Marrable’s Farringdon Hotel: A Stylishly Understated Green Hotel in London’s Clerkenwell

Marrable’s Farringdon Hotel – formerly known as The Zetter Hotel – somehow feels like it’s setting the stage for the future of sustainable travel.

The boutique London hotel is located in one of London’s most creative neighbourhoods, Clerkenwell, and its focus on fashion takes centre stage.

However, under the surface, the hotel is a pioneer for sustainable stays, with a heavy focus on sustainability throughout its five floors of bedrooms and common rooms.

Even though it may just be one of the most sustainable places to stay in London, Marrable’s champions green travel in such an understated way that would make you think this is the norm (even though it isn’t).

It doesn’t make a big song and dance about it – even though it’s a selling point the hotel could boast about.

Could this kind of under-the-radar become the norm in the future, perhaps as more hotels begin to prioritise sustainable practices?

Hopefully. But for now it’s setting Marrable’s Hotel apart in London’s busy boutique hotel space.

Checking in to Marrable’s

Marrable’s Hotel is so understated that, if it weren’t for the small “M” sign hanging outside, it wouldn’t be hard to miss it.

Once you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a modest yet well-lit reception area with two desks, a few chairs and magazines, a jug of lemon water and plenty of greenery.

A quirky bike table confirms that quirky design details will be par for the course.

Check in was a breeze and it took all of a few minutes to register us and hand over two wooden (not plastic!) key cards.

In hindsight, checking in to Marrable’s Hotel laid the foundations for exactly what we could expect while staying: a subtle commitment to sustainability upstaged by quirky designs features.

Staying at Marrable’s Hotel

Marrable’s is the kind of hotel you stay at when you want to be out exploring all day and a place that you look forward to coming back to.

Unless you check in to a signature suite and want to enjoy the rooftop terrace (some with bathtubs!), there’s not much reason to stay in during the day.

And, with Farringdon station and plenty of bus stops just on your doorstep, it’s easy to get almost anywhere in London in a short time.

The local area of Clerkenwell is also well worth spending some time in if you haven’t!

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Rooms

After a day of sightseeing and exploring the UK capital, there’s nothing better than coming back to a place that feels even better than home.

The rooms at Marrable’s Hotel are really the highlight of staying here – so choose your room with this in mind!

Each is unique yet unmistakably British and pays homage to the creative neighbourhood it calls home.

The quirky details and subtle design accents – whether it’s a bold print or a geometric lamp – will make sure you don’t forget that you’re in the capital’s design district.

Meanwhile, the little luxury extras such as a free sparkling and still water, comfy robes, plus bluetooth-ready Marshall speakers in both the bedroom and the bathroom ensure you enjoy the full boutique London hotel experience.

Signature Suites

The best rooms in the house are (unsurprisingly) found on the top floor.

Offering large terraces – some with bathtubs, loungers and sofas – they immerse you in the London skyline while offering just enough peace and privacy.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offered ample light throughout our suite, while the in-floor AC/heating kept the temperature consistent.

With a desk, armchairs, hairdryer, robes, tea, coffee and several design magazines, you have everything you need for a super comfortable stay.

Amenities

Marrable’s is a relatively small property – exactly as you would expect of a boutique hotel in London.

Yet it’s one that goes big on details.

Making sure you’re prepared for all occasions, there’s an umbrella in the wardrobe, backgammon at the mini bar and even free tampons in the public toilets below the the on-site Gazette restaurant.

The toiletries in the room are both luxurious and plant-based, being from natural fragrance brand Verden. They included shampoo, conditioner, soap and moisturiser.

Dining

Marrable’s Hotel is home to one of the best-rated restaurants in Clerkenwell: Gazette.

Breakfast, when included, is offered here on an à la carte basis.

Guests of the hotel can choose one option from five different sections (hot plates, cold plates, pastries, hot drinks and juices).

The portions are well-sized and filling without letting you overindulge. They also feel very nutritious and are well-presented.

Non-residents and guests with a room-only booking can also enjoy breakfast at Gazette, but do not benefit from the residents’ breakfast offer.

Gazette continues to be open for both residents and non-residents for the rest of the day, offering some of the best French cuisine in central London.

If you want to try it, you can also order food from Gazette directly to your hotel room at Marrable’s!

Sustainability

The reason I chose to stay at Marrable’s was because of its heavy focus on sustainability.

I always look for eco stays in order to reduce my travel footprint, but it can be hard in big cities like London.

Yet at Marrable’s, it’s clear the team is committed – they even have a “Green Team” that meets once a month to talk about their eco-friendly initiatives!

These include small, every day things that make a big difference, such as using very little plastic, recycling 80% of waste, using LED lights and using local produce.

TIP: If you want to reduce your own impact, pack a refillable water bottle (you can drink the tap water in London!) and a reusable bag like this to cut back on plastic.

Then there are the bigger things, such as the underground borehole which is used to flush all the toilets and cool the rooms!

And this isn’t just another hotel jumping on a trend. It’s clear that the hoteliers behind Marrable’s really do care because the attention to detail goes back before the hotel opened.

For example, timber used to construct the hotel is sustainably sourced and painted with eco-friendly paints, while rooms were designed with upgraded internal glazing and passive ventilation to reduce energy usage throughout.

It’s not always easy to find boutique hotels that prioritise sustainability, so Marrable’s was a pleasant surprise.

Something I really loved about it was that sustainability is at the heart of this hotel – yet the average guest wouldn’t necessarily know.

It puts sustainability first without making a song and dance about it, choosing instead to highlight its design DNA and the luxury experience offered.

The eco initiatives, despite being at the forefront of everything, appear almost like an after thought (in a very good way), showing that you don’t need to choose between aesthetics and ethics.