Art is Alive - When in London: stay at the elegant and discreet Grand Hotel Bellevue

In its article "When in London: stay at the elegant and discreet Grand Hotel Bellevue", Art is Alive presents the Grand Hotel Bellevue London.

‍

At the intersection of London’s history and culture lies Paddington, a neighbourhood once home to British painter Lucian Freud, whose studio stood nearby, and Charles Dickens’s favourite pub, a place steeped in stories. Its grand train station, a triumph of Victorian engineering, continues to connect worlds.

Amid its leafy streets and Georgian façades, the Grand Hotel Bellevue London stands out as a meeting point between eras, where timeless elegance meets contemporary flair. The property marks Lignée Hotels’ debut in the United Kingdom and introduces a singular vision of hospitality: refined, personal, and practical. Just a two-minute walk from Paddington Station, it is the perfect arrival point for those stepping into central London.

Set within two elegant Victorian townhouses overlooking peaceful Norfolk Square, the hotel exudes the warmth and comfort of an English home, reinterpreted through a modern lens.

“This neighbourhood has layers of heritage, art, and contrast,” says Lucas Beguinot, CEO of Lignée Hotels Group, with the reverence of a local historian. “It resonates with our philosophy: respectful of the past but forward-looking. I define Paddington as the true centre of London, bordered by Notting Hill to the west, Little Venice to the north, Marylebone, Mayfair and the West End to the east, and Hyde Park, South Kensington and Chelsea to the south. It’s a vibrant intersection of identities.”

In this richly textured context, the hotel’s location becomes a statement of design and prestige, a bridge between London’s historic fabric and its tourism pulse. The beauty of the Grand Hotel Bellevue and its Pondicherry Bar makes you want to pause.

Milanese Architect Fabrizio Casiraghi has designed each space as an oasis, where ageless lines engage in quiet dialogue with modern gestures, and craftsmanship takes centrestage. Known for his residential, exhibition, hospitality and restaurant projects across the world, Casiraghi has cultivated a style that is deeply tactile and distinctive. Soft-spoken, the designer has left his mark on some of the world’s most elegant interiors, from Athens to New York, Miami to Hong Kong. His talent has not gone unnoticed. Casiraghi was named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list of the world’s top interior designers and architects for 2025, and recently won the Wallpaper Design Award for Best Social Hub for The Wilde Club in Milan. “We chose Fabrizio Casiraghi, whose work I deeply admire. He brought narrative depth to the space, avoiding clichés and creating a homey sophistication. This is not a showroom, it’s a place with a soul.” Lucas Beguinot said.

The Grand Hotel Bellevue occupies two Victorian townhouses, painstakingly restored to honour their heritage while introducing a layered, modern sensibility. Upon arrival, the reception sets the tone: a mix of bespoke furniture and vintage finds that hold as much character as the dark boiserie and bold orange hues that pulse throughout.

“Fabrizio imagined the hotel as if it were owned by an aristocratic couple, cultivated, slightly eccentric, and deeply attached to their home,” Lucas Beguinot explains. “That became our guiding thread: a refined, lived-in elegance where every object tells a story.” Guests encounter this philosophy immediately: a large communal table strewn with art magazines, BODE pyjamas artfully displayed, and a framed Union Jack hung with quiet grandeur, a nod to British heritage reinterpreted through a contemporary, punk eye.

The Pondicherry Bar, its walls adorned with bespoke exotic embroideries by BODE, welcomes guests throughout the day, from morning coffee to evening cocktails. The bar is a sensory triumph, its vibrant orange palette and sculptural wooden fruit basket.

In the rooms, a vintage spirit meets modern craftsmanship. Traditional English brocade, carpeted floors, and rich textiles are interwoven with bold touches, floral-painted carpets, colourful bathrooms, and custom dark-wood furniture paired with muted fabrics. “Some of the artistic choices were inspired by English domesticity, brocades, tartans, florals, but we played with them,” notes Casiraghi. “We wanted the spaces to feel familiar yet unexpected.”

All sixty rooms, ranging from Single to Executive, with the Grand Norfolk Suite overlooking the square, are bathed in natural light and infused with a gentle rhythm of colour. Floris London amenities bring a sense of heritage, while Davilaine beds from Brittany promise comfort to match the design’s refinement. French style meets English grandeur.

