Understated and unbelievably stylish for its rates, the Pilgrim sits opposite Paddington station, where the tube zooms into central London, trains chug commuters in from all over, and the Heathrow Express zips passengers to the airport in 15 minutes. It’s winning in the convenience stakes, but surprisingly also in design. The building’s Victorian character has been keenly preserved amid a colossal revamp, and most of it, from the modish furniture to the elegant parquet floor, has been upcycled. And scattered across its cavernous spaces and light-filled room is a smattering of ever-changing art, deftly curated for the cool crowd that descends on this hip, community-focused hub.
