In the heart of one of London’s busiest neighbourhoods lies a place of peace, offering a step-change to the pace of city life. Just minutes from Paddington Station, Inhabit, Queen’s Gardens offers an antidote to the bustle. This calm, design-led hotel quietly champions mindfulness and sustainability in equal measure.
Set across a crescent of 19th-century townhouses, this boutique hotel is a stylish, consciously designed space, inviting guests to pause and reset. Step inside and you’re greeted by soft light, natural texture and a general feeling of calm. The aesthetic blends Scandinavian minimalism with a British townhouse charm.
Inhabit Entrance lobby
It’s also a beacon for conscious travellers. Inhabit is a certified B Corporation, an accreditation which means it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. It was the first hotel group in the UK to achieve this status when its sister site on Southwick Street became certified in 2022, with Queen’s Gardens following in 2023.
This is a sanctuary for thoughtful travellers. Wellness seekers, solo adventurers and couples looking for something slower-paced will find a natural fit here. Business guests, too, especially those weary from meetings and screen heavy days, are likely to appreciate the serenity of the space. With a wellness programme, spaces for digital detox, and a central but quiet location, it offers a gentle space to unwind after a packed city schedule.
Though the hotel’s ambience remains restful and largely adult-focused, we stayed as a family and found our children warmly welcomed. This isn’t a place of high energy, so it would generally be suited to families with older children or those already interested in yoga and mindfulness.
Inhabit Cozy Bed
Inhabit bedroom
There are 158 rooms at the Queen’s Gardens hotel. Each one is a gentle blend of clean lines, muted tones and well-thought-out design. The smallest rooms are compact but functional, while the larger categories and suites offer more generous layouts.
Family partition
Our family of two adults, three children, stayed in fabulous interconnecting rooms. The rooms make use of every inch of space and are really well thought-out. Suitcases can be stashed in special slots under beds, the desks are positioned to be close to natural light, and the beds are so comfortable. There are meditation and podcast suggestions to help you focus on unwinding and getting a more restful night’s sleep.
Commitment to sustainability is visible throughout the hotel. Decor comes from local artists. Furniture is made by Goldfinger, a social enterprise that uses reclaimed wood and provides training for marginalised communities. Toiletries are by Skandinavisk, another certified B Corp with an emphasis on responsible production. Toilet paper is by Cheeky Panda, made from sustainable bamboo. Even the flooring is responsibly sourced – EGE’s ReForm collection, made from fishing nets, bottles and discarded carpet fibres.
Dining is thoughtful and nourishing. Filtered water is available in-room and can be refilled on every floor. It’s provided by Belu, which donates 100 per cent of its net profits to WaterAid. Minibar snacks are curated by Social Supermarket, which sources from environmentally and socially responsible brands.
Yeotown restaurant, which is on the ground floor of the hotel, serves plant-rich, seasonal dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s no dairy or meat on the menu, but honestly, you don’t miss it. There are also excellent vegan choices and many dishes are gluten-free. We enjoyed the excellent breakfasts, with pancakes, waffles, smashed avocado on toast, or even Yeotown’s twist on an English Breakfast. They have a great range of drinks from fresh juices to adaptogenic mushroom lattes (try the mushroom turmeric, it’s delicious).
Dinner is a wonderful treat and really satisfying with hearty favourites such as Thai green curry, grilled seabass or salmon, and sweet potato gnocchi. The hotel has an excellent wine list and also offers conscious cocktails and mocktails. The Zen With In cocktail is a tequila-and-cointreau-based explosion on the senses – it’s difficult to have just one! Guests with special dietary needs are well catered for.
For a hotel in the heart of the city, Inhabit has made impressive use of space. The Inhale at Inhabit wellness centre includes a small but serene spa, infrared sauna, salt room, fitness area and yoga studio.
Inhale studio
Guests can book therapies using GAIA Skincare products, or take part in guided meditation and mindfulness sessions, some complimentary. Elsewhere in the hotel, there are quiet lounges, a well-curated library, and well-lit workspaces. Communal areas are tech-light by design, but the hotel also offers free wifi throughout.
How much
Rooms start from around £180 per night in low season, rising to around £300 or more for larger rooms or during busy periods. Breakfast can be included depending on the package, and guests are encouraged to explore additional treatments or experiences during their stay.
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Inhabit Queen’s Gardens is perfectly placed for both calm and convenience. Paddington Station is a short walk away, offering access to the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth Line and multiple Tube lines. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are close by for morning walks – our children loved exploring the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground and generally exploring the Royal Park. A collection of local cafes and independent shops are close by and the area is well served by buses for travel into Central London.
The post Inhabit Hotel review, Queen’s Gardens, London appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
WotanCraft recently upgraded their lineup of Rider Sling Bags, and the new V2 series is another homerun. WotanCraft always combines optimized functionality with handsome styling and extreme comfort, and the Rider V2 Series is no exception. Shutterbug had a chance to put a 4.5L Mini Rider, the smallest in the series, through the wringer. Here’s our report.
Rider V2 Sling Bags come in three sizes: 13L (Liter), 10L and 4.5L, and two colors (black and khaki). The original Rider bags were designed with cyclists in mind. The V2 series comprise features that enhance security and comfort during vigorous activities—like biking, climbing and navigating the urban landscape. Constructed of 500D (Denier) nylon canvas, they’re equipped with YKK zippers (the best), Fidlock clasps, super-strong nylon 6,6 thread and medical-grade microfiber lining. In other words, WotanCraft Rider V2 Series Sling Bags are built to last, to say the least.
