The entire hotel has a psychedelic vibe that effortlessly blends antique charm with modern flair, but each guest room, with decor hand-picked by Kit Kemp, has a singular flavor.

Despite its memorable name, the Ham Yard Hotel is not over-the-top. This “urban village,” as owners Kit and Tim Kemp call it, sits smack in the middle of frenetic Piccadilly Circus, much like the placid eye of a hurricane. The Ham Yard, fashioned from a gritty, war-torn three-quarter acre of Soho, is a provincial microcosm with the feeling of a long-established village. Attractions include retail space, a library, a restaurant and lounge (available for afternoon tea, of course), rooftop garden, cinema, and the Croc, a four-lane bowling alley in the hotel’s basement. The interiors are just as elaborate as the neighborhood. The entire hotel has a psychedelic vibe that effortlessly blends antique charm with modern flair, but each guest room, with decor hand-picked by Kit Kemp, has a singular flavor. Vibrant patterns in popping colors decorate the walls and furniture, and combine with quirky touches like an ornamental dressform and a raw-wood piebald desk. The daily-changed bouquets are a Kemp signature. Bathrooms are finished in starkly contrasting white marble and dark wood, brightened by a small vase of flowers.