Breakfast unfolds in The Green Room, an elegant, sunlit space filled with lush sofas and thoughtful artworks. Here, every detail, from sculptural shell-shaped lamps to delicate tableware and feather-light chairs, echoes the sensibilities that run throughout the hotel. It’s a serene counterpoint to the bustle of the city outside, a place where the day begins slowly and beautifully.

Beyond aesthetics, the Grand Hotel Bellevue is an embodiment of Lignée Hotels’ philosophy, a family-run group devoted to creating experiences that are timeless, personal, and narratively rich. “With Lignée Hotels, we wanted to offer something timeless yet intimate,” says Lucas Beguinot. “A counterpoint to the more sterile hotel experiences.”

The group’s portfolio includes Le Narcisse Blanc and La Maison Favart in Paris, each expressing a different side of Parisian refinement, one serene, the other theatrical, as well as Yndo Hôtel in Bordeaux and Domaine de la Soucherie, their family wine estate near Angers, whose wines are served across all their properties. “It subtly ties everything together,” Lucas Beguinot adds, “a shared taste for terroir, elegance, and authenticity.”

Art remains central to this vision. Each piece is chosen not just for aesthetic pleasure but for its capacity to evoke emotion. “Art is layered throughout the hotel,” says Lucas Beguinot, “with works sourced from vintage markets and custom fixtures by Green River Project.”

“Comfort comes from the details. Every object is chosen to support the guest’s emotional journey.” Indeed, the result is a tactile harmony, wood, glass, and brass in constant dialogue, creating an atmosphere that feels curated yet effortlessly lived-in. Some of the latest artefacts were found locally by Frabizio itself at Portobello Road Market.

Running such a property, Lucas Beguinot notes, is “a careful dance between vision and execution.” Every detail, from staff training to budgets and design reviews, contributes to a shared atmosphere. “Each city brings its own rhythm. Some hotels have restaurants, others a spa or bar, there’s no formula. What matters is clarity of purpose.” His own routine mirrors that balance: “Between strategy meetings, creative discussions, construction, and time on-site with the team. I like to walk the hotel anonymously and feel the energy, it tells you more than any dashboard.”

Grand Hotel Bellevue attracts a diverse and cosmopolitan audience, discerning travellers, British guests seeking a refined retreat, creative professionals, and design lovers. “Our top markets are the USA, UK, France, and Australia. The repeat visits are the best sign, it means people are connecting with the spirit of the place.”

Sustainability, too, is woven seamlessly into the Grand Hotel Bellevue’s fabric. “We believe in invisible sustainability, not ostentatious gestures, but responsibility embedded in every layer”. All Lignée Hotels are in the process of obtaining Green Key certification, ensuring that luxury and responsibility coexist.

Future projects for Lignée remain selective but ambitious, new openings in France and abroad, a bakery concept, and hotels in rural or village settings. “Each project must carry meaning”.

For those seeking inspiration in London, he offers personal recommendations around Grand Hotel Bellevue: “Kew Gardens, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and hidden local gems like Rembrandt Gardens, Clifton Nurseries, and The Victoria Pub.”

Ultimately, the Grand Hotel Bellevue London is more than a destination; it’s an elegant journey. From the marvellous reception filled with books and BODE pyjamas, to the glowing Pondicherry Bar, to the tactile rooms and ultra-chic Green Room, every element reflects Lignée Hotels’ commitment to art and design. So chic!

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the NOHrD Fitness Studio is exclusively available to hotel guests by reservation. Conceived as a serene space for exercise at any hour, the studio features state-of-the-art, handcrafted equipment by NOHrD, including a wooden water rowing machine, strength-training apparatus, exercise bike, and free weights, combining innovation, design, and craftsmanship for a truly elevated workout experience.

As Lucas Beguinot concludes, “It’s the perfect balance, art, comfort, design, and location. Like the legs of a chair, they work best together.”. With attentive and discreet staff, Grand Hotel Bellevue offers the perfect stay.

The future is bright for the Lignée Hotels: “We’re exploring new openings in France and abroad, but we remain very selective. Among the exciting projects ahead: a bakery concept, and the development of hotels in countryside or village settings. Each project must carry meaning.”

Walking through the Grand Hotel Bellevue, one doesn’t merely stay in a hotel, one steps into a living, breathing story of refinement and intimate luxury. Here, Paddington reveals itself anew: not just a neighbourhood, but a wonderful location where calm and style blend.

‍

‍

Read the article here.