Key Features of the WotanCraft Rider V2 Series Sling Bags
· Expandable design
· Water repellent 500D nylon canvas construction
· Ultra-strength bonded Nylon 6,6 thread
· Medical-grade durable, scratch-free microfiber lining
· Cotton fabric interior
· 3-point security with stabilizing strap
· High-density EVA foam padding (rear panel)
· YKK rust-resistant electroplated zippers
· Fidlock buckles for speed & added security
· “Battle-distressed” vegetable-tanned cowhide leather trim
How Big is a Liter?
Bag manufacturers typically specify the cubic volume of their products in liters (L), and sometimes incorporate the approximate liter volume in the name or model number of the bag. In this context, one liter equals 61.02 cubic inches. An object 4 x 4 x 4 inches has a volume of 64 cubic inches. A traditional kitchen/bath tile is roughly 4 inches square. These facts may help you visualize the sizes mentioned here, but mentally translating dimensions into irregularly-shaped containers can be a challenge.
Virtual Tour
The WotanCraft Mini Rider V2 Sling Bag is expandable. Simply unsnap the secure Fidlock clasp on the front strap and watch it grow. Naturally, the 4.5L does not expand as much as the larger sizes. Also protected by the front strap is a hidden zippered pocket that’s perfect for lens caps and large enough for a smartphone. The front of the bag and zipper pulls are trimmed in what WotanCraft describes as “battle-distressed” vegetable-tanned cowhide leather. There are no side pockets, but there’s a zippered pocket on the back a bit larger than the pocket in the front.
The main storage compartment is secured by a two-way zipper that extends nearly to the bottom on either side. That makes it easier to retrieve the contents and is especially helpful on smaller bags like this one.
Inside, on the back wall, we find a padded sleeve-type pouch suitable for a small tablet. In front of that lies a third zippered pocket. The bag interior is lined with soft microfiber that’s scratch-free and includes removable, multi-fold dividers, one large and one small.
The WotanCraft Mini Rider V2 Sling Bag weighs a wee 18 ounces (510g), light enough to carry all day without fatigue. Oh—I almost forgot—there’s also a padded Grab Handle on top, which comes in handy if you stuff the bag between the car seats as I sometimes do.
In the Field
I packed my Hyper Color IR-only Olympus PEN E-P5 (specially modified by Lifepixel) with Panasonic Lumix 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens plus another lens in the 4.5L-size WotanCraft Mini Rider V2 Sling Bag and headed out on a short trek that took me to a nature preserve, downtown shopping area, grocery store and a couple other places. The smaller size was perfect for this outing and equipment assortment. The shoulder strap was easy to adjust, and the bag was very comfortable throughout.
The stabilizing strap (or you might call it an “underarm strap”) took me a minute to properly configure, but once set it allowed me to walk briskly with zero bag-flopping. It would have stayed in place if I had been running, too, but every time I get the urge to jog I lie down until the urge fades away.
BTW, Life Pixel Infrared, referenced above, is a premier place to buy an IR-only camera or to have your camera converted. But way above and beyond that, their website is a literal treasure-trove of tutorials, detailed explanations and other information useful for anyone interested in any form of IR photography. If you have an itch to learn about IR, their site is your destination.
WotanCraft Upgrades Already HOT Pilot Photo Bags
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How to Shoot Mind-Bending Infrared Digital Photos with a Modified Camera
Conclusion
The WotanCraft Mini Rider V2 Sling Bags deserve a close look if you’re in the market for a great looking bag that’s heavy on features and built to last. If, like me, you often head out with a camera around your neck and two or three lenses in a shoulder bag, the 4.5L may be just what you’re looking for.
Price & Availability
WotanCraft Rider V2 Series Sling Bags can be ordered directly from WotanCraft in classic black canvas or khaki brown canvas. WotanCraft products are covered by a 3-year free repair warranty. International shipping is free, but duty and tariff charges may apply.
• WotanCraft Mini Rider V2 4.5L Sling Bag costs $169.
• WotanCraft Easy Rider V2 10L Sling Bag is priced at $239.
• WotanCraft Lightning Rider V2 13L Sling Bag sells for $269.
WotanCraft Gear for Cameras, Watches & Cyclers
In addition to exceptional bags for camera equipment, WotanCraft manufactures neck and wrist straps, straps for wristwatches, and a full lineup of bags optimized for bicycle riders (including the new Pioneer Mini Basket Bag). WotanCraft uses top-quality materials only, and many of the fabrication processes are done by hand. Some of their wrist and neck straps include models compatible with popular Peak Design Anchor Links. Hands down, WotanCraft’s are the best looking bags we’ve seen, and we’ve seen hundreds.
BONUS CONTENT: How to Choose a Camera Bag
How does one decide the best camera bag for their individual needs? In an article we ran a couple years back (link here) we listed 10 characteristics to consider when determining the right camera bag for you. This approach might also suggest some options you never thought about. The list is arranged in no particular order because what’s important to me may not be important to you at all, which is a significant fact of life when camera bag shopping. And remember, all camera bags and photo backpacks are compromises, another reason many of us own more than one. Or two. Or, okay, a bunch.
—Jon Sienkiewicz
