poles collaborated on art and antiques curation, sourcing pieces that sit in dialogue with the building's legal heritage.
Rooms & Suites — understated luxury with a residential soul
NoMad London offers 91 rooms and 16 suites across several categories. Roman and Williams' fingerprints are all over the rooms: velvet headboards, mohair throws, damask wallcoverings, brass hardware, and vintage chandeliers create an atmosphere that's unmistakably deliberate — but never fussy. The rooms feel lived-in rather than staged.
In-room details matter here: Dyson hairdryers rather than the usual hotel-issue alternatives, plush robes and slippers, bespoke stationery, and welcome treats on arrival. None individually earth-shattering, but together they signal a hotel that's paying attention.
| Room Type | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Room | £350–£450/night | Solo travellers, short stays |
| Deluxe Room | £450–£600/night | Couples, longer stays |
| Junior Suite | £600–£850/night | Couples or business travellers |
| Signature Suite | £850–£1,200+/night | Special occasions |
| Royal Opera Suite | POA | Romantic stays, opera-goers |
| Magistrates' Suite | POA | History enthusiasts |
Prices are approximate, vary by season and availability, and are best confirmed via Hilton.com.
Twenty8 NoMad, the Library Bar and the Magistrates' Bar
Twenty8 NoMad occupies a three-storey glass atrium — the space created when the original courtyard was sunk during the building's conversion. The effect is somewhere between a Victorian greenhouse and a Parisian brasserie. In the evening, the whole space takes on a warm, candlelit glow that makes it one of the more romantic dining rooms in central London.
The culinary philosophy is casually elegant: seasonal British produce, handled with confidence. Signature dishes include Steak Frites (which appears on virtually every positive review), seared scallops with fennel, and rotating seasonal tasting menus. A practical warning: Twenty8 NoMad books out weeks in advance. Make a reservation before you arrive in London.
The Library Bar is moody, intimate and lined with books in the way that actually means something. The cocktail programme reflects the NoMad brand's legendary reputation in this area — Leo Robitschek, the head bartender behind the original NoMad New York bar programme, is the author of The NoMad Cocktail Book, a James Beard Award-winning publication. The Magistrates' Bar offers a darker, more dramatic atmosphere and is particularly well-suited to pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap after an evening at the Opera House.
Breakfast is made-to-order rather than buffet — eggs Benedict, pastries, seasonal fruit, full English options. For Hilton Diamond members, breakfast is complimentary, which at London hotel prices represents genuine value.
Katie England spa residency
NoMad London's spa offering is built around an exclusive residency partnership with Katie England — one of the most respected names in luxury wellness. Rather than operating a generic in-house spa, the hotel has brought in a practitioner with a genuinely distinctive approach: treatments that are bespoke by design, rooted in a philosophy of transformation rather than routine relaxation. The treatment menu covers bespoke facials and holistic body treatments, each tailored to the individual rather than pulled from a standard menu.
The Katie England spa is open to both hotel guests and London day visitors. Bookings are recommended well in advance, particularly at weekends.
Here's where honesty matters: NoMad London has a gym on-site, but it's a basic facility rather than a dedicated fitness centre. Guests with serious training requirements are typically directed toward nearby gyms in Holborn or Covent Garden. There is also no swimming pool. For many guests at a hotel of this character, that's not a significant consideration — but if a pool is a non-negotiable, it's better to know now than to discover it on arrival.
The Magistrates' Ballroom and 800+ sqm of event space
The original magistrates' courtroom — where Oscar Wilde, Emmeline Pankhurst, and the Kray Twins all faced charges — is now the Magistrates' Ballroom. It retains its historic grandeur and has been enhanced with a dramatic cloudscape mural painted by scenic artists from the Royal Opera House. The ballroom can be accessed via the original courtroom entrance on Bow Street, creating an arrival experience that's difficult to replicate anywhere else in the capital.
Across the hotel, NoMad London offers over 800 square metres of adaptable event space — including the Magistrates' Ballroom, two adjacent private dining rooms, a dedicated bar, and the option to use the Twenty8 NoMad atrium for large private gatherings.
The space suits a wide range of event types: corporate dinners, product launches, board meetings, private parties, and weddings. The heritage setting does a significant amount of the atmospheric work — which means you can often achieve a more memorable result for less decorative spend than you might in a blank-canvas venue.
