One night in a cocoon | Focus

Over the past forty years I have been fortunate enough to check into some of the most legendary hotels in the world. I’ve slept under the chandeliers at The Plaza in New York, been serenaded by crickets at Amanpulo in the Philippines, had a Singapore Sling at Raffles and watched the city wake up from the Dorchester’s rooftop suite. I’ve stayed at the Burj Al Arab where even the pillows have a menu. But last night, thanks to my daughter’s TikTok, I decided to try something completely different: a night in a cocoon.

The cocoon, part of Zedwell’s latest capsule concept in central Londonis less space and more pod, a sleeper cell for the modern minimalist. Ridiculously centrally located, less than sixty seconds from the lights of Piccadilly Circus, this is London’s most surprising getaway. Inside, a Hypnos mattress, neatly tucked in with Egyptian cotton sheets, a single pillow, a compact duvet, a lamp, a power socket and an air filter console. The capsule itself is made of warm, durable wood, softly lit and utterly simple with jet black fittings. There’s a small mirror, a shelf, a few hooks and a sliding door that closes with the finality of a Ford Transit van. And that’s it. No window, no thermostat, no decorations. Just me and the silence.

Not only is the sliding door locked from the inside, but for those staying multiple nights, the outside of the sliding door has a nice feature that allows you to close it with a padlock (get a thin one, as the hole isn’t super thick). Alternatively, you can leave large bags at reception for £15 each. The capsules are compact but surprisingly comfortable, and Zedwell also offers floors for women only, an excellent and thoughtful idea.

Silence is of course relative. I’m a seasoned traveler and never without earplugs, so I slept remarkably well. The temperature was a degree too warm for my taste, a small detail, but I suspect it will divide the guests. The design is functional rather than luxurious, but undeniably efficient. The Wi-Fi was fast, though, a pleasant surprise in a place where almost every other distraction is taken away.

Zedwell’s ambition is scale. The hotel has 965 rooms spread over seven floors, divided into clusters that are only accessible with a key card. Bathrooms and showers are shared, a reality that requires a moment of mental adjustment for those used to marble ensuites. Bring slippers or slippers, leave them neatly outside your capsule before entering. Cleaners patrol regularly, although I did stumble across an unfortunate memory of London nightlife the morning after a rough night in Soho.

The showers are hot, but require repeated pushes of the button to maintain the flow, a design clearly intended to save water but which turns washing into a rhythmic workout. Towels are no longer included, a change effective November 1 and a fatal mistake on my part. Fortunately, Shahan, the ever unflappable deputy manager, was quick to lend one for a rental fee of £5.

All guests must show ID and check-in and check-out is simple: check-in from 3:00 PM, check-out before 10:00 AM. Early and late options are available for a small additional fee.

For all its quirks, the experience worked. I was literally as snug as a bug in a rug. For £40.50 per night (book directly with a discount code), this was London hospitality reduced to its essence, and in that honesty lies its charm.

Zedwell’s Cocoon isn’t for everyone, but it’s a fascinating insight into a growing movement that’s redefining urban travel. It is a place for those who value sleep over service, and simplicity over spectacle. After decades of white-glove luxury, I found the austerity strangely refreshing. Sometimes it seems like less is really more.

By Justin Cooke, editor-in-chief of Breaking Travel News