Living like a local: A sustainable stay at room2 Chiswick the city’s first hometel
This article was first published in AccomNews July 25
During my recent travels through Europe and the UK, I had the opportunity to stay at one of London’s most innovative and eco-conscious accommodation offerings: room2 Chiswick, the city’s first hometel.
Here, I enjoyed a cosy and comfortable three-day stay. The room2 hometels brand aims to combine “the comfort and flexibility of home with the best bits of a hotel experience.” room2 Chiswick is also the first hometel in London inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, celebrating local artists and handcrafted design.
Developed by brothers Robert and Stuart Godwin in 2015 and branded as the UK’s first net-zero hotel, the property claims that 100 percent of carbon emissions from conception through to end-of-life have been reduced and rebalanced to zero. It’s also said to be the first hotel in the world to do so, emitting 87 percent less carbon than most hotels. All energy used is generated from renewable resources, with power sourced from geothermal systems below ground and solar panels on the roof.
The plant-covered green roof promotes biodiversity, improves insulation for the building, and provides a home for insects. Beneath it is a blue roof, which catches and retains up to 50,000 litres of rainwater, slowly releasing it to the drainage system to reduce the risk of local flooding. There are also 75,000 bees in rooftop hives, supporting biodiversity in the area while producing unique, local honey. The hotel is single-use plastic free, sends zero waste to landfill, and is ultra energy efficient.
So how was my stay with all this sustainability in mind?
Check-in was mostly done online, with a very swift arrival process at the “reception,” which consisted of a laptop setup on a counter at the side of the entrance. The guest corridors are quite dark, with motion detectors switching on lighting as you proceed to the room.
The room itself was small without feeling cramped, thanks to thoughtful design. There’s clever seating under the window, with a bench seat that makes the most of the space. A smart, fully equipped kitchenette includes every utensil you’d need to cook your own dinner. I also loved the wire noticeboard on the entry wall, it’s a simple, effective way to keep guests informed about what’s going on.
The rubbish and recycling setup is impressive, with three separate bins and a clear zero-waste-to-landfill policy. A particularly smart touch was the empty glass bottle for milk. Guests simply choose their preferred type of milk and pick it up from the bar downstairs. There’s also a lovely basket of games in the room—a fun, homely detail.
Guests have access to a fully equipped laundry and gym, and food and beverage offerings are available at the on-site restaurant and bar. Breakfast was delicious, with plenty of tasty local options. The F&B team also handles check-ins, check-outs, and any guest requests, adding to the relaxed, seamless vibe.
Sister properties include Belfast, Southampton and Hammersmith, with plans to grow the group to 5000 keys by 2030.
Final thoughts?
room2 Chiswick makes it easy to feel good about where you stay, not just because it’s comfortable and convenient, but because it’s genuinely trying to do better for the planet. For travellers looking for a more mindful, homely and design-led experience in London, this is a little gem that ticks all the boxes.