Location & getting there
28 Bow Street, Covent Garden — directly opposite the Royal Opera House. Covent Garden tube (Piccadilly line) is approximately a two-minute walk; Charing Cross mainline station is also within easy walking distance. For those arriving by air, Heathrow is approximately 50 minutes by Piccadilly line — a direct connection, given that Covent Garden is on the same line.
There is no dedicated hotel parking. The nearest NCP car parks are on Parker Street and Drury Lane, both under ten minutes on foot. Covent Garden sits within the Congestion Charge zone — plan ahead if driving into central London.
Covent Garden on your doorstep
Within a ten-minute walk: the West End theatre district (the Royal Opera House is directly opposite), Somerset House, the Strand, Trafalgar Square, and the Thames Embankment. Seven Dials and Neal's Yard are five minutes away. Dishoom Covent Garden on Upper St Martin's Lane is a five-minute walk and one of London's most consistently enjoyable all-day restaurants — book ahead. The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House — one of the finest small art collections in Europe — is a ten-minute walk along the Strand. For theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, the Lyceum, and the Adelphi are all within a ten-to-fifteen minute walk.
Hilton Honors redemption — running the numbers
As an LXR property, NoMad London typically requires 95,000–150,000 Hilton Honors points per night, depending on dates, room category, and dynamic pricing. Against cash rates of £350–£600 for Classic or Deluxe rooms, redemptions can work out around 0.5p per point — broadly in line with what experienced Hilton points collectors target as a benchmark for premium properties.
The 5th-night-free benefit means a five-night points booking costs the equivalent of four. Diamond members receive complimentary breakfast and upgrade consideration. Off-peak periods — January, February, mid-week autumn — often favour cash; peak periods (Christmas, New Year, summer weekends, major events) often favour points. The Hilton Honors app shows dynamic points pricing in real time alongside cash rates.
How NoMad London compares
| NoMad London | The Savoy | One Aldwych | Rosewood London | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | Bow Street | Strand, 5 min walk | Strand, 5 min walk | High Holborn, further |
| Scale | Intimate boutique | Larger, grand-dame | Smaller boutique | Broader facilities |
| Pool | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hilton Honors | Yes (LXR) | No | No | No |
| Differentiator | Courthouse heritage, cells museum, Twenty8 atrium | Classic opulence, name recognition | 1907 banking hall, art & design | Edwardian palace conversion |
The verdict, honestly
4.5/5
TripAdvisor · 211 reviews
#408
of 1,199 London Hotels
2023 & 2024
Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice
What guests consistently praise
Staff described as attentive, warm, and — perhaps most importantly — unpretentious. Luxury hotels can sometimes make formality undermine comfort; NoMad London, by most accounts, gets this balance right. In-room details are frequently mentioned by name: Dyson hairdryers, plush robes and slippers, welcome treats, bespoke stationery. And the atmosphere of the building itself — multiple guests describe a moment of genuine awe on first walking into the atrium or discovering the preserved cells.
Honest criticisms
The corridors. The hotel's layout — an unavoidable legacy of its courthouse origins — is labyrinthine in places. Guests occasionally report getting turned around, particularly on first arrival. Once you've found your bearings, it's not an issue. The gym is basic, and guests with serious training requirements should plan for nearby alternatives. Service at Twenty8 NoMad tends toward the unhurried — consistently mentioned in reviews, and consistently not a dealbreaker for the majority, but worth noting if you're time-constrained.
Who NoMad London is best suited for
Design-conscious travellers who want a hotel that's genuinely worth looking at. Couples seeking a romantic central London base. Foodies drawn by Twenty8 NoMad's kitchen and the Library Bar's cocktail programme. Theatre-goers — the Royal Opera House is literally opposite, and the West End is on foot. Hilton Honors members calculating a premium LXR redemption. History enthusiasts who will appreciate the building's remarkable past.
Frequently asked
Yes. NoMad London is part of Hilton's LXR Hotels & Resorts collection — Hilton's portfolio of independent luxury hotels that retain their individual identity while offering Hilton Honors benefits. You can book via Hilton.com, earn and redeem Hilton Honors points, and enjoy loyalty status benefits including Diamond member breakfast and upgrade consideration.
The verdict
A singular Covent Garden hotel
NoMad London is a masterclass in what happens when a building's history is treated as an asset rather than an obstacle. Exceptional service, theatrical design, world-class dining at Twenty8 NoMad, and a Covent Garden address that puts the best of central London within walking distance. The practical limitations are real but minor — no pool, a basic gym, and corridors that take a visit or two to master.