There’s nothing quite like Fitzrovia on a sunny afternoon. In the heart of London, just north of Soho and a mere five minutes away from the tourist traps of Oxford Street, is a neighborhood that still feels like a neighborhood, despite being in the thrum of central London. Every corner is a testament to the multicultural delights of this city, full of vibrant art, food and fashion. Many nights in my early twenties were spent in Fitzrovia, a short walk from Condé Nast’s then-home of Vogue House, blurry and buzzing with excitement. It is that exact feeling that The Newman has captured. The promise of a night extending because too much fun is being had; of London glamour, polished but not stuffy; a sense of community, eccentricity and individualism celebrated.

It’s the first hotel for the British hospitality brand Kinsfolk & Co., founded by Paul Brackley, and has been over three years in the making. Good things, it seems, are once again worth the wait.

Why book?

Because The Newman feels like a hotel that London has been waiting for. Every corner is a beautiful Art Deco-inspired backdrop; there’s a bar that’s worth visiting even for non-hotel guests; a restaurant that’s inviting; wellness offerings that compete with countryside retreats; and the feeling that it’s always been part of Fitzrovia, so naturally it slots into the area.

If I were forced to pick just one reason to book The Newman, it would have to be the design by Pernille Lind and Richy Almond of Lind + Almond, which is the pièce de résistance. The duo have artfully captured the history of Fitzrovia’s golden years, with real people’s stories woven throughout in subtle and tasteful ways. Take Nancy Cunard, once Fitzrovia’s bohemian queen, whose iconic bangles and polka dots subtly permeate the design narrative. This ethos carries through to the photography, with Rory Langdon-Down commissioned to capture Fitzrovia’s heart: the people. The black-and-white images show busy local newsagents, fashionable characters and local business owners. Illustrations across the hotel have a similar motive, such as the linocuts by Christopher Brown depicting the likes of Edith Sitwell and Nancy Cunard.

All these details ensure the hotel does not feel parachuted in, but rather designed to appeal as much to Londoners as to visitors.

Set the scene

The Newman sits on its namesake street, slipping neatly into Fitzrovia’s understated streetscape. The welcome is slick but unfussy, and as the smiling staff usher you inside, the ground floor unfolds as an open, fluid space—part lounge, part brasserie, part bar—humming gently throughout the day as people work, lunch and gossip. The atmosphere was already alive during my visit, as the first guest to stay overnight. As evening sets in, the lighting deepens and the downstairs bar, The Gambit, fills with music, laughter and strong cocktails.

The backstory

The Newman is the first hotel from Kinsfolk & Co., a London-based hospitality management company founded in 2023 with a long-term, conscientious approach to growth. The design is led by Pernille Lind and Richy Almond of Lind + Almond, whose work is known for its worldly eclecticism and attention to detail, and draws design elements from Copenhagen.

Here, however, the inspiration is deeply local. Fitzrovia’s architectural mix (Victorian bones with Art Deco flourishes) forms the backbone of the interiors, alongside references to the area’s golden age between the 1920s and 1950s, when artists, writers and intellectuals filled its pubs and studios.

The rooms

The Newman has 81 rooms, suites and apartments, striking a balance between calm and character. Colors are muted and grounding—think deep greens, warm reds and rich timber – while stainless steel accents nod quietly to Art Deco glamour. The result is restful but never bland.

I was lucky enough to stay in the penthouse suite. Truthfully, “lucky” feels like an inadequate description of the experience. It’s sprawling, the size of my flat, if not bigger, and that’s before you step out onto the 1400-square-foot private terrace. The terrace is an undeniable highlight and novelty, with a Brass Monkey cold plunge and sauna overlooking London’s skyline. You are completely private yet feel atop the city. With The Shard glittering in the background, I looped between hot and cold, not even having to go back inside to shower, as the sauna has its own.

The suite features a living room, dining room, bathroom, powder room, dressing room, guest cloakroom, private bar, dining table for up to eight guests, and a leather-topped writing desk. There’s a minibar (with adaptogenic mushroom coffee powder, because why not), but the penthouse, and other rooms, also include a wellness minibar, stocked with products such as Kloris sleep-time patches and sleep oil from Anatomē, designed to ensure you wake more rested than you ever have before. The emperor-sized bed certainly helps.

Bathrooms across the suites are particularly thoughtful, inspired by the neighborhood’s distinctive architectural details. Bespoke tiles and stone-carved vanities reference Fitzrovia’s Victorian architecture.

Food and drink

Food and drink are central to The Newman’s identity, with two venues opening as part of the hotel. Brasserie Angelica is an all-day European brasserie designed to feel like a true neighborhood fixture. The menu focuses on familiar comfort dishes, gently reworked with Northern European influences and techniques such as curing and smoking. If I can implore you to try just one thing, let it be the goats’ cheese gougères.

The dining room is light-filled and generous in size, with staff who genuinely seem to love being there. Everyone we met had a menu highlight they couldn’t stop raving about. Breakfast at Brasserie Angelica follows the same approach: no buffet, but an à la carte menu of classics, alongside surprises like a potato rosti topped with egg and fermented chili. The wellness focus continues here, too, with turmeric juice and a range of nourishing breakfast options.

Downstairs, Gambit Bar offers a more intimate escape. Inspired by classic bars around the world, it champions carefully crafted cocktails that are rich and pack a punch. Although the space feels classic, the drinks are inventive. I had the Original Set, reminiscent of a Pornstar Martini, clarified with brioche milk. Equal attention is paid to low- and no-alcohol options, alongside local craft beers and a concise list of bar snacks. Regular events—including DJ nights, sober socials and chess evenings—give the space its personality.

Wellness

Ahh, the spa. I’ve been thinking about it ever since, willing myself to teleport. Tucked below ground, the wellness floor includes a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, ice-relaxation room and active salt therapy rooms, alongside treatment spaces and a gym with round-the-clock access. Like the rest of the hotel, it delivers luxury without feeling inaccessible.

The products used are by the local brand Kloris, as well as Nuori and Moss of the Isles—all perfect for my sensitive, fussy skin. Before my facial, I was welcomed with a lavender-infused hot towel and punchy ginger tea; small touches that always elevate a hotel experience for me. They make you understand the people who have designed the experience, and exactly how they want you to feel.

Eco effort

Kinsfolk & Co.’s long-term mindset underpins the hotel’s approach, with an emphasis on operating responsibly and contributing positively to the local community. The Newman positions itself as a conscientious business that aims to add to Fitzrovia rather than detract from it, socially, culturally and operationally.

Accessibility

The hotel has been designed with accessibility in mind, including step-free access to public areas and adapted rooms. Guests with specific requirements are encouraged to contact the hotel directly to ensure the most suitable accommodation.